Denise Wilfley

Scott Rudolph University Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychological & Brain Sciences

Phone: 314-286-2079
Email: wilfleyd@wustl.edu

Additional Titles & Roles

Director, Weight Management & Eating Disorders Program

Education & Training

Postdoctoral Training: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1991
PhD: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 1989

Major Awards

Special Government Employee member, Center for Scientific Review Advisory Council, 2018, 2019
Oded Bar-Or Award for Excellence in Pediatric Obesity Research, 2018
K24 Midcareer NIH Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Clinical Care Councilor, The Obesity Society, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Secretary/Treasurer, The Obesity Society – Pediatric Obesity Section, 2010, 2011
Vice President, The Obesity Society – Pediatric Obesity Section, 2011, 2012

Areas of Clinical Interest

Etiology, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders and obesity.

Research Interests

Dr. Wilfley’s program of research centers on the causes, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders and obesity among children, adolescents, and adults. Current programs of research include: (1) the classification, characterization, assessment, and risk factors of eating and weight disorders; (2) the development of effective treatments for individuals suffering from eating disorders and obesity; and (3) the development of innovative and cost-effective methods for early intervention and prevention of eating disorders and obesity.

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Key Publications

Wilfley DE, Hayes JF, Balantekin KN, Van Buren DJ, Epstein LH. Behavioral interventions for obesity in children and adults: Evidence base, novel approaches, and translation into practice. Am Psychol. 2018 Nov;73(8):981-993. doi: 10.1037/amp0000293. PMID: 30394777; PMCID: PMC6220709.
Read publication »Photoaffinity cross-linking of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase from beef heart mitochondria by 3′-arylazido-8-azido ATP.
Kazdin AE, Fitzsimmons-Craft EE, Wilfley DE. Addressing critical gaps in the treatment of eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2017 Mar;50(3):170-189. doi: 10.1002/eat.22670. Epub 2017 Jan 19. PMID: 28102908; PMCID: PMC6169314.
Read publication »Addressing critical gaps in the treatment of eating disorders.
Wilfley DE, Saelens BE, Stein RI, Best JR, Kolko RP, Schechtman KB, Wallendorf M, Welch RR, Perri MG, Epstein LH. Dose, Content, and Mediators of Family-Based Treatment for Childhood Obesity: A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2017 Dec 1;171(12):1151-1159. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2017.2960. PMID: 29084318; PMCID: PMC6169780.
Read publication »Cellular interactions in immune regulation. Hapten-specific suppression by non-T cells and T cell mediated reversal of suppression.
Taylor CB, Kass AE, Trockel M, Cunning D, Weisman H, Bailey J, Sinton M, Aspen V, Schecthman K, Jacobi C, Wilfley DE. (2016). Reducing eating disorder onset in a very high risk sample with significant comorbid depression: A randomized controlled trial. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016 May;84(5):402-14. PMCID: PMC4836995.
Read publication »[Injury and cardiac tamponade in closed thoracic trauma].
Wilfley DE, Agras WS, Fitzsimmons-Craft EE, Bohon C, Eichen DM, Welch RR, Jo B, Raghavan R, Proctor EK, Wilson GT. Training Models For Implementing Evidence-Based Psychological Treatment: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in College Counseling Centers. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 6;77(2):139–47. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3483. Epub ahead of print. Erratum in: JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 27;: PMID: 31693069; PMCID: PMC6865264.
Read publication »[Reversible inhibition of thrombocyte stimulation by acetylsalicylic acid and its role in antithrombotic therapy].
Wilfley DE, Stein RI, Saelens BE, Mockus DS, Matt GE, Hayden-Wade HA, Welch RR, Schechtman KB, Thompson PA, Epstein LH. Efficacy of maintenance treatment approaches for childhood overweight: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2007 Oct 10;298(14):1661-73. doi: 10.1001/jama.298.14.1661. PMID: 17925518.
Read publication »Efficacy of maintenance treatment approaches for childhood overweight: a randomized controlled trial.

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Funded Research Projects

NIMH: R34 MH119170 (MPI)
Leveraging Social Media to Identify and Connect Teens with Eating Disorders to a Mobile Guided Self-Help Mobile Intervention

CDC: U18DP006425 (PI)
Dissemination of an Evidence-Based Pediatric Weight Management Program for Use by Low Income Families: A User-Friendly Package of Family-Based Behavioral Treatment

Washington University School of Medicine (PI)
MyWay to Health Employee Wellness Program

PCORI: 2017C2-7542 (PI)
A Pragmatic Family-Centered Approach to Childhood Obesity Treatment

NIMH: 1R01MH115128 (MPI)
Harnessing Mobile Technology to Reduce Mental Health Disorders in College Populations

NHLBI: 1T32HL130357-01 (PI)
WUSTL Transdisciplinary Pre- and Postdoctoral Training Program in Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

NHLBI: 5U01HL131552-02 (MPI)
The Effectiveness of Family-based Weight Loss Treatment Implemented in Primary Care

NICHD: R01HD080292-01 (Co-I)
Using Prospection to Improve Obesity Treatment

Missouri Eating Disorder Council: MCCBH-2020-1-MED (PI)
Missouri Eating Disorders 360 Program Project Coordination

Missouri Eating Disorder Council: MCCBH-2019-1-MED (PI)
Missouri Eating Disorders Healthy Body Image Program Project Coordination

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences: HU00011920029 (Co-I)
Preventing Obesity and Eating Disorders to Improve Cardiovascular Outcomes in Active Duty Service Member

Recently Completed

AHRQ 1R13HS022816 (PI)
Evidence-based Childhood Obesity Treatment: Improving Access to Systems of Care

NIMH 1R01MH095748-01 (PI)
Implementation of Evidence-based Treatments for On-campus Eating Disorders

NIMH 1R01MH100455-01 (PI)
Using Technology to Improve Eating Disorders Treatment

NICHD 2 R01 HD036904-06 (PI)
Childhood Obesity Treatment: A Maintenance Approach

National Eating Disorders Association (PI)
Harnessing Technology for Training Clinicians to Deliver Interpersonal Psychotherapy