Mary Savoye, RD

Mary Savoye is dietitian who specializes in obesity and Type 2 diabetes in both children and adults. She has 25 years of experience in these fields at Yale.

As a clinical dietitian, Savoye educates patients on how to improve their diet and make lifestyle changes—like eating healthy food, exercising, and reducing stress—that can help manage their conditions. With a background in mental health counseling, she provides support and guidance for overcoming obesity-related habits and making permanent lifestyle changes.

She founded and directs Bright Bodies, a weight management program for children who meet weekly to learn how to make better food choices and become aware of their triggers for overeating. This curriculum- and evidence-based program is also being used nationally and internationally.

“Seeing the smile on children’s faces during group counseling sessions makes it all worthwhile,” Savoye says.

Savoye chose her specialty because she struggled with weight problems as a teenager. “I’ve seen firsthand what being overweight can do to a child's self-esteem and how dieting can worsen the problem,” Savoye says.

Ms. Savoye is also a certified diabetes counselor and understands the challenges her Type 2 diabetes patients face because her family members are prone to developing the condition. She is the author of a book entitled, “The 1 Thing Diet.”

“I tell patients they can make a difference in their lives and that they are not alone,” she says. “We are here to support them at every step along the way.”

Savoye is also involved in research in the fields of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in children and adults. Her work has been published in several journals including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Diabetes Care, Pediatrics, and the International Journal of Pediatrics.