Heather Leidy

Dr. Heather Leidy is an Associate Professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austin's Dell Medical School. Her research focuses on dietary protein's effects on satiety, glycemic control, and cardiometabolic health in adolescents and adults.

• Ph.D. in Nutritional Physiology from Penn State University
• B.S. in Biology from Shippensburg University
• Postdoctoral fellowship at Purdue University in Nutrition Science

Research interests include:

• Dietary protein metabolism
• Meal timing and frequency
• Weight management strategies
• Cardiometabolic disease prevention
• Breakfast interventions in youth
• Interprofessional cooking demonstrations for clinical trials

Recent publications highlight her work on:

• Comparative studies of animal vs plant-based protein
• miRNA expression related to metabolic health
• Environmental impacts of dietary defaults
• Sleep-eating pattern interactions

Professional contributions:

• 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee member
• American Society of Nutrition Research Interest Group director