2026 News Feed
Pennington Biomedical First to Estimate Pediatric Obesity Prevalence Using New Lancet Commission Definition
Researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center have published the first study to estimate the prevalence of pediatric obesity among U.S. children and adolescents using the new Lancet Commission definitions of preclinical and clinical obesity. The study, “Prevalence of Preclinical and Clinical Obesity Among US Children and Adolescents Aged 5 to 18 Years: NHANES 2017–2023,” published in the journal Obesity, was selected as an Editor’s Choice article in recognition of its scientific significance and potential impact on the field of pediatric obesity research.
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Pennington Biomedical Researchers to Present at the ADA’s 2026 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans
Researchers from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center are scheduled to present their latest findings in diabetes research and treatment at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) flagship conference, the 86th annual Scientific Sessions, taking place June 5-8 in New Orleans.
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Dr. Owen Carmichael Awarded James W. and Neil Ann Parks Professorship for Dementia Research, Prevention and Treatment
LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Owen Carmichael was awarded the James W. and Neil Ann Parks Professorship for Dementia Research, Prevention and Treatment.
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Pennington Biomedical Recruiting Adults with Type 2 Diabetes for Avocado Nutrition Study
LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is recruiting participants for a clinical nutrition study designed to investigate how daily avocado consumption may affect blood sugar management in adults with Type 2 diabetes. The Avocado-T2D study will examine the effects of eating one avocado each day on fasting blood glucose, glycemic control and insulin sensitivity. Researchers hope the findings will help advance evidence-based nutritional strategies for people living with Type 2 diabetes.
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New International Study Highlights Impact of Restrained Sitting on Movement Behaviors in Young Children
Researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in collaboration with investigators from 32 countries participating in the SUNRISE International Study, have published new findings examining how restrained sitting contributes to daily movement patterns in early childhood.
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LSU Surpasses $600 Million in Research Activity, Continuing Multi-Year Historic Rise Across Unified Flagship
LSU’s Flagship has surpassed $600 million in annual research activity, building on last year’s record-setting milestone when the campuses exceeded $500 million for the first time ever. This marks the fifth consecutive year of record-breaking research wins. “This is not a one-time jump. It is a trajectory,” said Chancellor Jim Dalton. “We are building exceptional momentum across every single flagship campus.”
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Dr. John Apolzan and Dr. Leanne Redman Named 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows
Two researchers from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center have been named 2026 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows of the American Society for Nutrition, or ASN, recognizing their significant contributions to nutrition science and sustained engagement in the nutrition community. Dr. John Apolzan and Dr. Leanne Redman were selected for the Fellows of ASN, or FASN, designation, an honor awarded to nutrition professionals who have demonstrated substantial impact in research, translational science and service to the field.
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2025 Publication of the Year Award
The Publication of the Year Awards recognize outstanding scientific contributions by Pennington Biomedical faculty whose research demonstrates exceptional innovation, impact, and advancement of knowledge in obesity, metabolism, nutrition, and related biomedical sciences. These awards highlight the breadth and excellence of research conducted across the Center and celebrate publications that have significantly influenced their respective fields during the past year.
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Study to Evaluate Family Healthy Weight Program for Childhood Obesity in Primary Care Clinics in Louisiana and Tennessee
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, in collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has launched a research study, the COACH trial, to test different ways to help children and their families improve their health through lifestyle changes delivered by primary care clinics in communities in Louisiana and Tennessee. The COACH trial is enrolling 900 children ages 5 to 17 with obesity, which is classified as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for their age and sex. Patients and their parents are being recruited through urban, suburban and rural doctor’s offices in Tennessee and Louisiana.
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Study Shows Use of Obesity Drugs Alongside Behavioral Intervention is Associated with Reduced “Food Noise”
New research presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, shows that use of obesity drugs alongside behavioral interventions leads to a larger drop in so called ‘food noise’ than in those using the behavioral therapy alone. The study is by Dr. Hanim Diktas, postdoctoral researcher at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., and colleagues.
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