Obesity
Our faculty members conduct diverse obesity research to impact vulnerable populations that include pregnant and lactating women, infants and young children, minority families in low resource settings, schools and daycares, and rural communities.
Developmental Programming
| Photo | Contact Information | Research Description |
 | Nancy Krebs, MD, MS nancy.krebs@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-3260 | Determinants of excessive infant weight gain related to maternal phenotype and antenatal exposures, postnatal feeding, bioactive components of human milk, alterations in enteric microbiome |
 | Sarah J. Borengasser, PhD | Early origins of obesity and epigenetic influences |
 | Kristen Boyle, PhD kristen.boyle@cuanchutz.edu 303-724-5969 | Molecular and metabolic pathways whereby fetal exposure to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes contributes to excess adiposity at birth and later in life, using a human stem cell model |
 | Stephanie Gilley, MD, PhD | How postnatal growth and nutrition influence development of obesity by modifying the effect of in utero exposures |
 | Behavioral epidemiological associations of maternal, perinatal, and early life factors with maternal and child health outcomes | |
 | Kartik Shankar, PhD kartik.shankar@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-3796 | Effects of maternal obesity on offspring health; Sex differences in developmental programming; Experimental models (mice & rats) and clinical studies; Role of the placenta in programming; Focus on hepatic and adipose tissue development |
 | Minghua Tang, PhD minghua.tang@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-3248 | Obesity treatment and prevention through dietary interventions and effects of the gut microbiome on body weight and health status |
Family Context/Parenting
 | Richard Boles, PhD | Examination of how the home food, activity, and sleep environment influence child health behaviors within the context of family functioning |
 | Jaime Moore, PhD jaime.moore@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-8419 | Characterization and ethical considerations for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe obesity |
 | Darcy Thompson, MD, MPH | Identification of modifiable family and individual factors contributing to development of obesity in preschool-aged children, with focus on minority populations and media use |
Intervention
| Richard Boles, PhD | Examining the efficacy of pediatric obesity interventions using family-based behavioral treatments at both family homes and community-based settings linked with primary care |
 | Silvania da Silva Teixeira, PhD silvania.dasilvateixeira@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-5879 | Working with preclinical models to study the role of thyroid hormones and their metabolites on the physiological processes associated with the development of obesity and their comorbidities |
 | Matthew A. Haemer, MD | Community and primary care based intervention for prevention and treatments of childhood obesity, using electronic decision-support tool; development of algorithms, provider training, and decision support for primary care settings; obesity outcomes research & application of implementation science in high risk populations |
 | Susan L. Johnson, PhD | Intervention to prevent early childhood obesity in children through feeding and physical activity |
| Jaime Moore, PhD | Novel approaches to personalize obesity treatment using a combination of tools (e.g. lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, bariatric surgery) to achieve optimal weight-related health outcomes, and to minimize disparities driven by the social determinants of health and stigma. |
 | Using preclinical models to study the role of the gut-brain-axis in the pathophysiology and treatment of obesity | |
| | Katherine A. Sauder, PhD katherine.sauder@cuanschutz.edu | Behavioral interventions to 1) improve diabetes risk factors in Native children and 2) reduce maternal obesity before or during pregnancy |
| | Minghua Tang, PhD minghua.tang@cuanschutz.edu 303-724-3248 | Obesity treatment and prevention through dietary interventions and effects of the gut microbiome on body weight and health status |
 | Douglas Taren, PhD | Clinical and public health approaches to child weight management |