Denise Wilfley
Scott Rudolph University Professor
- Phone: 314-286-2079
- Email: wilfleyd@nospam.wustl.edu
Additional Titles & Roles
- Director, Weight Management & Eating Disorders Program
- Professor of Public Health
- Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences
- Professor of Medicine
- Professor of Pediatrics
Education & Training
- Ph.D.: University of Missouri Columbia, 1989
Major Awards
- Clinical Care Councilor, The Obesity Society, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- 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
- Special Government Employee member, Center for Scientific Review Advisory Council, 2018, 2019
- Oded Bar-Or Award for Excellence in Pediatric Obesity Research, 2018
- Vice President, The Obesity Society – Pediatric Obesity Section, 2011, 2012
- Secretary/Treasurer, The Obesity Society – Pediatric Obesity Section, 2010, 2011
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.
Recent Publications
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Unpacking weight management interventions measuring eating disorder risk in adults: coding of components of interventions in a systematic review
the EDIT Collaboration, Dec 2026, In: Journal of Eating Disorders. 14, 1, 202.
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Youth with severe obesity do not demonstrate increased eating disorder symptoms following family-based behavioral obesity treatment
Danielsen, Y. S., Skjåkødegård, H. F., Wilfley, D., Conlon, R. P. K., Molde, H., Skodvin, V. A. & Juliusson, P. B., Dec 2026, In: Eating and Weight Disorders. 31, 1, 38.
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Family-Centered Child Obesity Treatment: The TEAM UP Randomized Clinical Trial
Staiano, A. E., Cook, S. R., Stein, R. I., Button, A. M., Newton, R. L., Beyl, R. A., Baker, A., Lindros, J., Conn, A. M., Braddock, A. S., Welch, R. R. & Wilfley, D. E., Oct 5 2026, In: JAMA Pediatrics. 180, 10, p. 1076-1084 9 p.
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Among Multiple Mental Health Symptoms, Only Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Problems Predict Poorer BMI Outcomes in Family-Based Behavioural Treatment for Youth With Severe Obesity
Skodvin, V. A., Skjåkødegård, H. F., Molde, H., Wilfley, D., Conlon, R. P. K., Júlíusson, P. B. & Danielsen, Y. S., Sep 2026, In: Pediatric Obesity. 21, 9, e70147.
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Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Mobile App for Teens With or at High Risk for Eating Disorders: A Three-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Self-Help, Guided Self-Help, and Guided Self-Help With a Social Networking Component
Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Kasson, E., Szlyk, H. S., Li, X., Smith, A. C., D’Adamo, L., Lew, D. & Wilfley, D. E., Aug 2026, In: International Journal of Eating Disorders. 59, 8, p. 1724-1739 16 p.