Maria Hassapidou is a Professor in the department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics of the International Hellenic University. She is also the Coordinator of the post-graduate course on Nutrition and Dietetics and head of the Human Nutrition research group.

She is the chair of NWG (Nutrition Working Group) of EASO, the national coordinator in Greece for COSI (WHO European Childhood Surveillance Initiative), a member of the EASO Childhood Obesity Task Force, member of the board of trustees of EuFoDiN (European Foundation of Dietetics and Nutrition) and chair of the European Specialized Dietetic Network (ESDN) of EFAD on Obesity. She is a member of the Hellenic Nutrition Policy Committee of the Greek Ministry of Health.

She has coordinated and/or participated in many research projects funded by the EU (Health, Diets I and II, Healthgrain, EURRECA, JANPA, PROTEIN), the Greek Ministries of Health, Education, Research and Technology as well as food and pharmaceutical companies, in the areas of dietary assessment and nutritional evaluation, dietary treatment of obese patients with cardio metabolic diseases and childhood obesity.

She has authored several books and has published more than 100 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings in the areas of nutrition and obesity. She is also a reviewer in many related European and International journals.