PENN STATE FOOD SCIENTIST BECOMES PRESIDENT of INSTITUTE of FOOD TECHNOLOGISTS OBESITY SOCIETY AWARDS in MEMORIAM P. Michael

PENN STATE FOOD SCIENTIST BECOMES Lisa Shank, Uniformed Services University of the Health PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTE OF FOOD Sciences TECHNOLOGISTS 2016 George A. Bray Doctoral Dissertation Award Amber Alhadeff, University of Pennsylvania John Coupland, professor of food science in Penn State’s 2016 Atkinson-Stern Award for Distinguished College of Agricultural Sciences, began a 1-year term as Public Service president of the Institute of Food Technologists. His term William H. Dietz, Jr, MD, PhD, George Washington University runs until September 2017. 2016 Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award Finalists An area of particular interest for Coupland is the value of Arpana Gupta, PhD science communication in helping the public to better Kazanna Hames, PhD understand the ways food science is used to feed people Chanaka Kahathuduwa, PhD every day so they can make more informed decisions Jodi Nettleton about the food they eat. As a professor of food science at Chunmei Wang, PhD Penn State, he teaches core undergraduate and graduate Congratulations to all on this well-deserved honor! courses in food chemistry, a graduate course about the physical chemistry of foods, and a course about argu- ments around food. He conducts research on emulsion IN MEMORIAM science and fat crystallization. Coupland has published P. Michael Conn, PhD more than 100 research articles and book chapters, in- Nutrition Today is saddened by the loss of Michael Conn, cluding his new textbook, An Introduction to the Phys- PhD, who was a pioneer in discovering the signaling mecha- ical Chemistry of Foods. Dr Coupland received both his nisms used by the GnRH receptor. In recent years, he showed bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in food science at Leeds how the misfolding of mutant cell surface proteins, such as University in the United Kingdom before coming to the the GnRH receptor, could be corrected through the use of United States where he was a postdoctoral scholar at the molecule chaperones in ways that revealed novel prop- University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After a second erties of the mutant proteins and could potentially be used postdoctoral position at University College Dublin, he to treat diseases. His studies have implications for the treat- joined the Penn State Food Science Faculty in 1998. ment of reproductive disorders, diabetes, Alzheimer’s dis- ease, and cataracts. He also worked to raise public awareness of diabetes. He was the recipient of the Sidney H. Ingbar OBESITY SOCIETY AWARDS Distinguished Service Award, as well as the Ernst Oppen- The Obesity Society presented awards late in 2016 that rec- heimer Award and the Richard E. Weitzman Outstanding ognized specific research achievements and major contri- Early Career Investigator Award, for his research achieve- butions to the basic science, treatment, and prevention of ments. Conn served as President of the Endocrine Society obesity at its recent meeting in New Orleans. This year’s from June 1996 to June 1997. He served as the editor of awardees included the following: numerous professional journals and book series. Conn was 2016 TOPS Research Achievement Award Editor in Chief of Endocrinology,aswellasThe Journal of Roger D. Cone, PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Conn won the J.J. 2016 Lilly Scientific Achievement Award Abel Award of the American Society for Pharmacology Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, PhD, Uniformed Services Univer- and Experimental Therapeutics; the Miguel Aleman Prize, sity of the Health Sciences Mexico’s national science medal; and the Stevenson Award 2016 Friends of Albert (Mickey) Stunkard Lifetime of Canada. He also received a MERIT Award from the Achievement Award National Institutes of Health. Conn was the Senior Vice Dale Alan Schoeller, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison President for Research, Associate Provost, Texas Tech Health 2016 Thomas A. Wadden Award for Distinguished Science Center in Lubbock, Texas. Before this position, he Mentorship was the Director of the Office of Research Advocacy, a Harvey J. Grill, PhD, University of Pennsylvania senior scientist in Reproductive Sciences & Neuroscience 2016 George A. Bray Founders Award (ONPRC), and professor of physiology and pharmacology, Steven B. Heymsfield, MD, Pennington Biomedical Re- cell biology and development, and OB/GYN at Oregon search Center, Louisiana State University System Health & Science University in Portland, Oregon. Our con- 2016 George A. Bray Masters Thesis Award dolences to his family.

\ Volume 52, Number 1, January/February 2017 Nutrition Today 1

Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. USDA AWARDS $2 MILLION FOR Experimental Biology NUTRITION EDUCATION AND OBESITY April 22Y26, 2017 PREVENTION RESEARCH TO TENNESSEE Chicago, Illinois AND UTAH UNIVERSITIES Institute of Food Technologist Conference 2017 Y The US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of June 25 28, 2017 Food and Agriculture today awarded $2 million in grants Las Vegas, Nevada to support research on nutrition education and obesity 11th European Nutrition and Dietetics prevention for disadvantaged children and families at the Conference University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Utah State Uni- June 29YJuly 1, 2017 versity. The funding will help create 2 additional Regional Madrid, Spain Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Centers of 12th International Conference on Clinical Excellence, established through the Supplemental Nutri- Diabetes, Diabetes Care & Nutrition tion Assistance Program (SNAP) and Expanded Food and July 20Y21, 2017 Nutrition Education Program. Chicago, USA The awards include the following: 13th International Congress on Advances in & University of Tennessee at Knoxville research will focus to reduce obesity by analyzing programs to identify facilitators, Natural Medicines, Nutraceuticals & barriers, best practices, training, and evaluation needs. Uni- Neurocognition versity of Tennessee at Knoxville will develop and disseminate July 27Y28, 2017 resources tailored to the needs of those delivering SNAP-Ed and Rome, Italy Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program interventions. & Utah State University is looking at research to improve USDA’s 14th International Conference on Clinical ability to evaluate, create, and maintain effective nutrition edu- Nutrition cational programs that result in healthier food choices and in- July 28Y29, 2017 creased physical activity for participants. Rome, Italy One-third of our nation’s children are overweight or obese; Global Diet and Nutrition Meeting in our nation’s health, it is important that we leverage part- September 7Y9, 2017 ners and innovative strategies to help children from low- Macau, Hong Kong income families grow and develop into healthy adults. 15th World Congress on Nutrition and Food Chemistry September 18Y20, 2017 CALENDAR Zurich, Switzerland XV International Conference on Food Security 18th Global Dieticians and Nutritionists Annual and Nutrition Meeting March 8Y9, 2017 October 2Y3, 2017 Pattaya, Thailand Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia International Conference on Global Food American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Security Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo March 9Y10, 2017 October 21Y24, 2017 Miami, Florida Chicago, Illinois

\ 2 Nutrition Today Volume 52, Number 1, January/February 2017

NEW TOOLS TARGET EARLY PREDICTION Using a 35% risk threshold, all models identified a group of OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES IN OBESE high-risk obese women, and among them, approximately PREGNANT WOMEN 50% (positive predictive value) later developed GDM, with a negative predictive value of 80%. Tools for early preg- Although many obese women are categorized as being nancy identification of obese women at risk of GDM could of equally high risk of gestational diabetes (GDM), most enable targeted interventions for GDM prevention in women do not develop the disorder, and until now, lifestyle and who will benefit the most and do not require blood sam- pharmacological interventions have not been unsuccess- pling. They may be exportable to low- and middle-income ful in preventing GDM in them. Researchers from England’s countries, where the prevalence of GDM and obesity is University of Bristol developed a prediction tool for the rapidly increasing. early identification of obese women at a high risk of GDM Source: PLoS One. Accessed December 8, 2016. doi:10.1371/ to better facilitate targeted interventions in those most likely journal.pone.0167846. to benefit. Clinical and anthropometric data and nonfasting blood samples were obtained at 15 and 18 weeks of ges- DIET QUALITY IS LOW BUT SLOWLY AND STEADILY IMPROVING AMONG US KIDS On the whole, the diet of US children improved markedly NEWSBREAKS INCLUDE: between 1999 and 2012 but remains poor, and disparities remain among key subgroups that concluded the authors h Dietary Quality Improving Slowly of a new study that examined diet quality data from more for US Kids than 38 000 kids. The measurement in the study was the standard, 100-point Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) score. h New Predictive Tool May Help During the study period, the mean HEI-2010 rose to 50.9 Screen for Gestational Diabetes from 42.5 because children ate more healthy foods, such as whole fruit, and became increasingly likely to avoid ‘‘empty h Threeof4USChildrenDon"t Meet calories,’’ such as sugary drinks. The latter improvement National Physical Activity Guideline explained approximately a third of the total improvement. The data were gathered from 38 487 children aged 2 to 18 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Although many of the components that make up tation in 1303 obese pregnant women from UPBEAT, a the overall HEI-2010 score improved significantly for mea- randomized controlled trial of a behavioral physical activity sures of whole grains; dairy; whole fruit; total fruit; seafood intervention. Twenty-one biomarkers associated with in- and plant proteins, greens and beans, and fatty acids; total sulin resistance and a targeted nuclear magnetic resonance protein foods; and refined grains, sodium consumption, metabolome were measured, and prediction models were however, got a bit worse, and in many cases, the com- constructed using stepwise logistic regression. Twenty-six ponent scores improved but only from low levels to begin percent of the women developed GDM using International with, suggesting that nutrition among US children needs to Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria. improve further. There were also important differences in The model, based on clinical and anthropometric variables subgroups. The score among non-Hispanic black children (age, previous GDM, family history of type 2 diabetes, sys- improved to 48 in 2012 from 40 in 1999, but during the tolic blood pressure, sum of skinfold thicknesses, and waist- same period, the score for non-Hispanic whites rose to height and neck-thigh ratios), provided an area under the 50 from 42. Although the gap narrowed somewhat, a clear curve of 0.71 (95% confidence interval, 0.68Y0.74). This disparity persisted. increased to 0.77 (95%confidence interval, 0.73Y0.80) with The researchers also looked at economic correlates of the addition of maternal biomarkers (random glucose, hemo- nutrition. They found that, as household wealth increased, globin A1c, fructosamine, adiponectin, sex hormoneYbinding so did gains. The standard, 100-point Healthy Eating Index globulin, triglycerides) but did not improve with the ad- scores rose 24% among the wealthiest third of the sample, dition of nuclear magnetic resonance metabolites. Clinically 19% among the middle third, and 18% among the least translatable models for GDM prediction were developed wealthy third. The authors also analyzed diet quality among using readily measurable variables, for example, mid-arm children in federal nutrition assistance programs. During circumference, age, systolic blood pressure, and A1c levels. the course of the study period, the HEI-2010 scores of

\ Volume 52, Number 1, January/February 2017 Nutrition Today 3

Copyright © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. children in families receiving SNAP benefits began to lag centrally acting, via monoamine neurotransmitters. Case those of children not receiving such benefits, whereas reports of adverse drug reactions were cited as evidence children benefitting from the Women Infants and Children for withdrawal in 80% of instances. Psychiatric disturbances, program pulled further ahead of children not receiving cardiotoxicity (mainly attributable to reuptake inhibitors), that assistance. That difference might in part relate to how and drug abuse or dependence (mainly attributable to the 2 programs are structured; in SNAP, because consumers neurotransmitter releasing agents) together accounted for can buy almost any food, they might buy less healthy ones 83% of withdrawals. Deaths were reportedly associated if they were less expensive. Women Infants and Children, with 7 products (28%). In almost half of the cases, the on the other hand, limits food choices to healthier ones that withdrawals occurred within 2 years of the first report of adhere to dietary guidelines. Every demographic subgroup an adverse reaction. The bad news was that most of the of children shared in the gains, but the pace varied, and drugs that affect monoamine neurotransmitters licensed disparities remain. for the treatment of obesity for the past 65 years have been Source: Gu X, Tucker KL. Dietary quality of the US child withdrawn because of adverse reactions. According to the and adolescent population: trends from 1999 to 2012 article. the list presented hereinafter represents a profile of and associations with the use of federal nutrition assis- centrally acting antiobesity products withdrawn because tance programs. Am J Clin Nutrition. 2016. doi:10.3945/ of associated deaths for the last 50 years. ajcn.116.135095. & Aminorex: introduced in 1962, withdrawn in 1972 & Benfluorex: approved in 1976 as an add-on treatment in obese patients with diabetes mellitus, withdrawn in 2009. & Fenfluramine: approved in 1973, withdrawn worldwide in 1997 SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF & Methamphetamine (desoxyephedrine): introduced in 1944, POST-MARKETING WITHDRAWAL OF withdrawn in the United States and other countries in 1973 ANTI-OBESITY PRODUCTS DUE TO & Phentermine: approved in 1959, withdrawn from most coun- ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS tries where it was marketed in 1981 but still available for short- term management of obesity in the United States In a new review article, researchers from England’s Uni- & Rimonabant: approved in Europe in 2006 for obesity treat- versity of Bristol identified antiobesity medications with- ment, withdrawn in 2007 & Sibutramine: approved in the United States in 1997 and Europe drawn since 1950 because of adverse drug reactions after in 2001, withdrawn in Europe and United States in 2010 regulatory approval. They examined the evidence used to support such withdrawals, investigated the mechanisms of The frequency and reasons for withdrawal raise concerns the adverse reactions, and explored the trends over time. about the wisdom of using pharmacological agents that They cast a wide net, including searches in PubMed, the target monoamine neurotransmitters in managing obesity. World Health Organization database of drugs, the Web The authors urge that there is a need for greater transpar- sites of drug regulatory authorities, and selected full texts ency in the assessment of harms from antiobesity medica- and hand searches of references in retrieved documents tions, which is therefore warranted. for 1950 to 2015. The levels of evidence was used for making Source: Onakpoya IJ, Heneghan CJ, Aronson JK. Post- withdrawal decisions using the Oxford Centre for Evidence- marketing withdrawal of anti-obesity medicinal products Based Medicine criteria. Twenty-five antiobesity medications because of adverse drug reactions: a systematic review. were withdrawn between 1964 and 2009; 23 of these were BMC Med. 2016;14:191. doi:10.1186/s12916-016-0735-y.

\ 4 Nutrition Today Volume 52, Number 1, January/February 2017