Michelle Cardel Ph.D., M.S., R.D., F.T.O.S.

Dr. Cardel is an obesity and nutrition scientist, registered dietitian, the Head of Global Clinical Research & Nutrition at WeightWatchers and a faculty member at the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine, where she is also a Co-Director for the Center for Integrative Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases. Her research has focused on (1) developing, implementing, and testing the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle interventions for individuals with overweight/obesity, particularly among underserved populations, (2) characterizing psychosocial factors, including low social status and food insecurity, that contribute to the development of obesity, and (3) on improving gender and racial/ethnic equity in academia. Her specialties include nutrition, pediatric and adult obesity, psychosocial factors contributing to obesity, implementation science, and health disparities.

Dr. Cardel is a member of American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and was selected as a Fellow of The Obesity Society for her contributions to the field of obesity. She has been co-I or PI on several funded obesity grants and is published more than 115 papers in high impact medicine, obesity, and nutrition journals including JAMA, JAMA Pediatrics, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Obesity. Dr. Cardel has been presented with a variety of awards including the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Outstanding Woman Award, UAB’s President’s Diversity Award, The Obesity Society’s Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award finalist, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Excellence in Emerging Outcomes Research Award from the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group, UAB’s National Alumni Society Young Alumni Rising Star Award, and UF’s Exemplary Teacher Award for the College of Medicine.

Dr. Cardel received her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in Chemistry at Florida State University and is a registered dietitian. Her master’s degree in clinical nutrition and doctoral degree in Nutrition Sciences were awarded from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. You can read more about Cardel on the WW Science Page or her faculty bio.