Pennington Biomedical Q&A: Dr. Kara Denstel

July 10, 2025 · Baton Rouge, LA

Dr. Kara Denstel is leading the Pennington Generation research study as part of the Greaux Healthy initiative from Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Greaux Healthy, the public service initiative developed by Pennington Biomedical in partnership with the State of Louisiana, has launched a tour with its Healthy Moves bus to visit all nine Louisiana Department of Health regions. The initiative is designed to help improve Louisiana kids’ health at every age. The Greaux Healthy initiative will be joined by the Pennington Generation research study to connect with families across the state.

Dr. Kara Denstel is leading the Pennington Generation study, which is designed to capture a clear picture of the health of Louisiana families, specifically physical activity, sleep quality, eating habits and more. Dr. Denstel recently participated in a Pennington Biomedical Q&A to elaborate on the Pennington Generation study, how she got involved, and what she and colleagues hope to learn from the collected data.

Q: What inspired you to take the lead on the Pennington Generation study?

A: I am inspired to lead the Pennington Generation research study because I am passionate about playing a part in improving the health and well-being of children in our state. Louisiana children are at high risk of developing obesity and other serious health problems that can follow them into adulthood. Our children deserve the best, and research studies like Pennington Generation help us learn more about the behaviors and health of Louisiana children and their families. The collected data can be used to help create effective programs that improve children's health and development. It’s an honor to be a part of Pennington Generation and the Greaux Healthy initiative, which represents a big step forward for our state. 

Q: What are the primary goals of the study, and what sets it apart from other long-term health studies? 

A: Pennington Generation is a long-term research study that aims to partner with families across the state of Louisiana to learn more about how physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and other factors affect children’s health and growth over time. The study is part of the Greaux Healthy initiative (greauxhealthy.org), an evidence-based public service initiative of Pennington Biomedical Research Center in partnership with the State of Louisiana focused on preventing and treating childhood obesity in the state.

Two key features set Pennington Generation apart from other long-term health studies. First, Pennington Generation is focused on partnering with entire families, including children, parents, and even grandparents, to gain a more in-depth understanding of factors that may affect children’s development over time. Second, Pennington Generation meets families where they are. Visiting communities throughout the state, the Pennington Biomedical Healthy Moves bus and Pennington Generation staff bring the study to your area, making it easier for families to participate throughout their lifetime.

Q: Can you share a moment in your career that prepared you for this role or this project?

A: I’ve managed numerous research projects and initiatives for both children and adults, nearly always in the community setting. While all these experiences provided a strong foundation for this role, my tenure of nearly 14 years at Pennington Biomedical and deep institutional knowledge was pivotal in positioning me well for this opportunity because Pennington Generation is not simply a research project within a single laboratory. Instead, Pennington Generation’s success will be driven by teamwork across multiple laboratories and research divisions across Pennington Biomedical, which embodies the collaborative spirit of the Center.

Q: What impact do you hope this study will have five, ten or even twenty years from now?

A: In five years, I hope that our study will include more than 1,500 families from every parish in our state and that people from across the state recognize the Healthy Moves bus when it drives through their community. In ten, or even twenty years, I hope that Pennington Generation will have generated deep and foundational knowledge toward our understanding of the development, prevention, and treatment of childhood obesity to help Louisiana grow healthier generations.

The Healthy Moves bus and the Greaux Healthy initiative are coming to your community soon, and you and your family can contribute to the important research of the Pennington Generation study. To learn more about Pennington Generation and see if you qualify, visit https://greauxhealthy.org/pennington-generation.