Dr Kristine Beaulieu

Profile

Dr Kristine Beaulieu is a lecturer and dietitian within the Appetite Control and Energy Balance Research (ACEB) group. Native of Canada, she completed a BSc in nutrition then an MSc in kinesiology at the University of Western Ontario, her thesis examining the impact of sprint interval exercise on appetite, energy intake and metabolism. Her PhD within ACEB investigated the influence of physical activity level on the sensitivity of the appetite control system, and was recognized for Research Excellence by the Dean of the Leeds Doctoral College. In her postdoc within ACEB, she received a Research Fellowship from the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism to conduct an RCT to examine the impact of weight loss through continuous or intermittent energy restriction (alternate day fasting) on homeostatic and hedonic appetite control and eating behaviour in women with overweight or obesity (DIVA study). She was subsequently involved in several projects, including the EU-funded SWEET project, the Satiety Map project and the European Association for the Study of Obesity Physical Activity Working Group (energy intake and appetite control theme lead). In 2020, Kristine was awarded a MRC Nutrition Travelling Skills Award for a visiting fellowship at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen to gain new skills and expertise in biopsychology of appetite and energy balance within clinical diabetes prevention in the context of time-restricted eating in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes (RESET project).

Kristine’s research has been featured in the New York Times and she has authored two expert commentaries for the American College of Sports Medicine on physical activity and appetite control, and physical activity and food reward. In 2020, she was recipient of the European Association for the Study of Obesity New Investigator in Basic Science Award.

Responsibilities

• Study Abroad Tutor

Research interests

Kristine’s main research interests fall under three main themes:

• The influence of physical activity on appetite control (satiation/satiety, food reward), body composition and its interaction with diet.
• The influence of energy restriction (continous and intermittent energy restriction) on appetite control and energy balance behaviours.  
• The influence of diurnal exercise and meal timing on appetite control and energy balance.

Qualifications

• BSc Nutrition (with dietetic internship) - University of Moncton (Canada)
• MSc Kinesiology (exercise physiology & sport nutrition) - University of Western Ontario (Canada)
• PhD Psychology (physical activity & appetite control) - University of Leeds
• Postdoc - University of Leeds

Professional memberships

• Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior
• UK Association for the Study of Obesity
• European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism
• American College of Sports Medicine
• Canadian Obesity Network
• British Dietetic Association

Student education

In the School of Psychology, I am involved in modules pertaining to biopsychology of human appetite, and behaviour and nutrition, and in the School of Food Science and Nutrition, I deliver guest lectures on the impact of exercise on appetite. I also mentor several students and research interns during their research projects in the lab.  

Research groups and institutes

• Appetite control and energy balance