Photo of Cara B. Ebbeling-Zabilansky,  PhD

Cara B. Ebbeling-Zabilansky, PhD

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children's Hospital
Phone: (617) 919-3457
Fax: (617) 730-0183


cara.ebbeling@childrens.harvard.edu

Cara B. Ebbeling-Zabilansky, PhD

Boston Children's Hospital

EDUCATIONAL TITLES

  • Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

DF/HCC PROGRAM AFFILIATION

Research Abstract

Dr. Ebbeling received an MS in exercise science from the University of Massachusetts in 1988 and a PhD in nutrition from University of Connecticut in 1997. She arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1999 to complete advanced training in obesity research, where she is presently associate director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center. Dr. Ebbeling is an internationally-recognized expert in interventional nutrition research design and quality control. She has directed numerous behavioral and feeding studies of diet in the treatment of obesity. She has published more than 60 scientific articles, topic reviews and editorials, many which have been highly cited by peers. Dr. Ebbeling has given scores of invited presentations at national and international professional meetings. She served as an associate editor for the journal Obesity and is a fellow of The Obesity Society and the American College of Sports Medicine.

Publications from Harvard Catalyst Profiles

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  • van de Donk NWCJ, Casneuf T, Di Cara A, Parren PW, Zweegman S, van Kessel B, Lokhorst HM, Usmani SZ, Lonial S, Richardson PG, Chiu C, Mutis T, Nijhof IS, Sasser AK. Impact of Fc gamma receptor polymorphisms on efficacy and safety of daratumumab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. British Journal of Haematology 2018. PubMed
  • de Ferranti SD, Milliren CE, Denhoff ER, Quinn N, Osganian SK, Feldman HA, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Providing food to treat adolescents at risk for cardiovascular disease. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2015; 23:2109-17. PubMed
  • Hron BM, Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Relationship of insulin dynamics to body composition and resting energy expenditure following weight loss. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2015. PubMed
  • French SA, Sherwood NE, JaKa MM, Haapala JL, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Physical changes in the home environment to reduce television viewing and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among 5- to 12-year-old children: a randomized pilot study. Pediatr Obes 2015. PubMed
  • Wong JM, Gallagher M, Gooding H, Feldman HA, Gordon CM, Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB. A randomized pilot study of dietary treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescents. Pediatr Obes 2015. PubMed
  • Heymsfield SB, Ebbeling CB, Zheng J, Pietrobelli A, Strauss BJ, Silva AM, Ludwig DS. Multi-component molecular-level body composition reference methods: evolving concepts and future directions. Obes Rev 2015; 16:282-94. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Antonelli RC. Primary care interventions for pediatric obesity: need for an integrated approach. Pediatrics 2015; 135:757-8. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB. Sugar-sweetened beverages and body weight. Curr. Opin. Lipidol. 2014; 25:1-7. PubMed
  • Lennerz BS, Alsop DC, Holsen LM, Stern E, Rojas R, Ebbeling CB, Goldstein JM, Ludwig DS. Effects of dietary glycemic index on brain regions related to reward and craving in men. Am J Clin Nutr 2013; 98:641-7. PubMed
  • Ramon-Krauel M, Salsberg SL, Ebbeling CB, Voss SD, Mulkern RV, Apura MM, Cooke EA, Sarao K, Jonas MM, Ludwig DS. A low-glycemic-load versus low-fat diet in the treatment of fatty liver in obese children. Child Obes 2013; 9:252-60. PubMed
  • Nagler EM, Pednekar MS, Viswanath K, Sinha DN, Aghi MB, Pischke CR, Ebbeling CB, Lando HA, Gupta PC, Sorensen GC. Designing in the social context: using the social contextual model of health behavior change to develop a tobacco control intervention for teachers in India. 2013. PubMed
  • Mirza NM, Palmer MG, Sinclair KB, McCarter R, He J, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS, Yanovski JA. Effects of a low glycemic load or a low-fat dietary intervention on body weight in obese Hispanic American children and adolescents: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2013; 97:276-85. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Sugar-sweetened beverages, genetic risk, and obesity. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:287. PubMed
  • Walsh CO, Ebbeling CB, Swain JF, Markowitz RL, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Effects of diet composition on postprandial energy availability during weight loss maintenance. PLoS ONE 2013; 8:e58172. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Chomitz VR, Antonelli TA, Gortmaker SL, Osganian SK, Ludwig DS. A randomized trial of sugar-sweetened beverages and adolescent body weight. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:1407-16. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB, Livingston EH. Surgical vs lifestyle treatment for type 2 diabetes. JAMA 2012; 308:981-2. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Swain JF, Feldman HA, Wong WW, Hachey DL, Garcia-Lago E, Ludwig DS. Effects of dietary composition on energy expenditure during weight-loss maintenance. JAMA 2012; 307:2627-34. PubMed
  • Nagler EM, Viswanath K, Ebbeling CB, Stoddard AM, Sorensen G. Correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption among construction laborers and motor freight workers. Cancer Causes Control 2012. PubMed
  • Fabricatore AN, Ebbeling CB, Wadden TA, Ludwig DS. Continuous glucose monitoring to assess the ecologic validity of dietary glycemic index and glycemic load. Am J Clin Nutr 2011; 94:1519-24. PubMed
  • Fabricatore AN, Wadden TA, Ebbeling CB, Thomas JG, Stallings VA, Schwartz S, Ludwig DS. Targeting dietary fat or glycemic load in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2011; 92:37-45. PubMed
  • Mirza NM, Klein CJ, Palmer MG, McCarter R, He J, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS, Yanovski JA. Effects of high and low glycemic load meals on energy intake, satiety and hunger in obese Hispanic-American youth. Int J Pediatr Obes 2011. PubMed
  • Sorensen G, Stoddard A, Quintiliani L, Ebbeling C, Nagler E, Yang M, Pereira L, Wallace L. Tobacco use cessation and weight management among motor freight workers: results of the gear up for health study. Cancer Causes Control 2010; 21:2113-22. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB. Weight-loss maintenance--mind over matter? N Engl J Med 2010; 363:2159-61. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Pediatric obesity prevention initiatives: more questions than answers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010; 164:1067-9. PubMed
  • Rhodes ET, Pawlak DB, Takoudes TC, Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Lovesky MM, Cooke EA, Leidig MM, Ludwig DS. Effects of a low-glycemic load diet in overweight and obese pregnant women: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2010. PubMed
  • Buxton OM, Quintiliani LM, Yang MH, Ebbeling CB, Stoddard AM, Pereira LK, Sorensen G. Association of sleep adequacy with more healthful food choices and positive workplace experiences among motor freight workers. Am J Public Health 2009; 99 Suppl 3:S636-43. PubMed
  • Botero D, Ebbeling CB, Blumberg JB, Ribaya-Mercado JD, Creager MA, Swain JF, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Acute effects of dietary glycemic index on antioxidant capacity in a nutrient-controlled feeding study. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2009; 17:1664-70. PubMed
  • Quintiliani LM, Stoddard AM, Ebbeling CB, Pereira LK, Sorensen G. Associations of diet behaviours and intention to eat healthily with tobacco use among motor freight workers. Public Health 2009; 123:565-7. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Nutritively sweetened beverages and obesity. JAMA 2009; 301:2209-10; author reply 2210-1. PubMed
  • Albala C,Ebbeling CB,Cifuentes M,Lera L,Bustos N,Ludwig DS. Effects of replacing the habitual consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with milk in Chilean children. Am J Clin Nutr 2008; 88:605-11. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB. Weighing the data in studies of the glycaemic index. Int J Obes (Lond) 2008; 32:1190. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB,Ludwig DS. Tracking pediatric obesity: an index of uncertainty? JAMA 2008; 299:2442-3. PubMed
  • Miller SL, Gaine PC, Maresh CM, Armstrong LE, Ebbeling CB, Lamont LS, Rodriguez NR. The effects of nutritional supplementation throughout an endurance run on leucine kinetics during recovery. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2007; 17:456-67. PubMed
  • Rhodes ET, Ebbeling CB, Meyers AF, Bayerl CT, Ooi WL, Bettencourt MF, Ludwig DS. Pediatric obesity management: variation by specialty and awareness of guidelines. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2007; 46:491-504. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Feldman HA, Lovesky MM, Ludwig DS. Effects of a low-glycemic load vs low-fat diet in obese young adults: a randomized trial. JAMA 2007; 297:2092-102. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Garcia-Lago E, Leidig MM, Seger-Shippee LG, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Altering portion sizes and eating rate to attenuate gorging during a fast food meal: effects on energy intake. Pediatrics 2007; 119:869-75. PubMed
  • Lesser LI, Ebbeling CB, Goozner M, Wypij D, Ludwig DS. Relationship between Funding Source and Conclusion among Nutrition-Related Scientific Articles. PLoS Med 2007; 4:e5. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Pearson MN, Sorensen G, Levine RA, Hebert JR, Salkeld JA, Peterson KE. Conceptualization and development of a theory-based healthful eating and physical activity intervention for postpartum women who are low income. Health Promot Pract 2007; 8:50-9. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Osganian SK, Chomitz VR, Ellenbogen SJ, Ludwig DS. Effects of decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption on body weight in adolescents: a randomized, controlled pilot study. Pediatrics 2006; 117:673-80. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB. Overweight children and adolescents. N Engl J Med 2005; 353:1070-1; author reply 1070. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Sinclair KB, Seger-Shippee LG, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Effects of an ad libitum low-glycemic load diet on cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese young adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2005; 81:976-82. PubMed
  • Adams SA, Matthews CE, Ebbeling CB, Moore CG, Cunningham JE, Fulton J, Hebert JR. The effect of social desirability and social approval on self-reports of physical activity. Am J Epidemiol 2005; 161:389-98. PubMed
  • Pereira MA, Kartashov AI, Ebbeling CB, Van Horn L, Slattery ML, Jacobs DR, Ludwig DS. Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study): 15-year prospective analysis. Lancet 2005; 365:36-42. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Sinclair KB, Pereira MA, Garcia-Lago E, Feldman HA, Ludwig DS. Compensation for energy intake from fast food among overweight and lean adolescents. JAMA 2004; 291:2828-33. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB, Peterson KE, Gortmaker SL. Hard facts about soft drinks. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2004; 158:290; author reply 290. PubMed
  • Bowman SA, Gortmaker SL, Ebbeling CB, Pereira MA, Ludwig DS. Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics 2004; 113:112-8. PubMed
  • Hebert JR, Patterson RE, Gorfine M, Ebbeling CB, St Jeor ST, Chlebowski RT. Differences between estimated caloric requirements and self-reported caloric intake in the women's health initiative. Ann Epidemiol 2003; 13:629-37. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Sinclair KB, Hangen JP, Ludwig DS. A reduced-glycemic load diet in the treatment of adolescent obesity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2003; 157:773-9. PubMed
  • Pawlak DB, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Spirited critique of glycaemic index (GI) and its role in the treatment of obesity. Obes Rev 2003; 4:73-4. PubMed
  • Miller SL, Maresh CM, Armstrong LE, Ebbeling CB, Lennon S, Rodriguez NR. Metabolic response to provision of mixed protein-carbohydrate supplementation during endurance exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2002; 12:384-97. PubMed
  • Goldfine AB, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Antegrade intravenous catheterization for metabolic studies in man. Diabetologia 2002; 45:1742-3. PubMed
  • Pereira MA, Ebbeling CB, Pawlak DB, Leidig MM, Ludwig DS. In search of a lifestyle prescription to control body weight. Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 76:1140-1; author reply 1141. PubMed
  • Pawlak DB, Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Should obese patients be counselled to follow a low-glycaemic index diet? Yes. Obes Rev 2002; 3:235-43. PubMed
  • Hebert JR, Ebbeling CB, Matthews CE, Hurley TG, MA Y, Druker S, Clemow L. Systematic errors in middle-aged women's estimates of energy intake: comparing three self-report measures to total energy expenditure from doubly labeled water. Ann Epidemiol 2002; 12:577-86. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB, Pereira MA, Pawlak DB. A physiological basis for disparities in diabetes and heart disease risk among racial and ethnic groups. J Nutr 2002; 132:2492-3. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Pawlak DB, Ludwig DS. Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. Lancet 2002; 360:473-82. PubMed
  • Ludwig DS, Ebbeling CB. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: primary care and public health considerations. JAMA 2001; 286:1427-30. PubMed
  • Matthews CE, Hebert JR, Freedson PS, Stanek EJ, Merriam PA, Ebbeling CB, Ockene IS. Sources of variance in daily physical activity levels in the seasonal variation of blood cholesterol study. Am J Epidemiol 2001; 153:987-95. PubMed
  • Hebert JR, Ebbeling CB, Olendzki BC, Hurley TG, Ma Y, Saal N, Ockene JK, Clemow L. Change in women's diet and body mass following intensive intervention for early-stage breast cancer. J Am Diet Assoc 2001; 101:421-31. PubMed
  • Rosal MC, Ebbeling CB, Lofgren I, Ockene JK, Ockene IS, Hebert JR. Facilitating dietary change: the patient-centered counseling model. J Am Diet Assoc 2001; 101:332-41. PubMed
  • Matthews CE, Freedson PS, Hebert JR, Stanek EJ, Merriam PA, Rosal MC, Ebbeling CB, Ockene IS. Seasonal variation in household, occupational, and leisure time physical activity: longitudinal analyses from the seasonal variation of blood cholesterol study. Am J Epidemiol 2001; 153:172-83. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS. Treating obesity in youth: should dietary glycemic load be a consideration? Adv Pediatr 2001; 48:179-212. PubMed
  • Hebert JR, Gupta PC, Mehta H, Ebbeling CB, Bhonsle RR, Varghese F. Sources of variability in dietary intake in two distinct regions of rural India: implications for nutrition study design and interpretation. Eur J Clin Nutr 2000; 54:479-86. PubMed
  • Hebert JR, Ebbeling CB, Ockene IS, Ma Y, Rider L, Merriam PA, Ockene JK, Saperia GM. A dietitian-delivered group nutrition program leads to reductions in dietary fat, serum cholesterol, and body weight: the Worcester Area Trial for Counseling in Hyperlipidemia (WATCH). J Am Diet Assoc 1999; 99:544-52. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Rodriguez NR. Effects of exercise combined with diet therapy on protein utilization in obese children. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999; 31:378-85. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Rodriguez NR. Effects of reduced energy intake on protein utilization in obese children. Metabolism 1998; 47:1434-9. PubMed
  • Brown DR, Wang Y, Ward A, Ebbeling CB, Fortlage L, Puleo E, Benson H, Rippe JM. Chronic psychological effects of exercise and exercise plus cognitive strategies. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1995; 27:765-75. PubMed
  • Widrick J, Ward A, Ebbeling C, Clemente E, Rippe JM. Treadmill validation of an over-ground walking test to predict peak oxygen consumption. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1992; 64:304-8. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Ward A, Puleo EM, Widrick J, Rippe JM. Development of a single-stage submaximal treadmill walking test. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1991; 23:966-73. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Clarkson PM. Muscle adaptation prior to recovery following eccentric exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1990; 60:26-31. PubMed
  • Porcari JP, Ebbeling CB, Ward A, Freedson PS, Rippe JM. Walking for exercise testing and training. Sports Med 1989; 8:189-200. PubMed
  • Ebbeling CB, Clarkson PM. Exercise-induced muscle damage and adaptation. Sports Med 1989; 7:207-34. PubMed
  • Clarkson PM, Ebbeling C. Investigation of serum creatine kinase variability after muscle-damaging exercise. Clin Sci (Lond) 1988; 75:257-61. PubMed
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