Kristen Beavers

Kristen M. Beavers, PhD, MPH, RD, is a Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University where she teaches Nutrition in Health and Disease (HES 351) and Epidemiology (HES 360). Dr. Beavers received her BS from Cornell University in Human Biology, Health and Society; MPH from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Nutrition; and PhD from Baylor University in Exercise, Nutrition, and Preventive Health. She is a Registered Dietitian and certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer.

Dr. Beavers’ academic and professional interests lie in the study of nutrition and exercise as interdisciplinary sciences, specifically as they relate to prevention and etiology of chronic disease and disability. Her research focuses on the identification of optimal weight loss therapies for older adults living with obesity.

Teaching

• Nutrition in Health and Disease (HES 351)
• Epidemiology (HES 360)

Publications

Research

R01 AG074979-01A1 (MPIs: K. Beavers/D. Beavers)

09/01/22-08/31/27

NIH/NIA

Exercise and Bisphosphonate Use to Minimize Weight Loss Associated Bone Loss among Older Adults

The objective of this proposed 2×2 factorial randomized controlled trial is to compare the independent and combined effects of resistance training (RT) plus bone-loading exercises and bisphosphonate use on dietary weight loss-associated bone loss among 308 older (60+ years) adults living with overweight/obesity who also have low bone mineral density (BMD) over a 12 month period.

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U01 AR080969 (MPIs: Beavers/Ard)

05/20/22-04/30/27

NIH/NIAMS

Bisphosphonate Use to Mitigate Bone Loss Secondary to Bariatric Surgery

Mounting evidence implicates surgical weight loss as a cause of increased skeletal fragility and fracture risk. This U01 is designed to test whether bisphosphonate therapy can minimize bone and muscle loss associated with bariatric surgery. Definitive data has the potential to shift current clinical practice while also offering insight into underlying biologic mechanisms.

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S10 OD030295-01A1 (PI: Weaver)

02/02/2022

NIH/ORIP

XtremeCT II high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scanner.

There is a successful and enthusiastic group of investigators at Wake Forest who have substantial need for a high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scanner. Acquisition of HR- pQCT at WFSM will enable this group of investigators to expand their significant contributions to, and remain at the forefront of, research in the field of musculoskeletal health. Role: Major User and Advisory Board Member.

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R01 AR073297 (PI: Beavers)

09/15/19 – 04/30/24

Incorporating Nutrition, Vests, Education, and Strength Training in Bone Health (INVEST in Bone Health)

This R01 is designed to definitively test the hypothesis that weighted vest use during weight loss attenuates bone loss compared to weight loss alone, and similarly to weight loss plus resistance training (a bone-sparing strategy which is effective, but present barriers to large scale implementation) in older adults with obesity. If confirmed, the greater availability, ease of administration, and reduced cost associated with weighted vest use to offset weight loss associated bone loss, as compared to resistance training, holds significant public health potential as a translatable strategy to maximize the cardiometabolic benefits of weight loss, while minimizing negative implications for the musculoskeletal system.

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P30 AG021332-20 (PI: Kritchevsky)

7/1/2023 – 6/30/2028

NIH/NIA

Wake Forest Claude D. Pepper OAIC

The major goals of this project are the developing, testing and dissemination of effective therapies for the treatment and prevention of physical disability in later life and training the next generation of leaders in clinical geriatrics research.

Role: Executive committee member; co-leader of clinical research core