News Feed
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Global Commission Proposes Major Overhaul of Obesity Diagnosis
A global Commission, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology and endorsed by more than 75 medical organisations around the world, presents a novel, nuanced approach to diagnose obesity, based on other measures of excess body fat in addition to body mass index (BMI), and objective signs and symptoms of ill health at the individual level.
Learn More
Monoclonal Antibody Ponsegromab Shown to Reduce Effects of Cancer-Related Wasting Syndrome
Cachexia, also known as wasting syndrome, commonly occurs in patients with certain cancers, leading to dangerous weight loss and functional impairment. Medicinal treatments for this condition are rare, but a recent study demonstrated that the antibody ponsegromab is both safe and effective in treating muscle wasting and weight loss in cancer patients. Pennington Biomedical Research Center was one of more than 70 facilities globally to host the study testing the efficacy of this antibody.
Learn More
Global Launch for Clinical Obesity Definition to be Held Jan. 16, Pennington Biomedical Serving as North American Satellite Hub
The Lancet Commission on Clinical Obesity, a globally representative group of 56 worldwide experts, are publishing the first ever definition of clinical obesity at a launch event on Jan. 16. The event will be teleconferenced to various locations across the globe originating from the Royal College of Physicians in London, with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center serving as the satellite site for North America.
Learn More
LSU and Pennington Biomedical’s Stephania Cormier Serves as Frontiers in Immunology Topic Editor on “How RSV Outsmarts the Host”
LSU and Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Stephania Cormier joined colleagues Dr. Lawrence Kauvar of Trellis Bioscience Inc. and Dr. Ralph Tripp of the University of Georgia as topic editors on the Frontiers in Immunology research collaboration, “How RSV Outsmarts the Host,” focusing on challenges surrounding Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV.
Learn More
U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Diets: DASH Diet Recognized as Best Heart-Healthy Diet, Ranks as Second-Best Diet Overall
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, Diet, developed in part by Pennington Biomedical Research Center scientists, has been recognized as the second-best diet overall and the best heart-healthy diet in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Diets Rankings.
Learn More
Small Shifts for the New Year from Researchers at Pennington Biomedical
New Year’s Day provides a fresh start and is a time when people set goals and resolutions for the year ahead. Many of those will focus on healthy eating, exercise or mental health, but drastic lifestyle changes are hard to adopt and typically are challenging to sustain. Instead, researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center suggest that small, gradual adjustments to daily habits are much easier to implement and maintain. Over time, these “Small Shifts” can significantly enhance health and overall well-being.
Learn More
Scientific Dinner Featuring Pennington Biomedical Panel: “Are We in Control of What We Eat?”
Several times a day, we decide what to eat – or at least we think we do. Our brain sifts through a vast array of information as we choose what and when to eat next. External factors such as price and availability interact with internal factors such as stress level and nutritional state, just to name a few. This raises a compelling question: Are we truly in control of what we eat?
Learn More
Pennington Biomedical Conducts Study to Test Efficacy of Diabetes Medication for Cancer-Related Weight Loss
Pennington Biomedical Research Center is hosting a research trial to determine if the drug Pioglitazone can also be used to treat cachexia, or muscle weakness and weight loss associated with certain cancers. Pioglitazone is commonly used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The trial is underway now and will recruit participants through March 2025. Pennington Biomedical invites patients with non-small cell lung cancer, or gastrointestinal cancers including colorectal, liver, gallbladder, stomach or bile duct cancers to apply.
Learn More
Employees Celebrated at Pennington Biomedical Service Award Luncheon
On Monday, Dec. 16, Pennington Biomedical recognized employees celebrating years of service milestones for their tenure at the Center. A total of 48 employees were honored, including one recognized for 35 years of service – Catherine Champagne, Professor in Dietary Assessment and Nutrition Counseling.
Learn More
The Impact of Government Assistance, Housing, and Employment on Postpartum Maternal Health Across Income and Race
Researchers provide vital insights into social determinants such as government support, stable housing, and employment opportunities on postpartum health among Louisiana mothers during stressful periods including COVID-19, hurricanes and the infant formula shortage. The study, "The role of government assistance, housing, and employment on postpartum maternal health across income and race: a mixed methods study," published in BMC Public Health, was led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical research Center, along with colleagues from Woman’s Hospital and Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
Learn More
Stephanie Waldrop Joins Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Dr. Stephanie Waldrop recently joined Pennington Biomedical as an assistant professor in the Clinical Sciences division. With extensive medical and research training in pediatrics, Dr. Waldrop will work closely with the ongoing Pennington Biomedical studies for children and adolescents.
Learn More
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield and Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk Rank Among the World’s Most Influential Researchers
Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield and Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk are among the most influential researchers in the world who demonstrate significant and broad influence in their fields, according to Clarivate Analytics’ 2024 List of Highly Cited Researchers.
Learn More
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Safe and Effective for Patients with Severe Obesity
A team of researchers led by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Florina Corpodean confirmed through a data analysis that metabolic and bariatric surgery is largely safe and effective for patients who are experiencing severe obesity. In the recent study “BMI ≥ 70: A Multi-Center Institutional Experience of the Safety and Efficacy of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Intervention,” published in Obesity Surgery: The Journal of Metabolic Surgery and Allied Care, researchers affirmed that, following surgery-based obesity treatment, patients in this category had an overall rate of serious postoperative complications at 30 days as low as 0.7%, an acceptable surgical risk.
Learn More
The Small Shifts Squad at Pennington Biomedical Shares Tips for the Holiday Season
Thanksgiving is a holiday of celebration, bringing together family, friends, and comfort foods. While the turkey, stuffing, and desserts are Thanksgiving staples, they often leave people feeling drowsy and sluggish. This month, the Small Shifts squad at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center are sharing small, manageable changes to support a balanced and energized holiday season.
Learn More
The Role of Digital Technology in Diabetes Prevention and Management
Scientists at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, along with a colleague from Peking University People’s Hospital in China, have been leading a special collection and published an editorial in Frontiers in Endocrinology, emphasizing the transformative role digital health technologies play in diabetes management and prevention.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
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.”
Learn More
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
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.
Learn More
