Stephanie B Levy
Biographic Data
| ID | 4321952 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Stephanie B Levy |
| GIVEN NAMES | Stephanie B |
| FAMILY NAME | Levy |
| SIGNATURE | LEVY S B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Department of Anthropology Northwestern University Evanston Illinois |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2828-2014 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 11 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The wintertime brown adipose tissue thermogenesis of New York City residents amidst climate change
Our study provides mixed evidence for the role of BAT thermogenesis in metabolic adaptations to cold stress among NYC residents. Many young adults in NYC are exposed to minimal amounts of cold stress, and this trend is likely to be exacerbated by climate change
Hierarchies in the energy budget
The evolution of human life history characteristics required dramatic shifts in energy allocation mechanisms compared with our primate ancestors. Thyroid hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are sensitive to energy balance, and are significant determinants for both tissue‐specific and whole‐body metabolic rate. Thus, thyroid hormones are in part responsible for setting the body's overall energy budget and likely played an i…
Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis among young adults in northeastern Siberia and Midwest United States and its relationship with other biological adaptations to cold climates
OBJECTIVES: Recent research suggests that brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a functional role in non-shivering thermogenesis; however, few studies have examined population variation in BAT or its relationship with other mechanisms of adaptation to cold stress. This study characterized BAT thermogenesis and other adaptive responses to low temperatures among Indigenous Siberian young adults and young adults living near Chicago, IL. MATERIALS AND MET…
The evolutionary significance of human brown adipose tissue
While human adaptability is regarded as a classical topic in anthropology, recent work provides new insight into metabolic adaptations to cold climates and the role of phenotypic plasticity in human evolution. A growing body of literature demonstrates that adults retain brown adipose tissue (BAT) which may play a role in non‐shivering thermogenesis. In this narrative review, we apply the timescales of adaptation framework in order to explore the …
Intersecting vulnerabilities in human biology
OBJECTIVES: Increasing obesity rates and accelerating climate change represent two global health challenges shaped by lifestyle change and human environmental modifications. Yet, few studies have considered how these issues may interact to exacerbate disease risk. METHODS: In this theory article, we explore evidence that obesity-related disease and climatic changes share socio-ecological drivers and may interact to increase human morbidity and mo…
Feasibility of using infrared thermal imaging to examine brown adipose tissue in infants aged 18 to 25 months
While further work is necessary to develop a reliable cooling condition, this study provides proof-of-concept for non-invasive assessment of BAT activity in infants
Evidence for a sensitive period of plasticity in brown adipose tissue during early childhood among indigenous Siberians
OBJECTIVES: Evolutionary theorists have debated the adaptive significance of developmental plasticity in organisms with long lifespans such as humans. This debate in part stems from uncertainty regarding the timing of sensitive periods. Does sensitivity to environmental signals fluctuate across development or does it steadily decline? We investigated developmental plasticity in brown adipose tissue (BAT) among indigenous Siberians in order to exp…
Field and laboratory methods for quantifying brown adipose tissue thermogenesis
Non‐shivering thermogenesis (NST) is a metabolic response to acute cold exposure that involves the liberation of chemical energy through physiological mechanisms that are separate from muscle shivering. Recent research suggests that the metabolic and endocrine action of brown adipose tissue (BAT) may play an important role in adult human NST. Thus, characterizing variation in BAT across human populations is of central importance to human biologis…
Brown adipose tissue, energy expenditure, and biomarkers of cardio‐metabolic health among the Yakut (Sakha) of northeastern Siberia
OBJECTIVES: This study provides the first investigation of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity among an indigenous circumpolar population, the Yakut of northeastern Siberia. The study also examines the health significance of BAT activity in this population by testing the relationships between BAT thermogenesis and biomarkers of cardio-metabolic disease risk, such as percent body fat and blood glucose and chol…
Lifestyle mediates seasonal changes in metabolic health among the yakut (sakha) of northeastern siberia
OBJECTIVES: Among indigenous circumpolar populations, extreme seasonality influences food availability and energy metabolism. Furthermore, subsistence patterns and wage labor opportunities shift with season. Thus, health measures among circumpolar populations likely exhibit seasonal changes that are influenced by lifestyle factors. This study examines how markers of cardio-metabolic health vary between summer and winter as a function of an indivi…
Response to commentary regarding the article
Seasonal variation in basal metabolic rates among the yakut (Sakha) of Northeastern Siberia
Among the Yakut, increased wintertime BMR was observed among younger but not older adults, whereas all adults showed sharp reductions in free thyroid hormone levels during the winter. Among men, greater participation in subsistence activities was associated with increased BMRs and greater fat oxidation. Among women, variation in food use had the strongest impact on metabolic function
Seasonal and socioeconomic influences on thyroid function among the Yakut (Sakha) of Eastern Siberia
OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown that the extreme cold and short day lengths of polar winters promote increased production and uptake of thyroid hormones, resulting in marked declines in free triiodothyronine (fT3). However, this "polar T3 syndrome" has been documented almost exclusively on small samples of male sojourners and little is known about seasonal changes in thyroid function among indigenous circumpolar groups. The present study …
Evidence for a sensitive period of plasticity in brown adipose tissue during early childhood among indigenous Siberians
OBJECTIVES: Evolutionary theorists have debated the adaptive significance of developmental plasticity in organisms with long lifespans such as humans. This debate in part stems from uncertainty regarding the timing of sensitive periods. Does sensitivity to environmental signals fluctuate across development or does it steadily decline? We investigated developmental plasticity in brown adipose tissue (BAT) among indigenous Siberians in order to exp…
The wintertime brown adipose tissue thermogenesis of New York City residents amidst climate change
Our study provides mixed evidence for the role of BAT thermogenesis in metabolic adaptations to cold stress among NYC residents. Many young adults in NYC are exposed to minimal amounts of cold stress, and this trend is likely to be exacerbated by climate change
Hierarchies in the energy budget
The evolution of human life history characteristics required dramatic shifts in energy allocation mechanisms compared with our primate ancestors. Thyroid hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are sensitive to energy balance, and are significant determinants for both tissue‐specific and whole‐body metabolic rate. Thus, thyroid hormones are in part responsible for setting the body's overall energy budget and likely played an i…
Seasonal and socioeconomic influences on thyroid function among the Yakut (Sakha) of Eastern Siberia
OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown that the extreme cold and short day lengths of polar winters promote increased production and uptake of thyroid hormones, resulting in marked declines in free triiodothyronine (fT3). However, this "polar T3 syndrome" has been documented almost exclusively on small samples of male sojourners and little is known about seasonal changes in thyroid function among indigenous circumpolar groups. The present study …
Seasonal variation in basal metabolic rates among the yakut (Sakha) of Northeastern Siberia
Among the Yakut, increased wintertime BMR was observed among younger but not older adults, whereas all adults showed sharp reductions in free thyroid hormone levels during the winter. Among men, greater participation in subsistence activities was associated with increased BMRs and greater fat oxidation. Among women, variation in food use had the strongest impact on metabolic function
Lifestyle mediates seasonal changes in metabolic health among the yakut (sakha) of northeastern siberia
OBJECTIVES: Among indigenous circumpolar populations, extreme seasonality influences food availability and energy metabolism. Furthermore, subsistence patterns and wage labor opportunities shift with season. Thus, health measures among circumpolar populations likely exhibit seasonal changes that are influenced by lifestyle factors. This study examines how markers of cardio-metabolic health vary between summer and winter as a function of an indivi…
Response to commentary regarding the article
Brown adipose tissue, energy expenditure, and biomarkers of cardio‐metabolic health among the Yakut (Sakha) of northeastern Siberia
OBJECTIVES: This study provides the first investigation of non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity among an indigenous circumpolar population, the Yakut of northeastern Siberia. The study also examines the health significance of BAT activity in this population by testing the relationships between BAT thermogenesis and biomarkers of cardio-metabolic disease risk, such as percent body fat and blood glucose and chol…
Field and laboratory methods for quantifying brown adipose tissue thermogenesis
Non‐shivering thermogenesis (NST) is a metabolic response to acute cold exposure that involves the liberation of chemical energy through physiological mechanisms that are separate from muscle shivering. Recent research suggests that the metabolic and endocrine action of brown adipose tissue (BAT) may play an important role in adult human NST. Thus, characterizing variation in BAT across human populations is of central importance to human biologis…
Intersecting vulnerabilities in human biology
OBJECTIVES: Increasing obesity rates and accelerating climate change represent two global health challenges shaped by lifestyle change and human environmental modifications. Yet, few studies have considered how these issues may interact to exacerbate disease risk. METHODS: In this theory article, we explore evidence that obesity-related disease and climatic changes share socio-ecological drivers and may interact to increase human morbidity and mo…
Feasibility of using infrared thermal imaging to examine brown adipose tissue in infants aged 18 to 25 months
While further work is necessary to develop a reliable cooling condition, this study provides proof-of-concept for non-invasive assessment of BAT activity in infants
Evidence for a sensitive period of plasticity in brown adipose tissue during early childhood among indigenous Siberians
OBJECTIVES: Evolutionary theorists have debated the adaptive significance of developmental plasticity in organisms with long lifespans such as humans. This debate in part stems from uncertainty regarding the timing of sensitive periods. Does sensitivity to environmental signals fluctuate across development or does it steadily decline? We investigated developmental plasticity in brown adipose tissue (BAT) among indigenous Siberians in order to exp…
Brown adipose tissue thermogenesis among young adults in northeastern Siberia and Midwest United States and its relationship with other biological adaptations to cold climates
OBJECTIVES: Recent research suggests that brown adipose tissue (BAT) plays a functional role in non-shivering thermogenesis; however, few studies have examined population variation in BAT or its relationship with other mechanisms of adaptation to cold stress. This study characterized BAT thermogenesis and other adaptive responses to low temperatures among Indigenous Siberian young adults and young adults living near Chicago, IL. MATERIALS AND MET…
The evolutionary significance of human brown adipose tissue
While human adaptability is regarded as a classical topic in anthropology, recent work provides new insight into metabolic adaptations to cold climates and the role of phenotypic plasticity in human evolution. A growing body of literature demonstrates that adults retain brown adipose tissue (BAT) which may play a role in non‐shivering thermogenesis. In this narrative review, we apply the timescales of adaptation framework in order to explore the …
Hierarchies in the energy budget
The evolution of human life history characteristics required dramatic shifts in energy allocation mechanisms compared with our primate ancestors. Thyroid hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are sensitive to energy balance, and are significant determinants for both tissue‐specific and whole‐body metabolic rate. Thus, thyroid hormones are in part responsible for setting the body's overall energy budget and likely played an i…
The wintertime brown adipose tissue thermogenesis of New York City residents amidst climate change
Our study provides mixed evidence for the role of BAT thermogenesis in metabolic adaptations to cold stress among NYC residents. Many young adults in NYC are exposed to minimal amounts of cold stress, and this trend is likely to be exacerbated by climate change
Biology (9 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Adipose Tissue and Metabolism (8 works) · Endocrinology (8 works) · Brown adipose tissue (7 works) · Adipose tissue (6 works) · Internal Medicine (6 works) · Thermogenesis (6 works) · Anthropometry (4 works) · Demography (4 works)