WASHINGTON (July 30, 2025)--More than two in five US adults currently have obesity, a condition that puts them at risk for serious diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the number of people with obesity has risen sharply in recent decades.
In the past, people trying to lose weight were advised to step up their activity level but new research by a multicenter team suggests that a high calorie diet, one that contains a lot of ultra-processed foods, may be a key driver of obesity.
The George Washington University has experts available to comment on all aspects of the obesity crisis in the US and strategies aimed at losing weight. To schedule an interview with an expert please contact Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmann
gwu [dot] edu (kfackelmann[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Gabby Headrick is an assistant professor in the Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. As a food systems dietitian, Headrick’s research, teaching, and practice center on the social, environmental, and political determinants of food and nutrition security in the United States, with a particular focus on urban food systems. She can discuss the importance of minimizing ultra processed foods and offer tips on a healthy diet.
Uriyoan Colon-Ramos is an associate professor and director of the Diet Disparities Lab at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. Her research interests are driven by the experiences of individuals from underserved communities who have higher than average rates of diet-related health conditions, including obesity.
Todd Miller, is an associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences and the former director of the GW Weight Management and Human Performance Lab. He can comment on how to prioritize fitness in a busy schedule and offer a range of workouts from a simple walking routine to weight training. He can put the new research in context and explain why attention to both diet and exercise may be important for people trying to lose weight.
Cristy Gallagher, is the associate director of research and policy at the STOP Obesity Alliance, which is based at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health. She has conducted research on obesity prevention and treatments, including the importance of insurance coverage.