Daniel Bessesen, MD
Enriched profileProfessor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes; Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Health and Wellness · University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Daniel Bessesen is Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes; Anschutz Foundation Endowed Chair in Health and Wellness at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. OpenAlex indexes 222 publications with 8,323 citations (h-index 44); ClinicalTrials.gov lists 6 registered studies with this person as an investigator.
Data verified 16 Oct 2026
Overview
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Daniel Bessesen, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Medicine. The public record shows 222 publications with 8,323 citations (h-index 44), centered on Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet, Regulation of Appetite and Obesity, Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment. It also documents an investigator role on 6 registered clinical trials, industry payments reported by 5 companies, 10 NIH-funded awards (1989–2026).
- Most recent indexed publication: 2026 · Gut microbes
- Top research focus: Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- 6 registered trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Open Payments reporting from 5 companies
Generated from the cited public record · current as of 16 Oct 2026. Every fact links its source below.
Indications focus
from trials led + research topicsResearch focus
OpenAlex concept fingerprintDrugs & molecules
across trials, industry payments and publicationsWorks with
trial sponsors and companies reporting paymentsScholarship
indexed output and impact (OpenAlex)Distinct works indexed by OpenAlex, matched via ORCID; 1 in PubMed.
Total citations across indexed works.
Hirsch index (OpenAlex). i10-index 112.
Clinical & industry
trials, payments and federal fundingContact
The practice address and phone this provider lists in the federal NPPES (CMS) registry.
Practice address
Telephone
Practice address and telephone from the federal NPPES registry.
Sign in to view contact details →Clinical trials
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Listed as an investigator on 6 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov. The most recent:
- Bioenergetic Effects of Aging and Menopause (BEAM)
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
- Adaptive Responses to Overfeeding and Weight
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
- Effects of Testosterone and Fat Utilization
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
Industry payments
Updated 16 Oct 2026
5 companies reported payments to CMS in program years 2021–2025. These are public disclosures, not judgments. The latest:
- Eli Lilly and CompanyProgram year202514 payments$12,850openpaymentsdata.cms.gov ↗
- Lilly USA, LLCProgram year20252 payments
- Chiesi USA, Inc.Program year20251 payment
Medicare prescribing footprint (2024)
The drugs this prescriber writes for Medicare patients, grouped by drug class and therapeutic area. Every percentage is a share of their total prescribing, so you can see what they prescribe most. These are proportions, not patient counts or dollar amounts. No condition is inferred: the claims record what was prescribed, never why.
Metabolism & gastrointestinal
40.4%GLP-1 receptor agonist29.4%Trulicity59%Ozempic41%Part D<11 patientsInsulin Analog11%Insulin Aspart Flexpen100%Part D<11 patientsHormonal (systemic)
36.7%l-Thyroxine22.9%Levothyroxine Sodium100%Part D<11 patientsParathyroid Hormone Analog13.8%Teriparatide100%Part D<11 patientsMusculoskeletal
11.9%Other drugs affecting bone structure and mineralization11.9%Crysvita100%Part D<11 patients
Drug classes come from the WHO ATC and U.S. National Library of Medicine (RxClass) classifications; prescribing counts come from the CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers file. Each drug is counted once, under its primary class. Medicare fee-for-service only, so no Medicare Advantage, commercial, or pediatric prescribing is included. CMS publishes this data about 17 months after the fact.
NIH funding
Updated 16 Oct 2026
10 NIH research awards on record, funded 1989–2026 per NIH RePORTER. The latest:
- Research Training Program in Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes
University of Colorado Denver
FY2026$151,830T32DK120521 - Research Training Program in Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes
University of Colorado Denver
FY2025$366,442T32DK120521
Congress activity
Updated 16 Oct 2026
2 congress contributions (2020–2022) across ENDO per OpenAlex. The most recent:
- SAT-575 Association Between Baseline Fitness and Changes in Physical Activity and Weight Loss in an 18-Month Behavioral Weight Loss Program
ENDO Annual Meeting
ENDO2020Co-author
Published abstracts are attributed via the same ORCID-disambiguated authorship as publications, so each is DOI-verified. Podium roles (invited talks, session chairs) and oral/poster type are added as program data is confirmed.
Publications
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Their five most recent publications, matched to their ORCID record and linked to PubMed.
- Multi-omic modelling of body mass index response to a dietary weight loss intervention.
Gut microbes
Article2026
Most-cited works
by citation count (OpenAlex)- 01Pharmacological Management of Obesity: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice GuidelineArticle1,348 citations2015
- 02Progress and challenges in anti-obesity pharmacotherapyArticle351 citations2017
- 03Temporal dynamics of the multi-omic response to endurance exercise trainingArticle290 citations2024
- 04
- 05Update on ObesityArticle257 citations2008
Network
Updated 16 Oct 2026
The people this person publishes with most, by number of co-authored papers. Names link to their own profile when we have one.
Online presence
Updated 16 Oct 2026
This person's own public accounts first, then places where others mention them. Two different things, listed separately.
Owned accounts
public accounts run by this person- Doximity
doximity.com/pub/daniel-bessesen-md
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →doximity.com ↗
Mentions by others
where others cite or feature them- Other
endocrine.org/journals/endocrine-feedback-loop-podcast-series/efl028-long-term-metabolic-effects-of-weight-loss-surgery
provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →endocrine.org ↗ - Other
endocrine.org/our-community/profiles/bessesen-daniel
provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →endocrine.org ↗
We list an account only when the public record ties it to this person. verified means we've confirmed the match in more than one place; provisional means it looks right but we're still confirming.
Background & recognition
Updated 16 Oct 2026
Credentials, appointments and honors, newest first, each linked to the public source it came from.
Education
degrees and training on record- MD with honors
University of Colorado School of Medicine (AOA)
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
Editorial & leadership roles
journal and society appointments- verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
- Board of Trustees
World Obesity Federation
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →worldobesity.org ↗ - Member
Endocrine Society guideline committee on pharmacotherapy of obesity
provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →support.endocrine.org ↗ - Guideline development
American Thoracic Society
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
Awards & honors
honors on the public record- Florence Rena Sabin Award for Exceptional Contributions to the Health of Citizens of Colorado
University of Colorado School of Medicine
2023provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →support.endocrine.org ↗ - verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
- Roland L. Weinsier Award for Excellence in Medical/Dental Nutrition Education
American Society for Nutrition
2008verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗ - verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
Secondary affiliations
appointments beyond the home institution- Executive Director
CU Anschutz Health and Wellness Center
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗ - Founding Program Director
Colorado Obesity Medicine Fellowship
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗ - Associate Director
Colorado Nutrition Obesity Research Center
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →worldobesity.org ↗ - Endocrinology practice
Denver Health Medical Center (former section head)
verifiedCorroborated by findmyKOL. We matched this record across two or more independent public sources (or a verified ORCID / NPI identifier bridge) before attributing it to this person.How we verify →worldobesity.org ↗
Media & interviews
press, podcasts and appearances- Endocrine Feedback Loop podcast
EFL028: Long-term metabolic effects of weight loss surgery (Endocrine Society)
provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →endocrine.org ↗ - provisionalFound in a cited public source but not yet independently corroborated. Published as a labeled candidate and queued for verification.How we verify →news.cuanschutz.edu ↗
Every item links to where we found it. verified means we've confirmed it in more than one place; provisional means we found it and are still confirming.
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