Heymsfield Elected President of The Obesity Society

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Two Other Pennington Biomedical Scientists Elected to TOS Council
Released: Friday, November 09, 2018

Heymsfield

Baton Rouge, Louisiana -- Steven Heymsfield, MD, FTOS, professor and director of LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center's Metabolism-Body Composition Lab, will serve as the new president of The Obesity Society (TOS).

Meanwhile, Leanne Redman, PhD, professor, director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Women's Health Lab, was elected Councilor with Portfolio: At-Large; and Jacqueline Stephens, PhD, professor, director of the Adipocyte Biology Lab, was elected Councilor -- Basic/Experimental/Preclinical.

Redman, a Fellow of The Obesity Society, also holds the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority Endowed Fellowship. Stephens, a Fellow of The Obesity Society, is also co-director of Pennington Biomedical's Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center and holds the Claude B. Pennington Jr. Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research.

Dr. Heymsfield has worked in the field of obesity, metabolism and human nutrition for more than four decades. He has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers covering topics ranging from obesity and malnutrition to cachexia, body composition, and caloric expenditure. He pioneered the use of computed tomography ("CAT scans"), magnetic resonance imaging, (MRI) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to study skeletal muscle, fat and visceral organs.

Redman

Dr. Heymsfield's awards for studies in the field of nutrition include presenting the 2018 W.O. Atwater Memorial Lecture, sponsored by the Agricultural Research Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific agency. The lectureship recognizes scientists who have made unique contributions toward improving the diet and nutrition of people around the world.

Dr. Heymsfield's many other honors include the Rhoads Award from the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), the Robert H. Herman Memorial Award from the American Society of Nutrition (ASN), the George Bray Founders Award from The Obesity Society, as well as the society's TOPS Award, which recognizes an individual for singular achievement or contribution to research in the field of obesity. Dr. Heymsfield has also been honored for his role in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ban on ephedra, receiving the 2004 New York City Mayor's Award for Science and Technology.

Dr. Heymsfield has been an active member of The Obesity Society since 1990. He has served on the Development Committee, the Council, the Ethics Committee, the Audit Committee, Nominating Committee, Finance Committee and Executive Committee. He was the president-elect for 2017-2018. In addition, Dr. Heymsfield has served as an associate editor for the scientific journal Obesity, published by TOS. He was elected fellow of TOS (FTOS) in 2014.

Stephens

The Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects. Combining the perspective of physicians and other clinicians, scientists, policymakers and patients, TOS promotes innovative research, education, and evidence-based clinical care to improve the health and well-being of all people with obesity. For more information, visit www.obesity.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. It is a campus of Louisiana State University and conducts basic, clinical and population research. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes approximately 58 faculty and more than 18 postdoctoral fellows who comprise a network of 40 laboratories supported by lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and support personnel, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Pennington Biomedical's more than 450 employees perform research activities in state-of-the-art facilities on the 222-acre campus located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.