Elizabeth Thomas, MD

Dr. Elizabeth Thomas is an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She also serves as Co-Director of the Medical Weight Management Clinic at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center (RMR VAMC) and as Associate Program Director for the University of Colorado Endocrinology Fellowship Program.

A board-certified endocrinologist, she has extensive clinical experience in treating patients with obesity, which has both fueled and informed her research objectives in the areas of obesity and diabetes. Her overall research goals focus on investigating the effects of weight loss interventions on components of energy balance and translating this knowledge into effective treatments for individuals with obesity and related metabolic complications. Her research background includes studying the role of appetite and meal patterns in weight regulation. She has conducted clinical studies examining how meal size (including over- and under-feeding) and dietary patterns influence appetite and energy balance. Her early work on dietary patterns explored the metabolic, hormonal, and appetite-related effects of breakfast skipping. As research continues to highlight the importance of meal timing and the metabolic benefits of fasting, she has developed a strong interest in time-restricted eating (TRE), now a central focus of her recent work. 

She recently completed a pilot study of an intensive lifestyle intervention program that offers dietary flexibility to adults with prediabetes in rural communities. In addition, she serves as a co-investigator on a pilot study examining intermittent fasting in breast cancer survivors.

Current Research Studies