Amy Otto
School of Education
University of Pittsburgh
600 BIRM
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
PHONE: 412-488-1770
EMAIL:
ayotto@pitt.eduFull Time Faculty - Research Assistant Professor
Amy D. Otto, Ph.D., R.D., LDN is the Assistant Director of the Physical Activity and Weight Management Research Center and an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh, along with a doctorate in Exercise Physiology. Dr. Otto is also a Registered and Licensed Dietitian in the State of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Otto's primary responsibilities are related to her role on federally funded research projects examining the role of exercise in the management of body weight. These responsibilities include the development of the intervention materials that are incorporated into the clinical trials and supervising staff and graduate students in this process. Dr. Otto has also played a key role in the development and implementation of the lifestyle intervention within the multi-center NIH-funded Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) which demonstrated the importance of weight loss and physical activity on the prevention of diabetes. Moreover, she is currently developing lifestyle intervention materials for the multi-center NIH-funded Look AHEAD trial, which is examining the role of exercise and weight loss on prevention of cardiovascular endpoints in Type 2 diabetics and the CALERIE Study, which is examining long-term effects of caloric restriction. Dr. Otto has presented results from these studies at national professional meetings and has authored or co-authored several manuscripts based on the results of these studies. Recently, she has received funding to begin to establish a research agenda to focus on prevention and treatment of obesity in children and minorities.
Dr. Otto has held professional memberships in the following
organizations: American College of Sports Medicine, North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Dietetic Association.
School Affiliations
- Department: Health and Physical Activity - Assistant Professor
- Program: Exercise Physiology
- Program: Exercise Science
- Program: Health and Fitness
- Program: Health, Physical Activity, and Chronic Disease
- Program: Wellness
Education
Recent Publications
Book Chapters
- Jakicic JM, Otto AD, Polzien K, Davis Kelliann. Physical Activity and Weight Control. In: I-Minn Lee, Blair S, Manson J, Paffenbarger RS, eds. Epidemiology Methods in Physical Activity Studies, New York: Oxford University Press, 2009; 225-245.
Conference Proceedings/Yearbooks
- AD Otto, JM Jakicic, K Davis, JL Unick, CA Dutton (2009). Promotion of Physical Activity Using a Computer Software Program on BMI and Fitness in Children [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports and Exercise, 41(5): Supplement.
- K Davis, JM Jakicic, AD Otto (2009). Caloric Beverage Consumption and Associated Changes in Body Weight across an 18 Month Weight Loss Intervention [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports and Exercise, 41(5): Supplement.
- BD Justice, JM Jakicic, AD Otto, L Semler (2009). Effects of Physical Activity on Weight, Abdominal Adiposity, and Blood Pressure in Overweight Adults [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports and Exercise, 41(5): Supplement.
- KC Hames, JA Brown, AD Otto, JM Jakicic, JP DeLany, BH Goodpastor, The RENEW Study Research Group (2009). Energy Expenditure in Severe Obesity [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports and Exercise, 41(5): Supplement.
- JL Unick, JM Jakicic, AD Otto, CA Dutton, KL Rompolski, DO Garcia, BD Justice (2009). Psychosocial Variables Influencing Long-term Physical Activity Levels in Overweight Men and Women [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports
- KL Rompolski, JM Jakicic, AD Otto, KA Davis, JL Unick, CA Dutton, DO Garcia (2009). The Effect of Weight Loss and Physical Activity on Bone Mineral Density in Overweight Women [Abstract]. Medicine & Science In Sports and Exercise, 41(5): Supplement.
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Recent Course Instruction
Spring 2010 (2104)
Fall 2009 (2101)
Summer 2009 (2097)
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Recent Presentations
- Physical Activity and Lifestyle Intervention for the Severely Obese, ACSM National Conference, Seattle, WA, May 2009.
- Research Designs: Exercise, Behavior, and Obesity. Research and Experimental Design Graduate Course, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, March 2009.
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Recent Consulting
- Duke University
- Writing intervention manuals for the CALERIE national multi-center clinical trial. Advising and training of CALERIE counselors to implement these materials.
- University of Pittsburgh
- Writing intervention materials for the Look AHEAD national multi-center clinical trial. Advising and training of Look AHEAD counselors to implement these materials.
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Recent Grants
- Study of Health Outcomes of Weight Loss (S.H.O.W.); Staff; NIH;$5,496,057
- Effect of a Stepped Care Intervention on Long-Term Weight Loss; NIH; $3,125,104
- Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy; PI; NIA/NIH; $162,613
- The Effect of an Exercise Buddy Kiosk on Physical Activity Levels in School-Age Children; Obesity/Nutrition Research Center; $16,898
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