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Dr. Kaja Falkenhain Receives 2024 George A. Bray Doctoral Dissertation Award at ObesityWeek
During ObesityWeek, Dr. Kaja Falkenhain, a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Leanne Redman’s Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Laboratory at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, was recognized with the 2024 George A. Bray Doctoral Dissertation Award.
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Researchers Identify Reduction in Heart Failure-Related Risk Factors Following Metabolic Surgery
Pennington Biomedical Research Center researchers at the Metamor Institute, along with colleagues from Our Lady of the Lake and LSU Health-New Orleans, have recently determined that metabolic surgery on patients with heart failure can result in a reduction in the need for oral diuretics, which are used to manage symptoms such as venous and vascular pressures. The researchers explain their processes and further elaborated on their findings in the recent study “Clinical Outcomes of Metabolic Surgery on Diuretic Use in Patients with Heart Failure.”
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Pennington Biomedical on Display at ObesityWeek 2024 in San Antonio
Pennington Biomedical Research Center researchers are gearing up and preparing to head to San Antonio for ObesityWeek 2024, presented by The Obesity Society. Pennington Biomedical will be well represented at the conference, as faculty members are not just participating in, but leading courses, presentations and speaker panels during the event.
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Commentary: Skeletal Muscle Health Amid Growing Use of Weight Loss Medications
A recent commentary published in The Lancet journal highlights the critical importance of skeletal muscle mass in the context of medically induced weight loss, particularly with the widespread use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications, celebrated for their effectiveness in treating obesity, have raised concerns regarding the potential for substantial muscle loss as part of the weight loss process.
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Dr. Eric Ravussin: Are We Adequately Training Our Healthcare Providers to Face the Obesity Pandemic?
As the world grapples with a growing obesity crisis, there is a continued need to assess how well healthcare providers are trained to address this challenge. With obesity rates rising globally among both the adult and adolescent populations – contributing to chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and reduced life expectancy – it is more crucial than ever to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills required to combat this epidemic.
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Obesity Medicine Fellowship Created at Pennington Biomedical
A new Obesity Medicine Fellowship at Pennington Biomedical Research Center is now open for candidate applications. The one-year program is the result of a collaboration between Pennington Biomedical and Louisiana State University Health New Orleans School of Medicine. The fellowship training will primarily take place at the Metamor Institute on the Pennington Biomedical campus in Baton Rouge.
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Opportunities for Obesity Research, Treatment and Prevention being Explored in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, or SBAHC, a leading non-profit medical institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., are pleased to announce that they are exploring a partnership to address one of the most critical public health challenges facing the world today – obesity.
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Pennington Biomedical’s EAT2 Study to Explore Unknown Effects of Weight Fluctuations
Dr. Ursula White, an associate professor of Clinical Science at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, is taking a deep dive into the lasting health effects of short-term weight gain and weight loss. The ability for the fat tissue to expand or contract to accommodate changes in body weight is important for sustained health. Dr. White’s clinical study at Pennington Biomedical, the EAT2 study, will allow her to explore how changes within the adipose tissue are affected by weight gain and weight loss, and what that means for a person’s health.
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Americans are Meeting Minimum Needs for Essential Amino Acids
Essential amino acid intakes in the US population exceed recommended minimum requirements, but higher intakes were not correlated with muscle benefits in older adults.
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New U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth Reveals Continued Low Levels of Physical Activity
The Physical Activity Alliance, the nation’s largest national coalition dedicated to advancing regular participation in physical activity, today released the 2024 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. The overall physical activity grade for children and youth remained low at D-, the same grade it received in 2022, the last time a report was made.
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Pennington Biomedical’s Small Shifts Campaign Focus for October: Managing Stress and Anxiety
As October begins, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center will focus its Small Shifts campaign on an issue that affects millions daily: managing stress and anxiety. In this fast-paced world, the pressure to stay productive can easily become overwhelming. But what if there are small steps that can be taken to better manage these feelings and improve one’s well-being along the way?
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Pennington Biomedical Partners on Army-Wide Health and Nutrition Study
Researchers from Pennington Biomedical’s Center for Military Performance and Resilience and the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine are teaming up to assess the health and nutritional status of active-duty service members. The Military Health and Nutrition Examination Study, or MHANES, is modeled on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, which assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the U.S. but excludes active-duty members of the military.
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Forge Ahead: Caldwell Bridges the Gap of Genetics and Nutrition to Enhance Health Outcomes Among African American Communities
Disparities in health outcomes for African American adults involve both biological and social health determinants. Jennifer Caldwell, Ph.D., a researcher at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, is exploring the combined influence of a biological determinant (a person’s genes), and a social health determinant (food insecurity) to understand the impact on African American adults’ health outcomes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Zubaidah Nor Hanipah Joins Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Metamor Institute
Dr. Zubaidah “Zuby” Nor Hanipah recently joined Pennington Biomedical as an associate professor-research in the Clinical Metabolic Surgery Laboratory. Dr. Nor Hanipah’s research interests encompass a comprehensive study of metabolic and bariatric surgery outcomes, with a primary emphasis on obesity, metabolic disorders, and metabolic syndrome.
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New Era of Obesity Drug Development, Upcoming Webinar Hosted by Xtalks
In this webinar, learn about obesity's health burden and the evolution of drug development in obesity. The speakers will discuss about the importance of preservation of muscle mass for long term weight maintenance. They will address the different methodologies used to evaluate total energy expenditure and its components.
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Pennington Biomedical’s Greaux Healthy Initiative Takes Aim at Childhood Obesity
Pennington Biomedical Research Center is formally launching Greaux Healthy, a public service initiative designed to help improve kids’ health at every age. Developed with funding from the State of Louisiana, Greaux Healthy implements 35 years of Pennington Biomedical research and discoveries to inform tools, resources and programing for children, parents, physicians and educators throughout the state.
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Study to Evaluate THC, CBD Benefits for Dementia-Related Agitation
Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Jeff Keller is evaluating the potential for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and cannabidiol, or CBD, to reduce the behaviors indicating agitation, distress or anxiety in patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The study is designed for hospice-eligible patients who are either receiving hospice care or who are eligible for hospice, and who are exhibiting agitation concurrently with a diagnosis of dementia. There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat agitation at the end-of-life stages in dementia patients.
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Pennington Biomedical’s Small Shift for September: Hydration
This month, the Small Shifts Squad at Pennington Biomedical Research Center will focus on something simple yet incredibly impactful: hydrating more. Staying properly hydrated is essential for maintaining energy levels, improving concentration, and supporting overall health.
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Pennington Biomedical Research Center Experts Available to Speak on Research Efforts During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September is designated as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in the United States. At Pennington Biomedical, researchers explore a wide array of scientifically proven causes, treatment, and prevention programs for childhood obesity, including healthy food choices, environmental factors, and community parks and playgrounds.
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Registration Now Open for Pennington Biomedical 2024 Men's Health Summit
The Pennington Biomedical Men’s Health Summit returns for 2024 on Saturday, September 14, presented by Our Lady of the Lake. The free summit is available to all men over the age of 18, and will include a wide array of free health screenings, informational sessions, and a UFC demonstration. Registration is now open, and space is limited so early sign-up is encouraged.
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