2024 News Feed
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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