Collin J. Popp, PhD

My research focuses on conducting interdisciplinary lifestyle interventions targeting obesity and adiposity-based chronic diseases (ABCDs), such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. More specifically, my research seeks to find efficacious bio-behavioral strategies to support individuals with weight loss maintenance.

My doctoral and postdoctoral training provided me with a broad background in exercise physiology and nutritional science, specifically training in body composition assessment, exercise testing, energy expenditure, and free-living wearable devices (e.g., Actigraph, continuous glucose monitors). I am also well-versed in dietary and weight self-monitoring technologies used by participants for self-regulation (e.g., dietary intake), their contribution to weight management success, and behavioral methods for engaging and maintaining lifestyle change.

I was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship through the American Heart Association’s Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN), in which NYUGSoM was one of four centers nationwide. Our center project was IGNITION or Braking Inflammation in Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction: Translational and Therapeutic Opportunities. As an AHA fellow, I was instrumental in the development and implementation of the population health study called the Personal Diet study (#17SFRM33590133), which aimed to minimize post-prandial glycemic response (PPGR) using a gut-microbiome derived machine learning algorithm in adults with overweight/obesity and pre-diabetes. Our findings were published in 2022 in JAMA Network Open, where I served as lead author, a highlight of my career thus far. Additionally, the study paved the way for a follow-up NINR-funded award (R01NR018916). This study called Diabetes Telemedicine Mediterranean Diet (DietTeleMed) examines the impact of a precision nutrition intervention for glycemia management of type 2 diabetes. The DiaTeleMed study will address an essential gap in the current landscape of precision nutrition by determining the contributions of behavioral counseling and personalized nutrition recommendations on glycemic control in individuals with T2D.

My most recent research interest bridges the gap between intermittent fasting/temporal eating patterns and lifestyle interventions for weight loss maintenance. I was graciously awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award (K99HL163474) entitled Time-restricted eating for weight loss maintenance, or TWIST. The goal of TWIST is to examine the efficacy of TRE in preventing weight regain and managing body weight. In the future, my goal is to expand this research with adjunct therapies, such as physical activity and diet.

My overarching career goal is to build an established, sustainable, scalable weight loss maintenance program.