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The Obesity Society has honored Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Lawrence Cheskin with the 2025 Atkinson Stern Award for Distinguished Public Service. This award recognizes an individual whose work has improved the lives of those affected by obesity, whether through research, public policy, or patient care.
“My work serves to advocate for giving obesity, and its health and societal impact, the greatest possible voice and support to address its causes and promote treatment options and research,” said Cheskin.
Fellow College of Public Health faculty members Martin Binks and Lilian de Jonge were among the colleagues who nominated Cheskin.
“Dr. Larry Cheskin exemplifies the qualities sought in the Atkinson Stern Award recipient: sustained and outstanding contributions to the field of obesity, international acclaim for his contributions to improving the lives of those affected, and an enduring commitment to scholarship, leadership, and community engagement in furthering the field. Finally, despite the extent of his professional accomplishments and status in the field, Larry is among the most humble leaders one could hope to call a colleague,” wrote Binks, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, in his nomination.
De Jonge, professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, similarly highlighted both Cheskin’s renown and humility, writing, “Dr. Cheskin embodies the spirit of the Atkinson Stern Award. His groundbreaking contributions have influenced both policy and practice, earning international recognition for improving lives through obesity research and public service. Despite his vast achievements, he remains approachable, collaborative, and deeply invested in fostering positive change.”
Cheskin has dedicated his career to addressing obesity, garnering research expertise in dietary behavior change, intervention treatment programs, and community-based participation research. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and written eight books on the causes and treatment of obesity among underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad, digital weight management interventions, and co-occurrence of obesity and other diseases.
Cheskin, a first-generation college graduate, earned his medical degree from Dartmouth, received postdoctoral training at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and has been board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is a fellow of several clinical and nutrition-related professional societies, including the American College of Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, and The Obesity Society.
In addition to his role as a professor at the College of Public Health, Cheskin is an adjunct professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he founded the Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center, a multidisciplinary clinical research and treatment program.
Cheskin was also recently named a George Mason Distinguished University Professor.