Obesity Society Awards

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2023 awards. All recipients have been selected.

Awards from The Obesity Society recognize specific research achievements as well as other major contributions to the basic science, treatment and prevention of obesity. The Society’s prestigious awards also highlight the careers of obesity researchers.

TOS offers three categories of awards: named awards, section awards and abstract-based awards.

The Obesity Society is proud to announce a new award, “The Jules Hirsch Innovation Award.”

The Jules Hirsch Innovation Award recognizes an early-career investigator whose novel work will significantly impact the field of obesity. The recipient receives a plaque, a $1,000 award, and support for travel to The Obesity Society Annual Meeting at ObesityWeek®. To be eligible for the award, by the time of the nomination, the recipient must be within 10 years of completing their final training experiences and be a TOS member in good standing.

Atkinson Stern Award for Distinguished Public Service recognizes an individual or organization whose work has significantly improved the lives of those affected by obesity, whether through research, public policy, patient care, or other means. This award was established by a donation from Thomas A. Wadden, PhD. The recipient receives a plaque and a $1,000 award.

The George A. Bray Founders Award recognizes an individual for significant contributions that advance the scientific or clinical basis for understanding or treating obesity and for extensive involvement with The Obesity Society. The recipient receives a plaque and a $1,000 award. The award is presented during a plenary session at ObesityWeek® where the recipient is invited to present the George A. Bray Founders Award Lecture. To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be a TOS member in good standing.

The George A. Bray Master’s Thesis Award recognizes one student for their master’s thesis that was successfully defended by the date of application submission. Applications will be judged on significance, relevance/potential impact in the field of obesity, scientific methodology, writing quality, overall approach and scope and innovation. The recipient will receive a $500 award and a plaque to be presented at ObesityWeek^®.  They will also receive complimentary registration and reimbursement up to $1,500 to cover travel for the current ObesityWeek^®.  To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be a TOS member in good standing.

The George A. Bray Doctoral Dissertation Award recognizes one student for their doctoral dissertation that was successfully defended by the date of application submission. Applications will be judged on significance, relevance/potential impact in the field of obesity, scientific methodology, writing quality, overall approach and scope and innovation. The recipient will receive a $500 award and a plaque to be presented at ObesityWeek^®.  They will also receive complimentary registration and reimbursement up to $1,500 to cover travel for the current ObesityWeek^®.  To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be a TOS member in good standing.

The TOPS Research Achievement Award recognizes an individual for singular achievement or contribution to research in the field of obesity. This award is made possible through an annual donation from the Take Off Pounds Sensibly Club, Inc. (TOPS). The recipient receives a $5,000 award along with a plaque and will be reimbursed up to $1,000 to cover travel for the current ObesityWeek®. The award is presented during a concurrent session at which time the recipient will present the TOPS Research Achievement Award Lecture.

The Friends of Albert (Mickey) Stunkard Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to recognize people who, like Mickey Stunkard, have made a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the field of obesity in terms of scholarship, mentorship, and education. The recipient receives a plaque and a $1,000 award. The award is presented during a concurrent session and the recipient will present the Friends of Albert Stunkard Lifetime Achievement Award Lecture. To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be a TOS member in good standing.

Thomas A. Wadden Award for Distinguished Mentorship honors a mid-career or senior TOS member for distinguished mentorship of the Society’s early career investigators. The award is named for Professor Thomas Wadden, PhD. For more than 30 years, Wadden has mentored many individuals who pursued successful careers in obesity research and clinical care. The recipient receives a plaque along with a $1,000 award. To be eligible for the award, the recipient must be a TOS member in good standing.

Clinician of the Year Award for Excellence in Clinical Management of Obesity was founded in 2015 by the Clinical Management of Obesity Section of The Obesity Society to recognize significant contributions in the evidenced-based treatment of obesity.  The recipient receives a plaque and is acknowledged during ObesityWeek®.

The Oded Bar-Or Award for Excellence in Pediatric Obesity Research, named for Oded Bar-Or, MD, was founded in 2007 by the Pediatric Section of The Obesity Society to recognize significant contributions to basic and applied pediatric obesity research that have resulted in major advances in our scientific understanding of the etiology, prevention, and treatment of pediatric obesity.  The awardee receives a plaque and is acknowledged during ObesityWeek®.

Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award recognizes excellence in research by young investigators based on their submitted abstracts and presentation during ObesityWeek®. Each year, five finalists who are TOS members are selected during the Call for Abstracts. Each finalist will receive complimentary registration and be reimbursed up to $1,500 to cover travel expenses for the current ObesityWeek®. The finalists are invited to present their oral abstracts during a concurrent session where the award is presented. At the conclusion of the session, two recipients will be selected, one for Basic Science and the other for Clinical Research. They will each be awarded a $1,000 cash award.

Early Career Travel Award supports early career investigators in their efforts to contribute to the field of obesity. Two winners who are TOS members will be reimbursed up to $1,500 to assist with ObesityWeek® travel-related expenses.

The Foster-Schauer International Travel Award is provided to non-US, early career investigators or students who present at the current ObesityWeek®. The Obesity Society selects one recipient based on the quality and ranking of an accepted abstract during the “Call for Abstracts.”  To qualify, you must be a TOS early career or student member, reside outside of the United States, and travel to the current ObesityWeek to present your oral or poster abstract. The recipient will receive $2,500 to cover travel expenses.

The Rolls-Simons Travel Award is part of The Obesity Society’s commitment to young investigators in the field of obesity research. This award was established by TOS Past President Barbara Rolls, PhD, FTOS, after losing her mother, Pat Simons, to obesity-related disease. This travel award is for students and Post-graduate trainees and selection is based on the scoring of an abstract submitted for presentation at ObesityWeek®. Selected recipients will receive $1,000 to help off-set the cost for attending ObesityWeek®.