She joined the faculty after earning a doctoral degree in Nutrition Sciences, with concentrations in childhood obesity prevention and human development, from the Pennsylvania State University, and completing postdoctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. Her predoctoral work focused on examining individual, familial, and sociocultural predictors of the use of unhealthy weight control behaviors. At PSU, Balantekin also had extensive training in childhood obesity prevention interventions. During her postdoctoral training, Balantekin focused on the intersection of obesity and eating disorders in both children and college students.