About

Takara L Stanley is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and a pediatric endocrinologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is a member of the Pediatric Endocrine Division and the Metabolism Unit. Her research centers on understanding hormonal, metabolic, and body composition abnormalities in obesity and HIV-infection, as well as exploring the metabolic and hormonal underpinnings of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). She has a particular interest in the pathogenesis and management of obesity and fatty liver disease in children. Dr. Stanley has published work on the effects of growth hormone releasing analogues to reduce ectopic fat deposition in visceral adipose tissue and the liver. She is the principal investigator of an NIH R01-funded project further investigating these themes. Additionally, she serves as the program director of Mass General's Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship and holds roles within the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, including Associate Director of the Center, director of the Pilot and Feasibility Program, and co-director of the Diversity Scholars Program.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Geography
• Endocrinology
• Political Science
• Biology
• Internal medicine
• Bioinformatics
• Psychology
• Medical education

Selected publications

• Muscle movement and metabolism: exercise and skeletal muscle as mediators of health—a report from the 26th Annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium, 2025

  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2026-03-09

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Racial and ethnic representation among a sample of nutrition‐ and obesity‐focused professional organizations in the United States

  UNC Libraries · 2025-05-14

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a chronic disease that disproportionately affects individuals from nonmajority racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Research shows that individuals from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds consider it important to have access to providers from diverse backgrounds. Health care providers and scientists from minority racial/ethnic groups are more likely than their non-Hispanic White counterparts to treat or conduct research on patients from underrepresented groups. The objective of this study was to characterize the racial/ethnic diversity of nutrition- and obesity-focused professional organizations in the United States. METHODS: This study assessed race/ethnicity data from several obesity-focused national organizations including The Obesity Society, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), the American Society for Nutrition, and the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM). Each organization was queried via emailed survey to provide data on racial/ethnic representation among their membership in the past 5 years and among elected presidents from 2010 to 2020. RESULTS: Two of the three professional societies queried did not systematically track race/ethnicity data at the time of query. Limited tracking data available from AND show underrepresentation of Black (2.6%), Asian (3.9%), Latinx (3.1%), Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (1.3%), or indigenous (American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.3%) individuals compared with the US population. Underrepresentation of racial/ethnic minorities was also reported for ABOM diplomates (Black: 6.0%, Latinx: 5.0%, Native American: 0.2%). Only AND reported having racial/ethnic diversity (20%) among the organization's presidents within the previous decade (2010-2020). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that (1) standardized tracking of race and ethnicity data is needed to fully assess diversity, equity, and inclusion, and (2) work is needed to increase the diversity of membership and leadership at the presidential level within obesity- and nutrition-focused professional organizations. A diverse cadre of obesity- and nutrition-focused health care professionals is needed to further improve nutrition-related health outcomes, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and undernutrition, in this country.

  PublisherDOI

• MON-696 Obesity and Metabolic Comorbidities in Young Adults with Perinatal HIV Exposure Without Infection

  Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2025-10-01

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Disclosure: N. Chahal: None. A.K. Arpante: None. J.E. Johnson: None. C.A. Dash: None. M.W. Ockene: None. I. Zheng: None. A. Boutin: None. H. Lee: None. K.E. Corey: None. T.L. Stanley: None. S.K. Grinspoon: None. L.T. Fourman: None. Background: Over 1 million HIV-negative individuals are born to mothers with HIV annually. While mounting evidence indicates an increased risk of metabolic abnormalities among this population in early life, long-term sequelae of perinatal HIV exposure without infection (PHEU) into adulthood remain largely unknown. This study examined the prevalence and prenatal correlates of obesity and metabolic comorbidities in the oldest known cohort of young adults with PHEU versus matched unexposed controls. Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated 41 young adults with PHEU and 41 controls matched 1:1 on ≥4 of the following factors: age, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal education, maternal substance use disorder, and breastfeeding. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 with elevated waist circumference (≥88 cm in females, ≥102 cm in males), or BMI >40 kg/m2. Metabolic comorbidities included impaired glucose tolerance (HbA1c ≥5.7%, fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL, and/or 2-hour glucose ≥140 mg/dL on oral glucose tolerance test), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR ≥3), hypertension (clinical diagnosis, SBP ≥140 mmHg, and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg), dyslipidemia (total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, HDL-C <40 mg/dL, and/or triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL), and hepatic steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter ≥263 dB/m on elastography). A composite metabolic comorbidity score was derived with 1 point assigned to each of the 5 selected outcomes. Framingham 30-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was calculated. Prenatal history was ascertained via maternal interview and medical records. Results: Young adults with PHEU (24±5 y, 46% male) had higher rates of obesity (51% vs. 29%, P=0.04), impaired glucose tolerance (21% vs. 3%, P=0.01), insulin resistance (24% vs. 2%, P=0.004), hypertension (20% vs. 0%, P=0.003), dyslipidemia (46% vs. 15%, P=0.002), and hepatic steatosis (44% vs. 15%, P=0.006) compared to matched controls. These differences conferred a higher metabolic comorbidity score (1.5±1.4 vs. 0.3±0.7, P<0.001) and 30-year CVD risk (9.7% vs. 5.8%, P=0.02). Relationships of PHEU with BMI, comorbidity score, and CVD risk persisted upon adjusting for young adult (e.g., adverse childhood experiences) and maternal factors (e.g., BMI). PHEU was associated with a higher rate of ≥1 metabolic comorbidity in young adults with (100% vs. 58%, P=0.001) and without obesity (42% vs. 15%, P=0.04). In the PHEU group, lower maternal prenatal CD4 count was associated with higher adult CVD risk (ρ=-0.42, P=0.03). Conclusions: Young adults with PHEU bear a greater burden of obesity and metabolic comorbidities versus unexposed peers. Maternal HIV-related immune dysregulation may contribute to these outcomes. These findings highlight the critical role of the intrauterine environment in shaping adult cardiometabolic disease risk and may have broader implications for other groups including offspring of mothers with obesity. Presentation: Monday, July 14, 2025

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• P-433. Impact of Tesamorelin on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction Scores in Phase 3 Studies Treatment Arms: Subanalysis

  Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2025-01-29

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Background The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is nearly twice as high for persons with HIV (PWH) as the general population. Excess visceral abdominal fat (EVAF), the key characteristic of central adiposity, has also been associated with an increased risk of CVD in PWH. Tesamorelin, a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog, has previously demonstrated significant reductions in EVAF in two phase 3 randomized controlled trials in PWH. Yet, the impact of the reduction of EVAF from tesamorelin on CVD outcomes has been unknown. Tesamorelin Treatment Effect on CV Risk Score Methods To assess this impact, combined datasets from the phase 3 studies’ treatment arms were utilized to calculate 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores at baseline and 26 weeks. A mediation analysis was conducted to characterize the significance of treatment impact via intermediate variables that factor into ASCVD risk prediction changes. Modifiable variables included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), high-density and low-density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL). The analysis population included 543 subjects randomized to tesamorelin treatment, 86% of which were male and 22% non-white; the median age was 47 years old. The percentage of subjects on lipid-lowering therapies, hypertension treatment, or diabetic were 46%, 37%, and 18%, respectively. Results Although the majority had low CVD risk at baseline, 44% had borderline to high CVD risk. Participants in the tesamorelin treatment arm tended toward a modest reduction in 10-year ASCVD risk prediction with estimated decrease in ASCVD risk of -0.40% (95% CI -0.89%, 0.05%). The reduction in CVD risk was relatively larger among subjects with higher CVD risk at baseline (p=0.038 for overall trend among all participants). Reductions in ASCVD risk score were driven predominantly by reductions in TC, independent of lipid lowering therapies. Conclusion In summary, this analysis provides evidence that reductions in excess visceral fat with tesamorelin lead to a significant reduction in forecasted CVD risk in PWH, resulting from reduction in TC even among a group heavily treated with lipid-lowering therapy. Given the increasing prevalence of obesity and central adiposity in PWH, more attention should be given to targeting visceral fat when considering CVD risk management. Disclosures Steven K. Grinspoon, MD, Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Kowa: Grant/Research Support|Theratechnologies: Advisor/Consultant|Viiv: Grant/Research Support Lindsay Fourman, MD, Chiesi Farmaceutici: Advisor/Consultant|Chiesi Farmaceutici: Grant/Research Support|Theratechnologies: Advisor/Consultant Takara Stanley, MD, Pfizer: Grant/Research Support Colleen McGary, PhD, Theratechnologies: Employee R Brandon Cash, PharmD, Theratechnologies: Employee

  PublisherDOI

• Novel strategies for medical management of obesity: mechanisms, clinical implications, and societal impacts—a report from the 25th Annual Harvard Nutrition Obesity Symposium

  American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2025-06-21 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Hypogonadism in adult males with adrenoleukodystrophy

  Annales d Endocrinologie · 2025-09-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the fields of nutrition and obesity: A roadmap to equity in academia

  UNC Libraries · 2025-03-19

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Bone age evaluation in an ethnically diverse cohort of children with premature adrenarche

  Pediatric Research · 2025-10-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  BACKGROUND: Bone age (BA) assessment is an essential tool in pediatric endocrinology, used to assess growth and perturbations in pubertal onset. BA advancement is common in children with premature adrenarche (PA), potentially leading to additional evaluation or intervention. The extent to which BA advancement reflects variation in metabolic and demographic factors, including body mass index (BMI), sex, race, and ethnicity, remains insufficiently characterized. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 296 children (72% female, mean age 7.3 ± 1.6 years) with isolated PA seen at a tertiary pediatric endocrinology clinic. Absolute and standardized BA advancement were analyzed in relation to BMI, sex, race, and ethnicity. Multivariate linear regression adjusted for age and covariates. RESULTS: BA advancement was greater in children with obesity (19.2 ± 15.1 months) versus those below the 95th% (11.4 ± 13.5), and in males (19.9 ± 14.3) versus females (12.4 ± 14.3). White race was associated with lower advancement (p = 0.02). BMI (p < 0.0001), male sex (p < 0.0001), and Hispanic vs. White ethnicity (p = 0.023) significantly affected standardized BA advancement. CONCLUSION: BMI, sex, and race/ethnicity influence BA advancement in PA, supporting individualized interpretation and further study of clinical implications. IMPACT: Bone age (BA) advancement is an important consideration in the diagnostic workup of children with premature adrenarche. In this diverse cohort, BMI status, sex, race, and ethnicity were significantly associated with BA advancement, suggesting that both metabolic and demographic factors influence skeletal maturation. While BA advancement in obesity and premature adrenarche is recognized, this study underscores their combined effects and the variability across populations. These findings point to limitations in current BA standards and support the need for individualized interpretation. Further research should explore how BA advancement in obesity and across ethnic groups affects adult height and long-term outcomes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Increasing Diversity in the Nutrition, Obesity, and Diabetes Biomedical Workforce: The BRIDGES Consortium

  UNC Libraries · 2025-04-05

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Resting Energy Expenditure in Adults With Williams Syndrome: Comparative Accuracy of Predictive Equations

  Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · 2025-12-19

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a microdeletion on chromosome 7q. Previous research indicates that adults with WS are prone to having overweight and obesity and also have decreased fat-free mass (FFM) on body composition analysis. To date, no explorations of factors associated with measured resting energy expenditure (mREE) or with the accuracy of predictive resting energy expenditure (pREE) equations have been performed. This study aimed to (1) obtain mREE in adults with WS and examine contributing factors; (2) compare mREE between adults with WS and matched controls; and (3) assess the accuracy of widely used pREE equations. METHODS: ) completed in-person mREE assessment at a clinical research centre using indirect calorimetry. Anthropometric measurements, plus FFM and fat mass (FM) on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were obtained. Twenty-four of these adults with WS were matched to controls, concurrent or historical, on age, sex, race/ethnicity and BMI. Differences between the two cohorts were examined with and without adjusting for age and FFM (unadjusted analyses using independent samples t-tests and adjusted analyses using ANCOVA). pREE was computed for the WS cohort using equations derived from several distinct adult populations, including some with adults ages 60 and older, and others with a high proportion of adults with overweight or obesity. Prediction accuracy at an individual and group level was examined for each equation. RESULTS: ; after adjusting for FFM, the sex-based difference in mREE persisted but with attenuated significance, while the difference between BMI categories no longer reached significance. WS participants had lower mREE than controls (males: 1310.0 ± 164.7 kcal/day vs. 1653.5 ± 406.7 kcal/day, respectively; females: 1163.1 ± 123.5 kcal/day vs. 1377.4 ± 401.5 kcal/day, respectively); after FFM adjustment, these differences were not statistically significant. Age was retained in all models even though it was not a significant predictor. Most predictive equations did not achieve ≥ 70% individual-level accuracy or a mean absolute percentage error ≤ 10%. The highest-performing predictive equation for individuals with WS was the Mifflin FFM equation, which yielded individual accuracy rates of 87.5% in males and 68.0% in females. The second top-performing equations differed by sex, with individual accuracy of 68.8% (Owen FFM) in males and 64% (Bernstein Height & Weight) in females. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that (i) the amount of FFM explains most of the mREE reduction observed when comparing females and males with WS, and when comparing WS and matched controls, and (ii) few predictive equations provide clinically useful REE estimates in adults with WS. More accurate predictions tended to originate from equations developed in cohorts with a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, or with older adults. These findings highlight the need for cautious application of pREE equation values in the clinical care of adults with WS and underscore the importance of continued investigation into energy requirements and their determinants.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog to Improve Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Associated Cardiovascular Risk

  NIH · $4.0M · 2018–2025

• Boston Area Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC)

  NIH · $13.2M · 1997–2027

• NIH Grant K23DK089910

  NIH · $795k · 2015

• NIH Grant F32DK080642

  NIH · $112k · 2011

Frequent coauthors

• Steven Grinspoon

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  246 shared

• Madhusmita Misra

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  110 shared

• Lindsay T. Fourman

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  79 shared

• Hang Lee

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  69 shared

• Martin Torriani

  66 shared

• Mabel Toribio

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  52 shared

• Meghan N. Feldpausch

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  52 shared

• Colleen Hadigan

  National Institutes of Health

  50 shared