New President Pledges to Nurture Organization's Strengths in Science and Research

SILVER SPRING, Md., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Obesity Society, the leading North American professional and scientific organization dedicated to the study of obesity, has announced that Jennifer Lovejoy, Ph.D., will succeed Donna H. Ryan, MD, as the organization's next President. Dr. Lovejoy began her new role at Obesity 2010, the society's 28th Annual Scientific Meeting, which was held October 8-12, 2010 at the San Diego Convention Center.

"I'm truly excited to be able to contribute to this organization at an important time in its history and at a time when obesity plays such a deadly role in our communities," said Dr. Lovejoy. "Scientific research is crucial to resolving the epidemic of obesity."

Dr. Lovejoy is the Vice President of Clinical Development & Support at Free & Clear, Inc., based in Seattle, Washington. She holds a Ph.D. in BioPsychology from Emory University and completed postdoctoral training in Endocrinology and Metabolism at Emory University School of Medicine, where she specialized in obesity and diabetes research. Dr. Lovejoy's clinical research program has been funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Diabetes Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and NASA.

She maintains adjunct faculty appointments at Bastyr University and University of Washington School of Public Health, has published over 50 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, over 15 chapters and review articles, and is a frequent speaker on obesity and nutrition at national and international conferences.

Dr. Lovejoy's research interests center on the influence of reproductive hormones on body composition, regional fat distribution, and obesity-related disease. She is currently funded by NIH on one study assessing longitudinal changes in body composition during the menopause transition, and another that compares methods for preventing pregnancy-associated obesity. Another strong interest is the impact of dietary fats on insulin resistance and obesity and she recently completed a study examining the acute effects of various fatty acids on insulin action and glucose metabolism.

Dr. Lovejoy has been an active member of The Obesity Society since 1989.

About The Obesity Society

The Obesity Society (www.obesity.org) is the leading scientific organization in North America dedicated to the study of obesity. The Obesity Society is committed to encouraging research on the causes and treatment of obesity and keeping the medical community and public informed of new advances. The Obesity Society's vision is to be the leader in understanding, preventing and treating obesity and in improving the lives of those affected. The Obesity Society's membership comprises approximately 2500 basic and clinical researchers, who have published extensively, and care providers in obesity treatment and prevention.

SOURCE The Obesity Society

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