Krista Varady, PhD
Professor
Kinesiology and Nutrition
Contact
- Building & Room:
- 532 AHSB
- Address:
- 1919 W. Taylor St.
- Office Phone:
- 312.996.7897
Email:
About
Krista Varady, PhD, is a Professor of Nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago and an internationally recognized expert in intermittent fasting. For more than 20 years, she has led clinical research examining how intermittent fasting can support weight loss and improve metabolic health. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the University of Illinois. Dr. Varady has published more than 150 scientific papers and is the author of The Every Other Day Diet and The Fastest Diet. She is dedicated to translating rigorous nutrition research into practical, evidence-based guidance for the public.
Selected Grants
National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, R01DK119783, Alternate day fasting combined with exercise for the treatment of NAFLD, PI
National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, R01DK128180, Time restricted feeding versus daily calorie restriction: Effect on body weight, metabolic risk, and the gut microbiome, PI
National Institutes of Health, NCI, R01CA257807, Effects of Time-restricted Eating versus Daily Continuous Calorie Restriction on Body Weight and Colorectal Cancer Risk Markers among Adults with Obesity, MPI
National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, R01DK136085, A pilot study of time-restricted eating among pregnant females with severe obesity, MPI
National Institutes of Health, NHLBI, R01HL106228, Alternate day fasting for weight loss, weight maintenance, and cardio-protection, PI
Selected Publications
Publication Aggregators
Notable Honors
2026, Blackburn Award for Excellence in Obesity Medicine, The Obesity Society
2025, Innovator Award, Association for Women in Science
2024, E.V. McCollum Leader in Clinical Nutrition Award, American Society for Nutrition
2023, Researcher of the Year, Distinguished Scientist, Clinical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago
2019, Researcher of the Year, Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago
2017, Mead Johnson Young Investigator Award, American Society for Nutrition
Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California, Berkeley
PhD, Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
BS, Human Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada