Skip to Main Content

Mary Savoye, RD

Associate Director, Pediatric Obesity and Director, Bright Bodies Program
DownloadHi-Res Photo

Additional Titles

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Associate Director, Pediatric Obesity & Bright Bodies Weight Management Program for Children

About

Titles

Associate Director, Pediatric Obesity and Director, Bright Bodies Program

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator; Associate Director, Pediatric Obesity & Bright Bodies Weight Management Program for Children

Biography

Mary Savoye-DeSanti, MS, RD, CD-N, CDE is a leading authority in the fields of obesity and diabetes in her clinical and research capacity at Yale University. She is the associate director of pediatric obesity at the School of Medicine and clinical dietitian at the Yale Stress Center. With 20 years of experience, she has published several research articles and chapters in textbooks. She has recently published the 1 Thing “Diet”: It doesn’t Get Any Simpler. In addition to this stress-free approach to weight loss, she has written the Smart Moves Workbook, a weight management curriculum for both children and adults. She developed the Bright Bodies Healthy Lifestyle Program for overweight children and their parents and it is used throughout the world. Ms. Savoye-DeSanti has earned two undergraduate degrees—one in nutrition and dietetics and one in business administration—and an MS degree in clinical mental health counseling. She lives in Branford, Connecticut, with her husband and three children.

Appointments

Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Practicum
Yale Stress Center (2020)
BS
St. Joseph College, Dietitics (1993)
Internship
Saint Francis Hospital (1993)

Research

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Mary Savoye's published research.

Publications

2024

2014

2012

2011

2009

Others

  • Nowicka P, Savoye M. Strategies that motivate children and their families to take positive action: Empowering self efficacy and change. Int J Ped Obesity 5(Suppl 1): 25-27, 2010.
    Peer-Reviewed Original Research

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    Comprehensive Weight Management Program, Bright Bodies, in Chile

Clinical Care

Overview

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.

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes

Board Certifications

  • Certified Dietitian

    Certification Organization
    American Dietetic Association
    Original Certification Date
    2004
  • Diabetes Educator

    Certification Organization
    National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
    Latest Certification Date
    2017
    Original Certification Date
    1997

Get In Touch

Contacts

Appointment Number
Clinic Fax Number

Locations

  • Patient Care Locations

    Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.