Watts is widely known as an expert in aquatic science, with research interests in the areas of nutrition, health, obesity and longevity using primarily comparative aquatic animal models in studies related to human health. His research looks to understand growth, reproduction, physiology and biochemistry, endocrinology, and immunological responses of aquatic models to nutritional and environmental stressors. He is interested in those outcomes related to changes in body composition and the mechanisms as related to obesity and comorbidities.