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Edward Melanson, PhD

Title: Principal Investigator; Professor, CU Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes

Contact: ed.melanson@cuanschutz.edu

University of Colorado webpage

Personal Statement
I am a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, with a joint appointment in the Division of Geriatric Medicine. I have maintained consistent NIH funding since 2001, and have received continuous funding from the NIH as a principle investigator since 2007. I conduct clinical research to study the effects of lifestyle interventions (physical activity, diet, and sleep) on bioenergetics (energy and substrate metabolism, and physical activity). I have substantial expertise in measuring energy metabolism, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in humans, using whole-room indirect calorimetry, doubly labeled water, and a variety of accelerometry-based physical activity monitors. More recently, I have been a COI on studies (R43DK09336, R44 DK093362) aimed at using a novel approach to improve the precision and reduce the costs of performing DLW analysis.

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Research Interest

Research Interest
My early research was focused on developing and validating objective methods for measuring physical activity and energy expenditure in free-living humans. These studies stemmed from the need to develop more sensitive and less obtrusive means of assessing the associations between physical activity behavior and various health outcomes. Early research in this area relied on self-report, which has numerous limitations, including recall errors, bias, and lack of objectivity. I developed the first model that used accelerometer data to distinguish different intensities of physical activity. This line of research has remained one of my primary areas of interest, and has expanded to include the development of new methods to measure energy expenditure using whole-room indirect calorimetry, and the development and validation of new methods of measuring free-living energy expenditure. These studies include novel instrumentation, such as measures of heat flux as a means of measuring energy expenditure, and validation of a laser-based instrument to measure isotopic enrichments in urine samples. This latter line of research is aimed at developing and validating a novel approach to improve the precision of performing measurement of isotopic enrichments in urine (R43 DK09336, R44 DK093362). We have shown this instrument to be accurate compared to the gold-standard measurement of whole-room indirect calorimetry, as well as against an independent Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Laboratory. Collectively, my research has expanded methods of assessing physical activity in humans, and will ultimately lead to lower-cost, accurate and objective means of assessing physical activity and energy expenditure in in free-living humans.

Dimensions profile: See publications, grant, datasets, patents and clinical trial information.

The following images visualize Dr. Melanson's work. The word cloud is drawn from publication titles. The research collaboration map shows research relationships (click the image to enlarge):

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Grants & Funding

The impact of estrogen status on the biological function of brown adipose tissue in women measured using quantitative PET/CT

Obesity rates are high in postmenopausal women, and unlike other segments of the population, rates are increasing in this group. Identifying mechanisms that increase the tendency for a gain in fat during menopause will lead to more effective therapeutic strategies.
The proposed research is relevant to a major theme of the NIH Strategic Plan for Obesity Research, which is to discover fundamental biological processes that regulate body weight and contribute to obesity.
Investigator: Edward Melanson
Funder: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
NIH website
Publications of note:
— Body composition and cardiometabolic health across the menopause transition
— Modulation of Energy Expenditure by Estrogens and Exercise in Women

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Recent Publications

2023

Hill EB, Konigsberg IR, Ir D, Frank DN, Jambal P, Litkowski EM, Lange EM, Lange LA, Ostendorf DM, Scorsone JJ, Wayland L, Bing K, MacLean PS, Melanson EL, Bessesen DH, Catenacci VA, Stanislawski MA, Borengasser SJ. The Microbiome, Epigenome, and Diet in Adults with Obesity during Behavioral Weight Loss. Nutrients. 2023 Aug 16;15(16):3588. doi: 10.3390/nu15163588. PMCID: PMC10458964.
PMID: 37630778.
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Fuchita M, Ridgeway KJ, Sandridge B, Kimzey C, Abraham A, Melanson EL, Fernandez-Bustamante A. Comparison of postoperative mobilization measurements by activPAL versus Johns Hopkins Highest Level of Mobility scale after major abdominal surgery. Surgery. 2023 Aug 12:S0039-6060(23)00441-5. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2023.07.014. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 37580218.
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Thomas JV, Tobin SY, Mifflin MG, Burns RD, Bailey RR, Purcell SA, Melanson EL, Cornier MA, Halliday TM. The Effects of an Acute Bout of Aerobic or Resistance Exercise on Nonexercise Physical Activity. Exerc Sport Mov. 2023 Spring;1(2):e00004. doi: 10.1249/esm.0000000000000004. Epub 2023 Mar 9. PMCID: PMC10399212.
PMID: 37538306.
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2022

Purcell SA, Melanson EL, Afghahi A, Borges VF, Sinelli I, Cornier MA. The effects of resistance exercise on appetite sensations, appetite related hormones and energy intake in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer survivors. Appetite. 2022 Dec 17:106426. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106426. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 36539160.
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Hill EB, Siebert JC, Yazza DN, Ostendorf DM, Bing K, Wayland L, Scorsone JJ, Bessesen DH, MacLean PS, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA, Borengasser SJ. Proteomics, dietary intake, and changes in cardiometabolic health within a behavioral weight-loss intervention: A pilot study. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 Nov;30(11):2134-2145. doi: 10.1002/oby.23574. PMCID: PMC9634672.
PMID: 36321274.
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Purcell SA, Legget KT, Halliday TM, Pan Z, Creasy SA, Blankenship JM, Hild A, Tregellas JR, Melanson EL, Cornier MA. Appetitive and Metabolic Responses to an Exercise versus Dietary Intervention in Adults with Obesity. Transl J Am Coll Sports Med. 2022 Fall;7(4):e000211. doi: 10.1249/tjx.0000000000000211. Epub 2022 Oct 14. PMCID: PMC9635267.
PMID: 36337848.
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Patterson CG, Joslin E, Gil AB, Spigle W, Nemet T, Chahine L, Christiansen CL, Melanson E, Kohrt WM, Mancini M, Josbeno D, Balfany K, Griffith G, Dunlap MK, Lamotte G, Suttman E, Larson D, Branson C, McKee KE, Goelz L, Poon C, Tilley B, Kang UJ, Tansey MG, Luthra N, Tanner CM, Haus JM, Fantuzzi G, McFarland NR, Gonzalez-Latapi P, Foroud T, Motl R, Schwarzschild MA, Simuni T, Marek K, Naito A, Lungu C, Corcos DM; SPARX3-PSG Investigators. Study in Parkinson's disease of exercise phase 3 (SPARX3): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2022 Oct 6;23(1):855. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06703-0. PMCID: PMC9535216.
PMID: 36203214.
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Grau L, Arbet J, Ostendorf DM, Blankenship JM, Panter SL, Catenacci VA, Melanson EL, Creasy SA. Creating an algorithm to identify indices of sleep quantity and quality from a wearable armband in adults. Sleep Sci. 2022 Jul-Sep;15(3):279-287. doi: 10.5935/1984-0063.20220052. PMCID: PMC9496495. PMID: 36158722
PMID: 36203214.
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Ostendorf DM, Caldwell AE, Zaman A, Pan Z, Bing K, Wayland LT, Creasy SA, Bessesen DH, MacLean P, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Comparison of weight loss induced by daily caloric restriction versus intermittent fasting (DRIFT) in individuals with obesity: study protocol for a 52-week randomized clinical trial. Trials. 2022 Aug 29;23(1):718. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06523-2. PMCID: PMC9421629.
PMID: 36038881.
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Creasy SA, Ostendorf DM, Blankenship JM, Grau L, Arbet J, Bessesen DH, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Effect of sleep on weight loss and adherence to diet and physical activity recommendations during an 18-month behavioral weight loss intervention. Int J Obes (Lond). 2022 May 16. doi: 10.1038/s41366-022-01141-z. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 35577898.
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Creasy SA, Wayland L, Panter SL, Purcell SA, Rosenberg R, Willis EA, Shiferaw B, Grau L, Breit MJ, Bessesen DH, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Effect of Morning and Evening Exercise on Energy Balance: A Pilot Study. Nutrients. 2022 Feb 15;14(4):816. doi: 10.3390/nu14040816. PMCID: PMC8877501.
PMID: 35215466.
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2021

Marlatt KL, Pitynski-Miller DR, Gavin KM, Moreau KL, Melanson EL, Santoro N, Kohrt WM. Body composition and cardiometabolic health across the menopause transition. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 Jan;30(1):14-27. doi: 10.1002/oby.23289.
PMID: 34932890.
Find more information on this paper from the Dimensions website

Ostendorf DM, Blankenship JM, Grau L, Arbet J, Mitchell NS, Creasy SA, Caldwell AE, Melanson EL, Phelan S, Bessesen DH, Catenacci VA. Predictors of long-term weight loss trajectories during a behavioral weight loss intervention: An exploratory analysis. Obes Sci Pract. 2021 May 19;7(5):569-582. doi: 10.1002/osp4.530. PMCID: PMC8488452.
PMID: 34631135.

Stanislawski MA, Frank DN, Borengasser SJ, Ostendorf DM, Ir D, Jambal P, Bing K, Wayland L, Siebert JC, Bessesen DH, MacLean PS, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. The Gut Microbiota during a Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 18;13(9):3248. doi: 10.3390/nu13093248. PMCID: PMC8471894.
PMID: 34579125

Tobin SY, Cornier MA, White MH, Hild AK, Simonsen SE, Melanson EL, Halliday TM. The Effects of Acute Exercise on Appetite and Energy Intake in Men and Women. Physiol Behav. 2021 Sep 10:113562. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2021.113562. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34516956

Dahle JH, Ostendorf DM, Pan Z, MacLean PS, Bessesen DH, Heymsfield SB, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Weight and body composition changes affect resting energy expenditure predictive equations during a 12-month weight-loss intervention. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Aug 25. doi: 10.1002/oby.23234. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34431624

Depner CM, Rice JD, Tussey EJ, Eckel RH, Bergman BC, Higgins JA, Melanson EL, Kohrt WM, Wright K Jr, Swanson CM. Bone turnover marker responses to sleep restriction and weekend recovery sleep. Bone. 2021 Jun 30:116096. doi: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116096. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34216838

Cogswell D, Bisesi P, Markwald RR, Cruickshank-Quinn C, Quinn K, McHill A, Melanson EL, Reisdorph N, Wright KP Jr, Depner CM. Identification of a Preliminary Plasma Metabolome-based Biomarker for Circadian Phase in Humans. J Biol Rhythms. 2021 Jun 28:7487304211025402. doi: 10.1177/07487304211025402. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34182829

Creasy SA, Hibbing PR, Cotton E, Lyden K, Ostendorf DM, Willis EA, Pan Z, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Temporal patterns of physical activity in successful weight loss maintainers. Int J Obes (Lond). 2021 Jun 14. doi: 10.1038/s41366-021-00877-4. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34127805

Depner CM, Melanson EL, Eckel RH, Higgins JA, Bergman BC, Perreault L, Knauer OA, Birks BR, Wright KP Jr. Effects of ad libitum food intake, insufficient sleep and weekend recovery sleep on energy balance. Sleep. 2021 Jun 1:zsab136. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsab136. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34059916

Blankenship JM, Rosenberg RC, Rynders CA, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA, Creasy SA. Examining the Role of Exercise Timing in Weight Management: A Review. Int J Sports Med. 2021 May 25. doi: 10.1055/a-1485-1293. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 34034354

Siebert JC, Stanislawski MA, Zaman A, Ostendorf DM, Konigsberg IR, Jambal P, Ir D, Bing K, Wayland L, Scorsone JJ, Lozupone CA, Görg C, Frank DN, Bessesen D, MacLean PS, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA, Borengasser SJ. Multiomic Predictors of Short-Term Weight Loss and Clinical Outcomes During a Behavioral-Based Weight Loss Intervention. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Apr 3. doi: 10.1002/oby.23127. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 33811477

Dahle JH, Ostendorf DM, Zaman A, Pan Z, Melanson EL, Catenacci VA. Underreporting of energy intake in weight loss maintainers. Am J Clin Nutr. 2021 Mar 19:nqab012. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab012. Epub ahead of print.
PMID: 33742193

Speakman JR, Yamada Y, Sagayama H, Berman ESF, Ainslie PN, Andersen LF, Anderson LJ, Arab L, Baddou I, Bedu-Addo K, Blaak EE, Blanc S, Bonomi AG, Bouten CVC, Bovet P, Buchowski MS, Butte NF, Camps SGJA, Close GL, Cooper JA, Creasy SA, Das SK, Cooper R, Dugas LR, Ebbeling CB, Ekelund U, Entringer S, Forrester T, Fudge BW, Goris AH, Gurven M, Hambly C, El Hamdouchi A, Hoos MB, Hu S, Joonas N, Joosen AM, Katzmarzyk P, Kempen KP, Kimura M, Kraus WE, Kushner RF, Lambert EV, Leonard WR, Lessan N, Ludwig DS, Martin CK, Medin AC, Meijer EP, Morehen JC, Morton JP, Neuhouser ML, Nicklas TA, Ojiambo RM, Pietiläinen KH, Pitsiladis YP, Plange-Rhule J, Plasqui G, Prentice RL, Rabinovich RA, Racette SB, Raichlen DA, Ravussin E, Reynolds RM, Roberts SB, Schuit AJ, Sjödin AM, Stice E, Urlacher SS, Valenti G, Van Etten LM, Van Mil EA, Wells JCK, Wilson G, Wood BM, Yanovski J, Yoshida T, Zhang X, Murphy-Alford AJ, Loechl CU, Melanson EL, Luke AH, Pontzer H, Rood J, Schoeller DA, Westerterp KR, Wong WW; IAEA DLW database group. A standard calculation methodology for human doubly labeled water studies. Cell Rep Med. 2021 Feb 16;2(2):100203. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100203. PMCID: PMC7897799.
PMID: 33665639

Simon SL, Higgins J, Melanson E, Wright KP Jr, Nadeau KJ. A Model of Adolescent Sleep Health and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. 2021 Jan 15;21(2):4. doi: 10.1007/s11892-020-01373-1. PMCID: PMC7810106.
PMID: 33449241

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