Marleigh Hefner

Dr. Marleigh Hefner is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Tech University, where she leads the Integrative Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health (INCH) Laboratory. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) since 2021, she combines clinical practice in intensive care unit nutrition with translational research on metabolic health.

• 2024 – PhD, Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University
• 2024 – MS, Nutritional Sciences, Texas Tech University
• 2020 – BS, Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Texas Tech University

Dr. Hefner’s research bridges nutrition and metabolic health, prioritizing hormonal and genetic regulation of metabolism. Her work explores dietary interventions for obesity-related conditions like MASLD, body composition optimization during pharmacological obesity treatment, and sexual dimorphism in disease progression. She emphasizes methodological rigor in clinical trials and translational approaches to redefine obesity management paradigms.

The 2021–2025 publications highlight her contributions to obesity (dietary interventions, pharmacological approaches), Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid beta, cardiometabolic factors), and translational research methodology (cluster trial analysis). Articles reflect a trend toward evidence-based, interdisciplinary strategies for metabolic and neurodegenerative conditions.

Dr. Hefner is certified as a Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian (LD), and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC). She mentors dietetics students through her INCH Laboratory, integrating clinical practice and scientific rigor.