Nashville, Tenn, Nov. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steven B. Heymsfield, MD, FTOS, an obesity and human nutrition expert and one of the world’s highest-cited research scholars, will serve as the 2018–2019 president for The Obesity Society (TOS), the organization announced during its annual scientific conference at ObesityWeek. The week-long event featuring expert speakers and scientific sessions concludes today at the Music City Center.
“My goal for the coming year, which I look to with anticipation, is to continue expanding TOS as the leading Society devoted to advancing the science-based understanding of the causes, consequences, prevention and treatment of obesity,” said Heymsfield, professor and director of the Metabolism & Body Composition Laboratory at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center of the Louisiana State University System in Baton Rouge.
Heymsfield has published more than 600 peer-reviewed papers on obesity, nutrition and metabolism and has received numerous awards for his research. Heymsfield’s most cited paper is “Epidemiology of Sarcopenia Among the Elderly in New Mexico.” The American Journal of Epidemiology published the paper in 1998. Heymsfield is among the 3,160 scholars ranked with an h-index over 100, according to data from the Google Scholar Citation Database. An h-index over 100 amounts to 100 research papers each cited over 100 times.
As for being president, the New York City native has an ambitious agenda planned for TOS staff, leadership and membership. Heymsfield plans to work with the organization’s Executive Committee to closely align the Society’s mission, vision and strategic plan with its administrative, committee and section structures. The reorganization efforts will help to improve the Society’s efficiency, communication capabilities and value to its members.
Heymsfield also recognizes the need to continue developing and expanding TOS partnerships with other societies and foundations, as well as federal, state and local-based research organizations, the public, and industry colleagues. Heymsfield explained that these efforts will proactively help to advance the TOS vision for those affected by obesity through research, education and advocacy.
“Steve is a major force in the field of obesity,” said TOS Chief Executive Officer Anthony G. Comuzzie, PhD, FTOS, adding the Society is “incredibly happy” to have him and will benefit from his leadership.
# # #
The Obesity Society (TOS) is the leading organization of scientists and health professionals devoted to understanding and reversing the epidemic of obesity and its adverse health, economic and societal effects. Combining the perspective of physicians and other clinicians, scientists, policymakers and patients, TOS promotes innovative research, education, and evidence-based clinical care to improve the health and well-being of all people with obesity. For more information, visit www.obesity.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.