LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center scientist Dr. Steve Heymsfield has been awarded the 2016 George A. Bray Founders Award from The Obesity Society (TOS). The prestigious award was bestowed during the ObesityWeek opening session in New Orleans.
The TOS Founders Award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the scientific or clinical basis for understanding and treating obesity. The award is named for Dr. George A. Bray, a former executive director at Pennington Biomedical and the chair of the organizing committee that established The Obesity Society. Dr. Bray later served as the group’s fifth president.
Heymsfield’s research focuses on the interrelations between energy balance, metabolism, and body composition across the translational spectrum. He has authored or co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed basic science, clinical and population science research papers, chapters, editorials and books on these interrelated topics. He has long served as a public advocate for the field, including testifying before congressional committees on multiple occasions. He has mentored or co-mentored more than two dozen pre-and post-doctoral students who now serve in academic and industry positions. Heymsfield served as President of the American Society of Clinical Nutrition and the American Society of Parental and Enteral Nutrition. In addition, he served as executive director of Pennington Biomedical from 2010 – 2013.
Heymsfield joined TOS in 1990, and during that time served on the Development Committee (2012-2015), IASO Representative on Council (1998-2008), the Ethics Committee (2006-2009), the Audit Committee (2007-2009), Nominating Committee (2007-2010), and Finance Committee (2009-2012). He also served as an associate editor for the scientific journal Obesity, published by TOS. In addition to the Founders Award, Heymsfield also received the society’s 2003 TOPS Award which recognizes an individual for singular achievement or contribution to research in the field of obesity.
The Obesity Society is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization dedicated to expanding research, prevention and treatment of obesity and reduction in stigma and discrimination affecting people with obesity.