Information

Related Research Units

Research Overview

Cara B. Ebbeling is a clinical researcher with more than two decades of experience. She holds a PhD in nutritional sciences from the University of Connecticut and an MS in exercise science from the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Ebbeling has a passion for developing, implementing, and evaluating intensive interventions for preventing and treating obesity and related co-morbidities in clinic and community settings. She is recognized internationally for her expertise in conducting randomized controlled trials to compare the effects of dietary interventions on anthropometric and metabolic outcomes. She is leading development of a novel Community-Based Integrated Model for Weight Management that involves care integration and coordination among primary care practices, community partners (youth development organizations), and obesity specialists (registered dietitians, health educators).

Dr. Ebbeling has given scores of invited presentations at national and international professional meetings, and has testified at the Massachusetts State House on nutrition topics related to her research. In addition, she enjoys training fellows, medical students, and graduate students on methods for implementing dietary interventions and a wide range of clinical research methodologies, with particular focus on strategies to ensure treatment fidelity and scientific integrity. She served as associate editor for Obesity and guest editor for a special obesity issue of Clinical Chemistry, and is an associate editor for Contemporary Clinical Trials. Dr. Ebbeling is a fellow of The Obesity Society and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Publications

  1. Sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes in US adults. Diabetologia. 2025 Jan 08. View Abstract
  2. Safety and tolerability of a low glycemic load dietary intervention in adults with cystic fibrosis: a pilot study. Front Nutr. 2024; 11:1441201. View Abstract
  3. Enactment, Evaluation, and Expansion of a Healthy Living Club in an Out of School Setting: A Community-Academic Partnership. Child Obes. 2025 Jan; 21(1):92-97. View Abstract
  4. Caution needed on causal inferences in obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2024 07; 32(7):1227-1228. View Abstract
  5. Corrigendum to "Physiologic Adaptation to Macronutrient Change Distorts Findings from Short Dietary Trials: Reanalysis of a Metabolic Ward Study" [J Nutr 154 (2024) 1080-1086]. J Nutr. 2024 Apr; 154(4):1486. View Abstract
  6. Corrigendum to 'Sugar-sweetened or artificially-sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in adults: a prospective cohort study'The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 119 issue 3 (2024) 669-681. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 May; 119(5):1376. View Abstract
  7. Design and conduct of a randomized controlled feeding trial in a residential setting with mitigation for COVID-19. Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 05; 140:107490. View Abstract
  8. Reply to C M Sciarrillo et al. J Nutr. 2024 03; 154(3):1061-1063. View Abstract
  9. Sugar-sweetened or artificially-sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in adults: a prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2024 03; 119(3):669-681. View Abstract
  10. Physiologic Adaptation to Macronutrient Change Distorts Findings from Short Dietary Trials: Reanalysis of a Metabolic Ward Study. J Nutr. 2024 04; 154(4):1080-1086. View Abstract
  11. Sugar- or artificially-sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity, and risk of cardiovascular disease in US adults. medRxiv. 2023 Apr 24. View Abstract
  12. Monitoring body composition change for intervention studies with advancing 3D optical imaging technology in comparison to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 04; 117(4):802-813. View Abstract
  13. Evidence for the carbohydrate-insulin model in a reanalysis of the Diet Intervention Examining The Factors Interacting with Treatment Success (DIETFITS) trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 03; 117(3):599-606. View Abstract
  14. Treatment for Childhood Obesity: Using a Biological Model to Inform Dietary Targets. J Pediatr. 2023 04; 255:22-29. View Abstract
  15. Are methods of estimating fat-free mass loss with energy-restricted diets accurate? Eur J Clin Nutr. 2023 05; 77(5):525-531. View Abstract
  16. Grocery Delivery to Support Healthy Weight Gain Among Pregnant Young Women With Low Income: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2022 Aug 05; 11(8):e40568. View Abstract
  17. Competing paradigms of obesity pathogenesis: energy balance versus carbohydrate-insulin models. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022 09; 76(9):1209-1221. View Abstract
  18. Carbohydrates, Insulin Secretion, and "Precision Nutrition". Diabetes Care. 2022 06 02; 45(6):1303-1305. View Abstract
  19. Stimulated Insulin Secretion Predicts Changes in Body Composition Following Weight Loss in Adults with High BMI. J Nutr. 2022 03 03; 152(3):655-662. View Abstract
  20. Prolonged Glycemic Adaptation Following Transition From a Low- to High-Carbohydrate Diet: A Randomized Controlled Feeding Trial. Diabetes Care. 2022 03 01; 45(3):576-584. View Abstract
  21. A high-carbohydrate diet lowers the rate of adipose tissue mitochondrial respiration. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2022 09; 76(9):1339-1342. View Abstract
  22. Reply to A Drewnowski et al, O Devinsky, D A Booth and E L Gibson, and D J Millward. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 02 09; 115(2):595-597. View Abstract
  23. Reply to DA Booth. J Nutr. 2022 02 08; 152(2):641-642. View Abstract
  24. Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on insulin-resistant dyslipoproteinemia-a randomized controlled feeding trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2022 01 11; 115(1):154-162. View Abstract
  25. The carbohydrate-insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 12 01; 114(6):1873-1885. View Abstract
  26. Letter to the Editor: Reply to Guyenet and Hall. J Nutr. 2021 08 07; 151(8):2497-2498. View Abstract
  27. Diets Varying in Carbohydrate Content Differentially Alter Brain Activity in Homeostatic and Reward Regions in Adults. J Nutr. 2021 08 07; 151(8):2465-2476. View Abstract
  28. Multicomponent density models for body composition: Review of the dual energy X-ray absorptiometry volume approach. Obes Rev. 2021 08; 22(8):e13274. View Abstract
  29. Reply to R Prentice et al. J Nutr. 2021 06 01; 151(6):1674. View Abstract
  30. Do Lower-Carbohydrate Diets Increase Total Energy Expenditure? An Updated and Reanalyzed Meta-Analysis of 29 Controlled-Feeding Studies. J Nutr. 2021 03 11; 151(3):482-490. View Abstract
  31. A standard calculation methodology for human doubly labeled water studies. Cell Rep Med. 2021 02 16; 2(2):100203. View Abstract
  32. Energy Requirement Is Higher During Weight-Loss Maintenance in Adults Consuming a Low- Compared with High-Carbohydrate Diet. J Nutr. 2020 08 01; 150(8):2009-2015. View Abstract
  33. Effects of Sugar-Sweetened, Artificially Sweetened, and Unsweetened Beverages on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Body Composition, and Sweet Taste Preference: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 08 04; 9(15):e015668. View Abstract
  34. Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate Content on Circulating Metabolic Fuel Availability in the Postprandial State. J Endocr Soc. 2020 Jul 01; 4(7):bvaa062. View Abstract
  35. Testing the carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity in a 5-month feeding study: the perils of post-hoc participant exclusions. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020 07; 74(7):1109-1112. View Abstract
  36. Testing the carbohydrate-insulin model in mice: The importance of distinguishing primary hyperinsulinemia from insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction. Mol Metab. 2020 05; 35:100960. View Abstract
  37. Confusion at the milk cooler: opportunity to bolster the evidence base for preventive nutrition. Am J Clin Nutr. 2020 02 01; 111(2):240-241. View Abstract
  38. Methodological error in measurement of energy expenditure by the doubly labeled water method: much ado about nothing? Am J Clin Nutr. 2019 11 01; 110(5):1253-1254. View Abstract
  39. Discrepancies in the Registries of Diet vs Drug Trials. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 11 01; 2(11):e1915360. View Abstract
  40. Improving the Quality of Dietary Research. JAMA. 2019 Oct 22; 322(16):1549-1550. View Abstract
  41. Scientific discourse in the era of open science: a response to Hall et al. regarding the Carbohydrate-Insulin Model. Int J Obes (Lond). 2019 12; 43(12):2355-2360. View Abstract
  42. Ultra-Processed Food and Obesity: The Pitfalls of Extrapolation from Short Studies. Cell Metab. 2019 07 02; 30(1):3-4. View Abstract
  43. Effects of a low carbohydrate diet on energy expenditure during weight loss maintenance: randomized trial. BMJ. 2018 11 14; 363:k4583. View Abstract
  44. 90th Anniversary Commentary: Obesity among Offspring of US Immigrants: After 20 Years, a Need to Safeguard Children from the Obesogenic Environment. J Nutr. 2018 10 01; 148(10):1674-1677. View Abstract
  45. The Carbohydrate-Insulin Model of Obesity: Beyond "Calories In, Calories Out". JAMA Intern Med. 2018 08 01; 178(8):1098-1103. View Abstract
  46. A systematic review of strategies to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among 0-year to 5-year olds. Obes Rev. 2018 11; 19(11):1504-1524. View Abstract
  47. An Academia-Industry Partnership for Planning and Executing a Community-Based Feeding Study. Curr Dev Nutr. 2018 Sep; 2(9):nzy060. View Abstract
  48. Incorrect analyses were used in "Different enteral nutrition formulas have no effect on glucose homeostasis but on diet-induced thermogenesis in critically ill medical patients: a randomized controlled trial" and corrected analyses are requested. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2019 01; 73(1):152-153. View Abstract
  49. Management of Type 1 Diabetes With a Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet. Pediatrics. 2018 06; 141(6). View Abstract
  50. Source of bias in sugar-sweetened beverage research: a systematic review. Public Health Nutr. 2018 08; 21(12):2345-2350. View Abstract
  51. Obesity-Addressing a Challenge for Public Health and Laboratory Medicine. Clin Chem. 2018 01; 64(1):1-3. View Abstract
  52. Genetic Evidence That Carbohydrate-Stimulated Insulin Secretion Leads to Obesity. Clin Chem. 2018 01; 64(1):192-200. View Abstract
  53. A randomized study of dietary composition during weight-loss maintenance: Rationale, study design, intervention, and assessment. Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 02; 65:76-86. View Abstract
  54. Dietary Fat: Friend or Foe? Clin Chem. 2018 01; 64(1):34-41. View Abstract
  55. Interventions to prevent global childhood overweight and obesity: a systematic review. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2018 04; 6(4):332-346. View Abstract
  56. Hepatic, adipocyte, enteric and pancreatic hormones: response to dietary macronutrient composition and relationship with metabolism. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2017; 14:44. View Abstract
  57. Effects of Advice to Drink 8 Cups of Water per Day in Adolescents With Overweight or Obesity: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 05 01; 171(5):e170012. View Abstract
  58. Metabolomic profiles as reliable biomarkers of dietary composition. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017 03; 105(3):547-554. View Abstract
  59. Calorically restricted diets decrease PCSK9 in overweight adolescents. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2017 Apr; 27(4):342-349. View Abstract
  60. Creating an integrated care model for childhood obesity: a randomized pilot study utilizing telehealth in a community primary care setting. Clin Obes. 2016 Dec; 6(6):380-388. View Abstract
  61. Raising the bar on the low-carbohydrate diet. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 11; 104(5):1487-1488. View Abstract
  62. A telephone intervention to achieve differentiation in dietary intake: a randomized trial in paediatric primary care. Pediatr Obes. 2017 12; 12(6):494-501. View Abstract
  63. Relationship of insulin dynamics to body composition and resting energy expenditure following weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Nov; 23(11):2216-22. View Abstract
  64. Providing food to treat adolescents at risk for cardiovascular disease. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Oct; 23(10):2109-17. View Abstract
  65. Physical changes in the home environment to reduce television viewing and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among 5- to 12-year-old children: a randomized pilot study. Pediatr Obes. 2016 10; 11(5):e12-5. View Abstract
  66. A randomized pilot study of dietary treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents. Pediatr Obes. 2016 06; 11(3):210-20. View Abstract
  67. Primary care interventions for pediatric obesity: need for an integrated approach. Pediatrics. 2015 Apr; 135(4):757-8. View Abstract
  68. Multi-component molecular-level body composition reference methods: evolving concepts and future directions. Obes Rev. 2015 Apr; 16(4):282-94. View Abstract
  69. Sugar-sweetened beverages and body weight. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2014 Feb; 25(1):1-7. View Abstract
  70. Effects of dietary glycemic index on brain regions related to reward and craving in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Sep; 98(3):641-7. View Abstract
  71. A low-glycemic-load versus low-fat diet in the treatment of fatty liver in obese children. Child Obes. 2013 Jun; 9(3):252-60. View Abstract
  72. Effects of diet composition on postprandial energy availability during weight loss maintenance. PLoS One. 2013; 8(3):e58172. View Abstract
  73. Sugar-sweetened beverages, genetic risk, and obesity. N Engl J Med. 2013 01 17; 368(3):287. View Abstract
  74. Effects of a low glycemic load or a low-fat dietary intervention on body weight in obese Hispanic American children and adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb; 97(2):276-85. View Abstract
  75. A randomized trial of sugar-sweetened beverages and adolescent body weight. N Engl J Med. 2012 Oct 11; 367(15):1407-16. View Abstract
  76. Surgical vs lifestyle treatment for type 2 diabetes. JAMA. 2012 Sep 12; 308(10):981-2. View Abstract
  77. Effects of dietary composition on energy expenditure during weight-loss maintenance. JAMA. 2012 Jun 27; 307(24):2627-34. View Abstract
  78. Correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among construction laborers and motor freight workers. Cancer Causes Control. 2013 Apr; 24(4):637-47. View Abstract
  79. Designing in the social context: using the social contextual model of health behavior change to develop a tobacco control intervention for teachers in India. Health Educ Res. 2013 Feb; 28(1):113-29. View Abstract
  80. Continuous glucose monitoring to assess the ecologic validity of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Dec; 94(6):1519-24. View Abstract
  81. Effects of high and low glycemic load meals on energy intake, satiety and hunger in obese Hispanic-American youth. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2011 Jun; 6(2-2):e523-31. View Abstract
  82. Targeting dietary fat or glycemic load in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2011 Apr; 92(1):37-45. View Abstract
  83. Weight-loss maintenance--mind over matter? N Engl J Med. 2010 Nov 25; 363(22):2159-61. View Abstract
  84. Pediatric obesity prevention initiatives: more questions than answers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Nov; 164(11):1067-9. View Abstract
  85. Effects of a low-glycemic load diet in overweight and obese pregnant women: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec; 92(6):1306-15. View Abstract
  86. Tobacco use cessation and weight management among motor freight workers: results of the gear up for health study. Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Dec; 21(12):2113-22. View Abstract
  87. Association of sleep adequacy with more healthful food choices and positive workplace experiences among motor freight workers. Am J Public Health. 2009 Nov; 99 Suppl 3:S636-43. View Abstract
  88. Associations of diet behaviours and intention to eat healthily with tobacco use among motor freight workers. Public Health. 2009 Aug; 123(8):565-7. View Abstract
  89. Acute effects of dietary glycemic index on antioxidant capacity in a nutrient-controlled feeding study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2009 Sep; 17(9):1664-70. View Abstract
  90. Nutritively sweetened beverages and obesity. JAMA. 2009 Jun 03; 301(21):2209-10; author reply 2210-1. View Abstract
  91. Effects of replacing the habitual consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with milk in Chilean children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Sep; 88(3):605-11. View Abstract
  92. Tracking pediatric obesity: an index of uncertainty? JAMA. 2008 May 28; 299(20):2442-3. View Abstract
  93. Weighing the data in studies of the glycaemic index. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008 Jul; 32(7):1190. View Abstract
  94. The effects of nutritional supplementation throughout an endurance run on leucine kinetics during recovery. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2007 Oct; 17(5):456-67. View Abstract
  95. Pediatric obesity management: variation by specialty and awareness of guidelines. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2007 Jul; 46(6):491-504. View Abstract
  96. Effects of a low-glycemic load vs low-fat diet in obese young adults: a randomized trial. JAMA. 2007 May 16; 297(19):2092-102. View Abstract
  97. Altering portion sizes and eating rate to attenuate gorging during a fast food meal: effects on energy intake. Pediatrics. 2007 May; 119(5):869-75. View Abstract
  98. Relationship between funding source and conclusion among nutrition-related scientific articles. PLoS Med. 2007 Jan; 4(1):e5. View Abstract
  99. Conceptualization and development of a theory-based healthful eating and physical activity intervention for postpartum women who are low income. Health Promot Pract. 2007 Jan; 8(1):50-9. View Abstract
  100. Effects of decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on body weight in adolescents: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Pediatrics. 2006 Mar; 117(3):673-80. View Abstract
  101. Overweight children and adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2005 Sep 08; 353(10):1070-1; author reply 1070-1. View Abstract
  102. Effects of an ad libitum low-glycemic load diet on cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese young adults. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 May; 81(5):976-82. View Abstract
  103. The effect of social desirability and social approval on self-reports of physical activity. Am J Epidemiol. 2005 Feb 15; 161(4):389-98. View Abstract
  104. Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study): 15-year prospective analysis. Lancet. 2005 Jan 1-7; 365(9453):36-42. View Abstract
  105. Compensation for energy intake from fast food among overweight and lean adolescents. JAMA. 2004 Jun 16; 291(23):2828-33. View Abstract
  106. Hard facts about soft drinks. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2004 Mar; 158(3):290; author reply 290. View Abstract
  107. Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics. 2004 Jan; 113(1 Pt 1):112-8. View Abstract
  108. Differences between estimated caloric requirements and self-reported caloric intake in the women's health initiative. Ann Epidemiol. 2003 Oct; 13(9):629-37. View Abstract
  109. A reduced-glycemic load diet in the treatment of adolescent obesity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003 Aug; 157(8):773-9. View Abstract
  110. Spirited critique of glycaemic index (GI) and its role in the treatment of obesity. Obes Rev. 2003 Feb; 4(1):73-4. View Abstract
  111. Metabolic response to provision of mixed protein-carbohydrate supplementation during endurance exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2002 Dec; 12(4):384-97. View Abstract
  112. In search of a lifestyle prescription to control body weight. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Nov; 76(5):1140-1; author reply 1141-2. View Abstract
  113. Should obese patients be counselled to follow a low-glycaemic index diet? Yes. Obes Rev. 2002 Nov; 3(4):235-43. View Abstract
  114. Systematic errors in middle-aged women's estimates of energy intake: comparing three self-report measures to total energy expenditure from doubly labeled water. Ann Epidemiol. 2002 Nov; 12(8):577-86. View Abstract
  115. Antegrade intravenous catheterization for metabolic studies in man. Diabetologia. 2002 Dec; 45(12):1742-3. View Abstract
  116. A physiological basis for disparities in diabetes and heart disease risk among racial and ethnic groups. J Nutr. 2002 Sep; 132(9):2492-3. View Abstract
  117. Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. Lancet. 2002 Aug 10; 360(9331):473-82. View Abstract
  118. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: primary care and public health considerations. JAMA. 2001 Sep 26; 286(12):1427-30. View Abstract
  119. Sources of variance in daily physical activity levels in the seasonal variation of blood cholesterol study. Am J Epidemiol. 2001 May 15; 153(10):987-95. View Abstract
  120. Change in women's diet and body mass following intensive intervention for early-stage breast cancer. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001 Apr; 101(4):421-31. View Abstract
  121. Facilitating dietary change: the patient-centered counseling model. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001 Mar; 101(3):332-41. View Abstract
  122. Seasonal variation in household, occupational, and leisure time physical activity: longitudinal analyses from the seasonal variation of blood cholesterol study. Am J Epidemiol. 2001 Jan 15; 153(2):172-83. View Abstract
  123. Treating obesity in youth: should dietary glycemic load be a consideration? Adv Pediatr. 2001; 48:179-212. View Abstract
  124. Sources of variability in dietary intake in two distinct regions of rural India: implications for nutrition study design and interpretation. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000 Jun; 54(6):479-86. View Abstract
  125. A dietitian-delivered group nutrition program leads to reductions in dietary fat, serum cholesterol, and body weight: the Worcester Area Trial for Counseling in Hyperlipidemia (WATCH). J Am Diet Assoc. 1999 May; 99(5):544-52. View Abstract
  126. Effects of exercise combined with diet therapy on protein utilization in obese children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Mar; 31(3):378-85. View Abstract
  127. Effects of reduced energy intake on protein utilization in obese children. Metabolism. 1998 Dec; 47(12):1434-9. View Abstract
  128. Chronic psychological effects of exercise and exercise plus cognitive strategies. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995 May; 27(5):765-75. View Abstract
  129. Treadmill validation of an over-ground walking test to predict peak oxygen consumption. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1992; 64(4):304-8. View Abstract
  130. Development of a single-stage submaximal treadmill walking test. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991 Aug; 23(8):966-73. View Abstract
  131. Muscle adaptation prior to recovery following eccentric exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1990; 60(1):26-31. View Abstract
  132. Walking for exercise testing and training. Sports Med. 1989 Oct; 8(4):189-200. View Abstract
  133. Exercise-induced muscle damage and adaptation. Sports Med. 1989 Apr; 7(4):207-34. View Abstract
  134. Investigation of serum creatine kinase variability after muscle-damaging exercise. Clin Sci (Lond). 1988 Sep; 75(3):257-61. View Abstract

Contact Cara Ebbeling