Information

Related Research Units

Translational Research Program
Endocrinology Research

Research Overview

Dr. Stefater-Richards’ research focuses on understanding the role of the small intestine to regulate energy balance. In particular, her lab is interested in understanding how RXR-related nuclear receptors, like LXR and PPARa, in the gut control local and whole-body metabolism. By seeking to understand mechanisms behind effective treatments that involve the intestine, like bariatric surgery, the hope is to uncover novel targets for treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders. She is combining clinical/translational and basic approaches to address these questions.

Research Background

Dr. Stefater-Richards completed her B.A. degree at Northwestern University before obtaining an MD/PhD at the University of Cincinnati, with a PhD in Neuroscience. She completed her pediatric training as well as a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital. 

Dr. Stefater-Richards is the Medical Director of the Empower program, which is Endocrinology's medical weight management program, and also sees patients in the General Endocrinology and Adolescent Bariatric Surgery Programs. Her translational work draws upon biological specimens and clinical data from patients at BCH. She also is a site PI for several clinical trials related to drugs for obesity. 

Education

Undergraduate School

Northwestern University ,
2005 Evanston IL

Graduate School

University of Cincinnati
2010 Cincinnati OH

Medical School

University of Cincinnati
2012 Cincinnati OH

Internship

Pediatrics Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP)
2013 Boston MA

Residency

Pediatrics Boston Combined Residency Program (BCRP)
2015 Boston MA

Fellowship

Pediatric Endocrinology Boston Children's Hospital
2018 Boston MA

Media

Parentcast Podcast

Dr. Margeret Stefater- is featured: Is weight loss medication an option for my teen?

Publications

  1. Setmelanotide for the Treatment of Acquired Hypothalamic Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2026 Jul 09; 395(2):138-150. View Abstract
  2. Microbiome-derived cancer: the catabolism of bilirubin to urobilin in the liver-gut axis and its consequences. Gastroenterol Rep (Oxf). 2026 Feb; 14:goag065. View Abstract
  3. Trends of Diabetes in Youth (TrenDY) During COVID-19 Across the United States. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2026 Jan 21; 111(2):e476-e483. View Abstract
  4. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Pediatric and Adolescent Obesity. Pediatrics. 2025 Apr 01; 155(4). View Abstract
  5. Gastric bypass elicits persistent gut adaptation and unique diabetes remission-related metabolic gene regulation. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2024 Nov; 32(11):2135-2148. View Abstract
  6. The enteroendocrine axis and its effect on gastrointestinal function, nutrition, and inflammation. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2024 Aug 01; 30(4):290-297. View Abstract
  7. Gut adaptation after gastric bypass in humans reveals metabolically significant shift in fuel metabolism. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2023 01; 31(1):49-61. View Abstract
  8. Gastric Bypass in an Adolescent with Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Type 1 Diabetes. Obes Surg. 2021 May; 31(5):2298-2301. View Abstract
  9. Effect of Diet versus Gastric Bypass on Metabolic Function in Diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2020 12 10; 383(24):2391-2392. View Abstract
  10. Portal Venous Metabolite Profiling After RYGB in Male Rats Highlights Changes in Gut-Liver Axis. J Endocr Soc. 2020 Feb 01; 4(2):bvaa003. View Abstract
  11. Differential Metabolomic Signatures in Patients with Weight Regain and Sustained Weight Loss After Gastric Bypass Surgery: A Pilot Study. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 04; 65(4):1144-1154. View Abstract
  12. Comment on: GLP-1 and PYY3-36 reduce high-fat food preference additively after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in diet-induced obese rats. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 09; 15(9):1492-1493. View Abstract
  13. Glycogen storage disease presenting as Cushing syndrome. JIMD Rep. 2019 May; 47(1):17-22. View Abstract
  14. The Feasibility of Examining the Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery on Intestinal Metabolism: Prospective, Longitudinal Mechanistic Clinical Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Jan 24; 8(1):e12459. View Abstract
  15. Publisher Correction: Inactivating hepatic follistatin alleviates hyperglycemia. Nat Med. 2018 Oct; 24(10):1628. View Abstract
  16. Inactivating hepatic follistatin alleviates hyperglycemia. Nat Med. 2018 07; 24(7):1058-1069. View Abstract
  17. Bariatric Surgery for Adolescents with Type 2 Diabetes: an Emerging Therapeutic Strategy. Curr Diab Rep. 2017 08; 17(8):62. View Abstract
  18. A case report of methadone-associated hypoglycemia in an 11-month-old male. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2018 01; 56(1):74-76. View Abstract
  19. Three-decade metabolic outcome of neonatal gastrectomy and early Roux-en-Y. Pediatr Surg Int. 2014 Feb; 30(2):249-52. View Abstract
  20. The anorectic effect of GLP-1 in rats is nutrient dependent. PLoS One. 2012; 7(12):e51870. View Abstract
  21. Advances in the surgical treatment of morbid obesity. Mol Aspects Med. 2013 Feb; 34(1):84-94. View Abstract
  22. Bariatric surgery for adolescents. Pediatr Diabetes. 2013 Feb; 14(1):1-12. View Abstract
  23. All bariatric surgeries are not created equal: insights from mechanistic comparisons. Endocr Rev. 2012 Aug; 33(4):595-622. View Abstract
  24. The anorectic effect of CNTF does not require action in leptin-responsive neurons. Endocrinology. 2012 Jun; 153(6):2647-54. View Abstract
  25. The effect of vertical sleeve gastrectomy on food choice in rats. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013 Feb; 37(2):288-95. View Abstract
  26. Molecular insights from bariatric surgery. Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2011 Sep; 12(3):211-7. View Abstract
  27. Weight-independent changes in blood glucose homeostasis after gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy in rats. Gastroenterology. 2011 Sep; 141(3):950-8. View Abstract
  28. Similar effects of roux-en-Y gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy on glucose regulation in rats. Physiol Behav. 2011 Nov 30; 105(1):120-3. View Abstract
  29. Sleeve gastrectomy in rats improves postprandial lipid clearance by reducing intestinal triglyceride secretion. Gastroenterology. 2011 Sep; 141(3):939-949.e1-4. View Abstract
  30. Central nervous system nutrient signaling: the regulation of energy balance and the future of dietary therapies. Annu Rev Nutr. 2010 Aug 21; 30:219-35. View Abstract
  31. Sleeve gastrectomy induces loss of weight and fat mass in obese rats, but does not affect leptin sensitivity. Gastroenterology. 2010 Jun; 138(7):2426-36, 2436.e1-3. View Abstract

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