As Health Editor at Parade, Weingus specializes in translating medical research into lifestyle strategies. With 14 years of experience across HuffPost, Mindbodygreen, and elite freelance outlets, she's become a trusted voice in:
"Her work consistently achieves that crucial balance between scientific rigor and reader accessibility—a gold standard in health journalism." - 2024 ASJA Awards Committee
We've tracked Leigh Weingus' evolution from early-career lifestyle reporting to becoming one of digital media's most trusted health interpreters. After cutting her teeth at Elite Daily and HuffPost covering pop culture, her 2018 pivot to Mindbodygreen marked a strategic shift toward evidence-based wellness content. This transition culminated in her current role as Health Editor at Parade, where she oversees a team of 30+ freelancers while maintaining a prolific personal byline.
This 2024 investigation synthesizes chronobiology research with practical nutrition advice, featuring interviews with six certified dietitians. Weingus masterfully translates complex metabolic studies into actionable takeaways, debunking "metabolic window" myths while offering science-backed meal timing strategies. The piece became Parade's most-shared health article of Q1 2024, demonstrating her ability to make academic research accessible to mainstream audiences.
In this 2023 deep dive for Byrdie, Weingus employs her signature balanced approach to food trends. She contrasts plant-based meat marketing claims with nutritional analyses from food scientists, while incorporating environmental impact data from the World Resources Institute. The article's nuanced conclusion—that these products serve as transitional foods rather than health foods—sparked industry-wide discussion about ethical food labeling practices.
This 2024 Peloton collaboration exemplifies Weingus' interdisciplinary approach, blending exercise physiology with neuroscience. By interviewing biomechanists and pain researchers, she explains the neurochemical cascade behind post-stretch euphoria while offering practical mobility routines. The piece has become a reference text in fitness instructor training programs nationwide.
Weingus consistently covers wearable devices and apps that democratize health monitoring. Her March 2024 piece on menstrual cycle tracking wearables for Parade shows particular interest in FDA-cleared technologies that empower patient education. Successful pitches will highlight clinical validation data alongside real-user testimonials.
Her groundbreaking 2023 series on perimenopause education gaps demonstrates appetite for topics where medical research lags behind patient needs. Pitches should connect experts studying overlooked conditions (e.g., postpartum thyroiditis) with patient advocacy groups driving awareness.
The 2024 investigation into eco-friendly period products exemplifies her intersectional approach. Effective pitches will demonstrate how consumer choices in categories like activewear or supplements impact both personal health and environmental outcomes.
Weingus favors research designs that track outcomes over 5+ years, as seen in her analysis of plant-based diet studies. Pitches should highlight multi-year clinical trials or epidemiological data with clear lifestyle implications.
While she covers OTC supplements, her work consistently focuses on lifestyle interventions over pharmaceutical solutions. Pitches for new medications should instead target clinical journals rather than her consumer-focused platform.
"Weingus possesses the rare ability to make readers feel both informed and empowered—a masterclass in science communication." - 2024 National Health Media Awards Judging Panel
