Pennington Biomedical Researchers Available to Share Insights and Perspectives During National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

August 29, 2025 · Baton Rouge, LA

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Since 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have formally recognized September as National 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 Research Center, researchers explore a wide array of scientifically proven causes, treatments, and prevention programs to understand and address childhood obesity, including healthy food choices, environmental factors, and accessibility of parks and playgrounds.

Throughout the month of September, scientists and experts from Pennington Biomedical are available to share various aspects of their research on childhood obesity, including initiatives to support healthy lives for future generations.

"While Louisiana currently ranks No. 3 among states with the highest rates of childhood obesity, this challenge drives our determination to make a meaningful difference," said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. "At Pennington Biomedical, we are deeply committed to discovering breakthrough insights that enhance health across the lifespan, and our dedicated researchers are actively pioneering innovative approaches to prevent and effectively address childhood obesity in our communities and beyond.

To speak with a Pennington Biomedical expert on childhood obesity, please contact Ernie Ballard or Joe Coussan in Pennington Biomedical’s Office of Communications and Marketing to arrange an interview.

• Stephanie T. Broyles, PhD, Associate Professor, Contextual Risk Factors  
  Expertise: How the different contexts in which we live – e.g., neighborhood, work, parks, social networks – shape our disease risks and health outcomes.  
  Email: stephanie.broyles@pbrc.edu 
  

• Catherine M. Champagne, PhD, RDN, Dietary Assessment and Nutrition Counseling  
  Expertise: Dietary counseling; Dietary intake assessment; Nutrient database; Nutritional epidemiology; DASH diet 
  Email: catherine.champagne@pbrc.edu 
  

• Kara Denstel, PhD, MPH, Research Administration Director for Population and Public Health Sciences, Physical Activity Epidemiology
  Expertise: Healthy lifestyle programs for children and adults, the impact of community-level factors on health outcomes. Director of the Pennington Generation study to examine the health and health behaviors of Louisiana children and their families.
  Email: kara.denstel@pbrc.edu 

• Emily Flanagan, PhD, Researcher, Developmental Physiology 
  Expertise: Energy intake and expenditure during pregnancy and in neonates in order to understand the intergenerational transmission of obesity and metabolic disease. She studies neonatal brown adipose tissue and energy expenditure.  
  Email: emily.flanagan@pbrc.edu  
  

• Steven B. Heymsfield, MD, Professor and Director of the Body Composition-Metabolism Laboratory  
  Expertise: Obesity; Weight Loss Treatments; Methods of Evaluating Body Composition; New Technologies for Studying Human Metabolism, such as Smartwatches and Smartphones; the Shape Up! Keiki research study – for children up to 5 years old – to create a better way to measure and describe health from body shape.  
  Email: steven.heymsfield@pbrc.edu 
  

• Peter T. Katzmarzyk, PhD, Physical Activity & Obesity Epidemiology Lab Expertise: Physical activity and obesity; Pediatrics; Clinical interventions for obesity; Global health 
  Email: peter.katzmarzyk@pbrc.edu  

• Corby K. Martin, PhD, FTOS, Ingestive Behavior, Weight Management & Health Promotion Lab 
  Expertise: Health behavior change; Weight loss; Diet and dietary adherence assessment; Mobile health; Calorie restriction; Food waste 
  Email: corby.martin@pbrc.edu   

• Melissa Martin, MBA, Director of the Greaux Healthy Initiative  
  Expertise: Geaux Healthy aims to reduce childhood obesity through statewide partnerships based on scientifically proven obesity treatment and prevention programs.  
  Email: melissa.martin@pbrc.edu 
  

• Robert L. Newton, Jr., PhD, Professor; Preventive Behavioral Health Laboratory 
  Expertise: Health Disparities in African American children, adults, and older adults; Physical Activity Promotion Interventions.  
  Email: robert.newton@pbrc.edu 
  

• Leanne M. Redman, MS, PhD, LPFA Endowed Chair; Associate Executive Director for Scientific Education; Professor; Reproductive Endocrinology & Women’s Health    
  Expertise: Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Gestational Diabetes; Obesity and Menopause; Pregnancy; Breastfeeding.  
  Email: leanne.redman@pbrc.edu 
  

• Philip R. Schauer, MD, United Companies Life Insurance Co./Mary Kay, and Terrell Brown; Chair Professor; Clinical Metabolic Surgery Lab Expertise: Obesity; Diabetes; Metabolic Surgery; Outcomes of Metabolic Surgery. Visit Metamor Institute.  
  Email: philip.schauer@pbrc.edu 
  

• Katherine Spring, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher, Ingestive Behavior, Weight Mangement, & Health Promotion Laboratory
  Expertise: Children's Physical Activity, Fundamental Motor Skills, School-based health promotion interventions.
  Email: katie.spring@pbrc.edu  

• Amanda E. Staiano, PhD, Associate Professor; Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior    
  Expertise: Family-based healthy lifestyle programs in clinical and community settings; Technology to decrease pediatric obesity; Technology to promote physical activity; Children’s Physical Activity.  
  Email: amanda.staiano@pbrc.edu
  

• Stephanie Waldrop, MD, Assistant Professor, Clinical Sciences 
  Expertise: Specialty trained physician board certified in pediatrics and obesity medicine; advancing the understanding of maternal and pediatric nutrition on long-term risk of non-communicable diseases.
  Email: stephanie.waldrop@pbrc.edu