UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa – Barbara Rolls, professor and Helen A. Guthrie Chair of nutritional sciences, has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction Award by The Obesity Society, a network of researchers who study the causes of obesity, prevention and treatment methods.
Each year, the society’s president selects two members whose research impacts the care of persons with obesity, contributes to improving public health, spotlights obesity-related issues, and advocates for persons with obesity.
In addition to her contributions to The Obesity Society, Rolls has been recognized for her research on the relationship between ingestive behavior and food choices that aid obesity prevention, and her mentorship of dozens of students throughout her career.
“It was a nice surprise to be picked for this. To have my work, outreach, and research career recognized is really meaningful. It has taken many years and a lot of hard work to understand what influences our food choices and develop recommendations to help people maintain healthy and sustainable lifestyles,” Rolls said.
Rolls’ research focuses on understanding the psychological and environmental factors that influence food selection and intake in children and adults with normal weight or obesity. She has also developed the Volumetrics plan which has been ranked as one of the best diet plans by U.S. News & World Report and resulted in three published books in the Volumetrics plan series.
Since 1992, Rolls has been the director of the Laboratory for the Study of Human Ingestive Behavior where she and her team investigate how the properties of food, such as variety, portion size, and calorie density, affect choice and consumption and advance the understanding of human eating behavior.
Colleagues, including Kathleen Keller, professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, note Rolls’ impact on our understanding of dietary culture and passion for teaching and mentorship.
“Many of the concepts we accept about ingestive behavior today, such as how we eat more when we’re served larger portions of food, were discovered in novel research from Barbara,” said Keller. “She has been an important mentor not only in the field, but also in my own professional development. She really values passing on her experience and wisdom to the next generation of students and faculty.”
One of these students is Paige Cunningham, graduate student in nutritional sciences, who has worked with Rolls for the past six years. Cunningham notes that Rolls is always there to support and advocate for her students and encourage them to achieve their goals.
Rolls credits her own achievements to the relationships she has had with the colleagues and students with whom she has worked alongside throughout her career.
“Much of what happens in any scientist’s career is due to teamwork, and at Penn State we have great graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and staff to support our research efforts,” Rolls said. “It is a disservice to mention only my contributions to the research and outreach that has led to this award; it also belongs to all of the people who I have worked and collaborated with over the years.”
The Presidential Medal of Distinction Award will be presented at the Obesity Society’s annual ObesityWeek event, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Dallas, Texas. Rolls will be one of the keynote speakers and her presentation will also include perspectives on obesity from nutritional sciences graduate students. This event gathers world-renowned experts in obesity to share the newest clinical treatments, research, and policies related to combating the obesity epidemic.