LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center will host its 2026 Childhood Obesity Conference, “Be the Reason Kids Greaux Healthy,” on Sept. 24 at the C.B. Pennington, Jr. Conference Center. The conference, presented by the Greaux Healthy initiative, will bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and community leaders to explore strategies for preventing and treating childhood obesity. Registration is now available online .
Pennington Biomedical held its first Childhood Obesity Conference in 2008, bringing healthcare and public health professionals together to share knowledge and advance approaches to preventing childhood obesity. This year’s conference builds on that tradition with a focus on turning research and evidence into practical strategies that can improve outcomes for children and families.
“Pennington Biomedical is proud to bring together healthcare providers, educators, researchers and community leaders who are committed to improving the health of children,” said Dr. Jennifer Rood, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical. “The Childhood Obesity Conference connects the latest research with practical strategies that can be put into action, giving participants the knowledge, tools and connections they need to help prevent and treat childhood obesity and create healthier futures for Louisiana’s children.”
The conference is designed for professionals and advocates dedicated to improving child health and wellness. Attendees may include physicians and pediatricians, nurses, dietitians and nutritionists, public health practitioners, social workers and counselors, community and nonprofit leaders, policymakers and advocates.
Why Attend?
“Greaux Healthy was created to bring the science and expertise of Pennington Biomedical directly to the people and communities who can make a difference in children’s health,” said Melissa Martin, Director of Greaux Healthy. “This conference is an opportunity to learn from one another, share what is working and turn evidence into action. When we equip healthcare providers, educators and community partners with practical, evidence-based tools, we can create meaningful change for Louisiana’s children and help them grow up healthier.”
The keynote address, “The Future of Pediatric Obesity Care – From Evidence to Scalable Impact,” will be delivered by Dr. Dedrick Moulton, LSU Health Sciences Center Department Chair of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief at Manning Family Children’s.
Additional sessions will explore rural health innovation in pediatric obesity care, preventing childhood obesity before it begins, helping children eat real food and move more, and other emerging topics in pediatric obesity prevention and treatment.
As part of the conference, researchers and professionals are invited to submit abstracts focused on childhood obesity prevention and treatment, as well as community-based health initiatives, for poster presentations. Abstract submissions are open to participants from all disciplines and career stages, including students, and are due Aug. 31. Submissions can be made online .
Pennington Biomedical is committed to translating peer-reviewed research into practical approaches that can improve childhood health and nutrition. Through Greaux Healthy, the conference provides an opportunity for healthcare professionals and community partners from across Louisiana and the region to connect, share best practices and learn about new approaches to improving the health of children.
The 2026 Childhood Obesity Conference is sponsored by FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake, Louisiana Blue, Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority (LPFA) and Access Health Louisiana.
About LSU's Pennington Biomedical Research Center
The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Pennington Biomedical has the vision to lead the world in promoting nutrition and metabolic health and eliminating metabolic disease through scientific discoveries that create solutions from cells to society. The Center conducts basic, clinical and population research, and is a campus in the LSU System.
The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 600 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 16 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician-scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a globally recognized state-of-the-art research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu .