Tomás Cabeza de Baca, Ph.D.
Professional Experience
- Staff Scientist, NIH/NIDDK, Phoenix Epidemiology & Clinical Research Branch, Obesity & Diabetes Clinical Research Section, 2020-present
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, 2016-2018
- NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow, Health Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 2014-2016
- M.S. and Ph.D. Family Studies and Human Development, University of Arizona, 2014
- B.A. Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, 2007
Research Goal
My long-term goal is to disentangle the interplay between psychosocial, ecological, and physiological factors on metabolic functioning and energy intake/expenditure to identify and target individuals most in need of intervention.
Current Research
I am a staff scientist at the Obesity and Diabetes Clinical Research Section of the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestion and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). Given that context and early experiences play a unique role in development and health, an individual’s ability to function in unpredictable and uncontrollable environments may help explain how current life stressors modify energy allocation and functioning of the metabolic system. As such, my clinical research at the NIDDK incorporates contextual and psychosocial factors in the examination of energy intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic functioning. I am PI on a study protocol that examines the impact of both caloric intake and macronutrient content on energy expenditure. Current projects include delineating the underlying metabolic and hormonal profiles of individuals with food insecurity, compared to food secure individuals. I am also involved in two systematic reviews and meta-analyses: (1) determines the impact of Respiratory Quotient on subsequent weight gain and (2) examines the relationship between perceptions of unpredictability on disordered eating.
Select Publications
- Investigation of seasonality of human spontaneous physical activity and energy expenditure in respiratory chamber in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Aydin BN, Stinson EJ, Cabeza De Baca T, Ando T, Travis KT, Piaggi P, Krakoff J, Chang DC.
- Eur J Clin Nutr (2024 Jan) 78:27-33. Abstract/Full Text
- Greater anhedonia scores in healthy individuals are associated with less decline in 24-hour energy expenditure with fasting: Evidence for a link between behavioral traits and spendthrift phenotype.
- Treviño-Alvarez AM, Cabeza de Baca T, Stinson EJ, Gluck ME, Chang DC, Piaggi P, Krakoff J.
- Physiol Behav (2023 Oct 1) 269:114281. Abstract/Full Text
Research in Plain Language
Obesity and its underlying cardiometabolic complications afflict approximately 20 million individuals residing in the United States. The quality of life, health care costs and loss of economic productivity add an unduly burden at the individual- and population-level. As such, the work in our unit seeks to understand the impact of psychosocial and physiological factors on food intake, energy expenditure, and weight gain. By understanding the interplay of these important factors, we ultimately hope to inform interventions that will target populations most at risk.