While my academic work spans various intersections of nutritional science, my primary research focus centers on how dietary patterns and nutritional interventions modulate chronic diseases, particularly obesity. Within this spectrum, intermittent fasting and ultra-processed foods represent the core topics I delve into.
In my scientific workflow, biostatistics and data visualization are not just analytical tools, but a true passion for uncovering the biological story hidden behind data. I actively integrate artificial intelligence technologies into research and clinical thinking—advocating, practicing, and teaching these tools at the undergraduate level.
Beyond research and data analytics, one of my highest priorities is in the lecture hall and clinic: inspiring scientific curiosity and training high-caliber, evidence-based dietitians.
Academic Background & Degrees
Education & Academic Positions
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Ankara University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics • 2019 – 2024
12 November 2024
Dissertation:Evaluation of Diet-Related Risk Factors According to the Severity of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
Advisor: Prof. Dr. Nurcan Yabancı Ayhan
Master of Science (MSc)
Ondokuz Mayis University Graduate School of Health Sciences
Nutritional Sciences (With Thesis) • 2016 – 2019
January 2019
Thesis:Evaluation of the Relationship Between Zonulin, Total Antioxidant Capacity, Total Oxidant Status and Nutrition in Newly Diagnosed Coronary Artery Disease Patients
Advisor: Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Alper Tokay
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics • 2012 – 2016
June 2016
Academic Positions
Current Position
Research Assistant, PhD
Akdeniz University Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics • 2017 – Present
Conducting clinical and epidemiological research, biostatistical modeling, undergraduate teaching, and mentoring bachelor theses.
Bibliography & Scientific Outputs
Publications
BMJ Paediatrics Open (2026) • SCI-E
1. Mealtime behaviours, diet quality and parental stress in children with autism spectrum disorder: a cross-sectional study from Türkiye
Özyıldırım, C., Karaçil Ermumcu, M. Ş., Mutlu, M. E., Baran, I., Salim, H., & Seremet Kürklü, N. (2026).
Lay Summary: Mealtime behaviors and nutritional challenges in children with autism spectrum disorder significantly impact child development and parental stress. Our study provides evidence supporting family-centered dietary counseling models.
Obesity Medicine (2026) • SCI-E
2. Waist circumference associates with ultrasound-defined steatosis grade in NAFLD patients characterized by uniformly suboptimal diet
Özyıldırım, C., Aydemir, M., & Yabancı Ayhan, N. (2026).
Lay Summary: We investigated the clinical concordance of waist circumference with ultrasound-defined hepatic steatosis grades in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients.
Z. Gerontol. Geriatr. (2025) • SCI-E
3. Factors affecting the risk of falling and fall-related injuries in older people in Turkey
Özdemir Güler, Z., Kılıç, B., Özyıldırım, C., Kamarlı Altun, H., Ay, F., & Özgün Başıbüyük, G. (2025).
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie, doi:10.1007/s00391-025-02518-1.
5. Performance of triponderal mass index, body mass index z scores, and body mass index performance in the diagnosis of obesity in children and adolescents
Özyıldırım, C., Ünsal, E. N., & Yabancı Ayhan, N. (2023).
8. Turkish version of the 'Food and Nutrition Literacy Questionnaire for Chinese School-Age Children' for school-age adolescents: a validity and reliability study
Mengi Çelik, Ö., Karaçil Ermumcu, M. Ş., & Özyıldırım, C. (2023).
Pan-European Network for Inflammaging: A Multi-omics Integration Approach (INFLAMomx)
INFLAMomx consolidates European expertise to investigate inflammaging—the chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with aging—as a common driver of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) using cutting-edge multi-omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, microbiome).
Role: Working Group Member Working Groups: WG1 (Knowledge Hub Creation), WG3 (Translational Potential & Biomarkers), WG4 (Capacity Building & Training) Active (02/07/2026 – Present)
Academic Contribution & Focus: Integrating nutritional sciences and dietetics into the inflammaging paradigm; evaluating how dietary patterns (Mediterranean diet, intermittent fasting), food bioactives (polyphenols), and gut microbial metabolites modulate systemic inflammatory biomarkers and contribute to clinical nutrition trial designs.
International Networking on In Vitro Colon Models Simulating Gut Microbiota Mediated Interactions (INFOGUT)
INFOGUT brings together European academic and industrial leaders to standardize, validate, and extend in vitro human and non-human colon models (e.g., dynamic fermentation systems, gut-on-a-chip) for food science, nutraceuticals, and preclinical biomedical applications.
Role: Working Group Member Working Groups: WG3 (Extension to Diseased Situations), WG4 (Data Science & Management), WG5 (Education, Technology Transfer & Dissemination) Active (20/08/2026 – Present)
Academic Contribution & Focus: Investigating the colonic fermentation of dietary fibers, prebiotics, and bioactive compounds; profiling short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) kinetics; optimizing nutritional parameters for in vitro disease models (obesity, T2D, MASLD); and developing educational resources for healthcare and nutrition professionals.
Individual Nutrition Counseling Model in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities
Strengthening service capacity, developing family-based nutrition counseling protocols, and enhancing dietary quality for individuals with special needs.
The impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on nutritional science; practical tools for dietetic practice, nutrient analysis, client education, and hands-on case workshops.
🎯 Core Topics: Impact of AI on nutrition and dietetics, digital tools for dietary analysis and meal planning, using AI for client communication and education, efficient scientific literature search, ethics and limitations of AI in dietetics.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: Exploring the impact of AI on nutrition science and emerging trends through extensive hands-on workshops, real-life dietetic case scenarios, and practical digital tool applications.
🚀 Outcomes: Consciously and ethically utilize AI and computer tools in dietetic practice, navigate digital food databases, and integrate technology into client management workflows.
Evidence-based analysis of the biopsychosocial, cultural, and environmental dynamics shaping individual and societal eating behaviors.
🎯 Core Topics: Appetite mechanisms and food choice, disordered eating and eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, BED), obesity and body image, psychosocial perspectives on GLP-1 therapies, nutritional fanaticism and orthorexia.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: Psychosocial dimensions of GLP-1 popularity, dietary fanaticism, body image stigma, and psychometric screening tools analysis.
🚀 Outcomes: Analyze eating behaviors through a biopsychosocial framework, identify eating disorder risk factors, and develop client-centered mindful nutrition approaches.
Critical evaluation of nutrition claims in media, identifying misinformation, and translating evidence-based scientific research into accessible public communication.
🎯 Core Topics: Media literacy, social media algorithms, influencer marketing, diet myths, food advertising tactics, fake news and misinformation analysis.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: Evidence-based content creation on social media, scientific fact-checking workshops, and publication of 'Social Media Guidelines for Dietitians' brochures and presentations (Fall 2024-2025).
🚀 Outcomes: Critically evaluate nutrition news and viral diet trends, produce ethical and accessible science communication materials tailored for diverse target audiences.
Physiological and metabolic foundations of diet planning combined with evidence-based critical analysis of current popular dietary trends.
🎯 Core Topics: Evolution of human nutrition, energy expenditure models, diet culture criticism, Ketogenic diet protocols, Intermittent Fasting (IF/TRE), longevity nutrition, and dietary myths.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: AI-powered Google NotebookLM digital notebook; Critical brainstorming on 'Is obesity a disease?', 'Is calorie counting effective?', 'What is the ideal diet?' with student podcast submissions broadcast in class (Fall 2024-2025).
🚀 Outcomes: Distinguish evidence-based nutritional protocols from commercial fad diets, manage long-term metabolic and behavioral outcomes of popular diets.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: AI-powered Google NotebookLM digital notebook; Academic class debate on 'Should We Use Dietary Supplements?' (Spring 2024-2025); Department-wide Nutrition and Dietetics Quiz Bowl (Spring 2025-2026).
🚀 Outcomes: Understand molecular mechanisms of immunonutrients and develop targeted nutritional protocols for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Evidence-based clinical diet therapy and case simulations across cardiometabolic, GI, oncologic, renal, and hepatic diseases using the Nutrition Care Process (NCP).
🎯 Core Topics: Antropometric and clinical biochemistry interpretation, obesity management, glycemic control & carbohydrate counting in Type 2 Diabetes, CVD, hypertension, Mediterranean & DASH diets, GI disorders (celiac, IBD, GERD), cancer cachexia & oncologic nutrition, acute/chronic renal disease & dialysis, liver diseases (MASLD/MASH, cirrhosis), and pancreatitis.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: Comprehensive Mediterranean & DASH Diet Workshop (Fall semester) and AI-powered Interactive Clinical Case Simulations for patients on GLP-1 Receptor Agonist therapy (Spring semester).
🚀 Outcomes: Prescribe patient-tailored medical nutrition therapies in complex metabolic conditions, interpret clinical findings accurately, and lead multidisciplinary case management.
Clinical nutrition support, artificial feeding routes, formula selection, and ESPEN guideline-based case management in critically ill and compromised adult patients.
💡 Classroom Practice & AI: AI-powered complex case simulations for clinical decision-making; In-depth literature case report analysis, student solution defense, and ESPEN guideline comparison (Spring 2024-2025 & 2025-2026).
🚀 Outcomes: Select optimal artificial feeding routes and formulations tailored to clinical status, anticipate and prevent metabolic complications in simulated case models.
Thoughts, Essays & Analysis
Articles
Chronologically ordered scientific articles, op-eds, and reviews:
Does rapid weight loss with GLP-1 and dual incretins mean true muscle wasting or biomechanical adaptation? Demystifying the 35-40% lean mass reduction, DXA pitfalls, myosteatosis clearance, and the essential role of protein and resistance training.
Do GLP-1 medications actually cure obesity or merely induce substantial weight loss? Analyzing the five foundational pillars of modern obesity through recent EASO, ADA, and Lancet consensus statements.
Rapid appetite suppression under GLP-1 therapies creates covert risks of micronutrient deficiency and sarcopenia. Real-world cohort findings on lean mass retention, iron kinetics, and clinical dietary prioritization.
Interactive calculators, data analysis tools, and computational simulations:
AI NotebookGoogle NotebookLM
Principles of Nutrition & Popular Diets — AI Notebook
An interactive AI-powered study notebook for BES 339. Grounded directly in course materials and peer-reviewed evidence on energy metabolism, Ketogenic diets, Intermittent Fasting, and diet culture critiques.
Weight Loss Achieved, But Is Obesity Really Solved?
Can a pharmaceutical drug induce substantial weight loss and permanently eliminate obesity? Analyzing post-cessation weight regain and the indispensable role of dietetics.
Incretin & Muscle Mass
