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Pre-Operative Use of GLP-1s May Reduce Complications After Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Patients with Extreme Obesity
A combination of GLP-1 agonists taken before metabolic and bariatric surgery may help patients with extreme obesity lower the risk of post-operative complications, according to a new study* presented today at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center Recruiting Participants for Lipedema Research Study
June has been designated as Lipedema Awareness Month, and the month serves as an opportunity to educate the public about this common condition and raise funds for research. Lipedema, a condition defined by abnormal fat accumulation in certain parts of the body, most commonly the buttocks and thighs, is often misdiagnosed as obesity. This chronic and progressive condition primarily affects as many as one-in-10 women, and there is currently no cure and only limited therapies.
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Pennington Biomedical, Additional LSU Institutions Receive Major Grant for First Athletic Research Center in Louisiana
Pennington Biomedical researchers, and a team of clinicians and staff were selected to receive a research grant from the LSU Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research to establish Louisiana’s first center for athletic research. The 2024 Provost’s Fund for Innovation is the largest internal funding program in LSU history, investing $1.2 million in interdisciplinary research teams. The team will be led by Dr. Guillaume Spielmann, who is an assistant professor in the LSU School of Kinesiology and an adjunct assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical. The research team also includes the Director of Pennington Biomedical’s Behavior Technology Laboratory, Dr. Tiffany Stewart.
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center Hosts Team for LSU Health Shreveport for Scientific Exchange, Future Collaboration
Pennington Biomedical hosted a team of researchers from LSU Health Shreveport on Friday, May 31, for a scientific exchange and to explore potential for research collaborations related to metabolic health.
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Since 2011, U.S. News & World Report Has Rated the DASH Diet Among the Top in the Best Diet Overall and Best Diet for Healthy Eating
Looking for a healthy eating plan? Why not try the DASH Diet, developed in part by Pennington Biomedical Research Center and ranked as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diets since 2011. The American Heart Association also ranks the DASH Diet as the top heart-healthy eating style.
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Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Robert Kesterson Working to Advance Knowledge of Neurofibromatosis Development and Treatment
Neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow along nerves, occurs in 1 in 3,000 to 4,000 people worldwide. Although the tumors are usually benign, they can cause blindness, deafness, disfigurement, bone abnormalities, learning disabilities, and disabling pain. Neurofibromatosis 1, more commonly called NF1, is also associated with an increased risk of other tumors including leukemia, glioblastoma, and breast cancer.
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Weight Loss Benefits of Semaglutide Last up to Four Years
Semaglutide, the much-acclaimed key ingredient in weight loss drugs Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus, has been shown to deliver benefits that last up to four years and, on average, result in a weight reduction of 10 percent compared to placebos. These extended benefits were observed in data generated through the SELECT study, led by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s professor emeritus Dr. Donna Ryan.
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Pennington Biomedical Professor Emeritus Dr. George Bray Publishes 100-Year History of Obesity Research
Dr. George Bray has dedicated his professional life to researching obesity and metabolism, serving as the first executive director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in 1989. Now as professor emeritus, his most recent publication explores the extensive history of obesity research over the past 100 years and prior.
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Changing the Culture: Eating for You, Not for Two
For many generations, society has embraced the idea that pregnant women are “eating for two.” That adage is frequently invoked as mothers-to-be are encouraged to abandon diets and overindulge in every food craving in the name of nutrition.
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Dr. Leanne Redman to Lead Pennington Biomedical’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center
Dr. Leanne Redman has been named as the new director of Pennington Biomedical’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center, or NORC. On May 1, Dr. Redman took over the role from Dr. Eric Ravussin, who held the director position for 19 years. NORC is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK, of the National Institutes of Health
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2024 Scientific Retreat Showcased Some of the Best of Pennington Biomedical
The annual Pennington Biomedical Scientific Retreat was held on May 1 in the C.B. Pennington Conference Center, and featured Blitz Presentations, Scientific Poster displays, guest speakers and much more. The Publication of the Year Award was also presented, filling the event with some of the very best research efforts by Pennington Biomedical researchers and scientists. LSU President Dr. William Tate attended the event and served as a guest speaker, sharing how Pennington Biomedical research is a vital node in the network of research across the LSU system.
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Bringing Scientists Back Home to Louisiana
Efforts to retain Louisiana’s best and brightest high school students in state often make the headlines. However, less attention is focused on how to keep those brilliant minds in the Bayou State after they complete undergraduate, master’s or Ph.D. programs. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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During Mental Health Awareness Month, Practice Small Shifts for Mental Health and Resilience
May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month, and during the month, Pennington Biomedical’s Small Shifts campaign is focuses on mental health and resilience.
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April 2024 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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Pennington Biomedical Researcher Dr. Jennifer Caldwell Awarded Pilot Funding from Forge AHEAD Research Center
Dr. Caldwell, who is an assistant professor at Pennington Biomedical, was selected for her upcoming project “Linking GAINS: Linking Genetics and Improving Nutrition in Scotlandville.” The support from Forge AHEAD is a testament to the center’s dedication to funding projects that can meaningfully contribute to fostering community-focused health initiatives and combating health disparities.
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Pennington Biomedical and the U.S. Military
Since 1988, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center has supported the U.S. Military and has become the No. 1 provider of nutrition science for the Department of Defense, or DOD. Over the years, that relationship has grown to include research focused on all aspects of readiness, performance and resilience. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield and Colleague Publish Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Life Span
In the long history of recommendations for nutritional intake, current research is trending toward the concept of “food as medicine” – a philosophy in which food and nutrition are positioned within interventions to support health and wellness. In the paper – “Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Lifespan” – by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield, he shares the latest clarity and recommendations in the rich and storied history of energy and macronutrient intake.
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Ways to Work Out in the Workplace
Chances are you’ve heard it before: To stay in shape, you need to eat less and move more. Eating less may be difficult. But, moving more may seem nearly impossible given the demands of family, school and work—not to mention the commute among all three. Over the past 35 years, Pennington Biomedical has attracted researchers from around the world to its Baton Rouge campus with the purpose of helping people live longer, healthier lives. These internationally renowned scientists collaborate with their colleagues in 240 academic institutions in 24 countries. Their work has generated close to 400,000 citations in scientific literature with five scientists ranking among the most cited researchers in the world
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March 2024 Publications
The following are recent publications by the researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
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More Than One Billion People Around the Globe are Facing Obesity
Obesity is now the most common form of malnutrition in most countries, with the rates rising in all categories of men, women, children and adolescents since 1990. Obesity rates in adult men have nearly tripled since 1990, with obesity rates in woman doubling in that time. The rates of obesity in children and adolescents quadrupled in that time frame, as well. As of 2022, nearly 880 million adults and nearly 160 million children were living with obesity.
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