Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Gang Hu Named Fellow of The Obesity Society

April 16, 2026 · Baton Rouge, LA

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Dr. Gang Hu, Director of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology  Laboratory at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has been named a Fellow of The Obesity Society, or FTOS, one of the highest honors bestowed by the organization.

The prestigious FTOS designation recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement in obesity research, including a strong record of peer-reviewed publications and significant contributions to the field. Fellows of The Obesity Society are also eligible to hold leadership positions, vote on organizational matters and help guide the future direction of the society.

Dr. Hu’s research focuses on the complex interplay between lifestyle factors, biomarkers and genetic influences in the development of chronic diseases. His work examines how lifestyle interventions, genomics, epigenomics and metabolomics impact the risk of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure. He has also made significant contributions to understanding gestational diabetes mellitus and its long-term health effects.

“Dr. Hu’s recognition as a Fellow of The Obesity Society reflects his outstanding contributions to advancing our understanding of obesity and chronic disease,” said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. “His work continues to inform prevention and treatment strategies that improve health outcomes both in Louisiana and around the world. We congratulate him on this career milestone.”

Dr. Hu collaborates on several large-scale epidemiological studies and clinical trials, including the SWIFT study (Study of Women, Infant Feeding and Type 2 Diabetes After GDM Pregnancy), the LEAD cohort study (Louisiana Experiment Assessing Diabetes Outcomes), the Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Prevention Program and the Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Observational Study.

Through these collaborations, his research has helped shape global understanding of how early-life and lifestyle factors influence long-term health, particularly in populations at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The Obesity Society noted that the designation reflects not only Dr. Hu’s extensive publication record but also his sustained impact on the field of obesity research. Fellow Members are the only members of the Society eligible to hold office, vote on constitutional changes and chair committees.