Unplugged 
Dr. Leah Whigham
Executive Director
Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living

@LeahWhigham

The Importance of Recess
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Dr. Leah Whigham has a B.S. degree in biochemistry from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the Executive Director of the Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living, a multi-Institutional effort to increase healthy eating and active living in southern New Mexico, far west Texas, and Ciudad Juarez. The work of the Institute includes building the capacity of the medical/health care sector in the region to effectively deal with obesity, as well as using evidence-based mixed-strategy solutions to promote healthy eating and active living. Her research interests have ranged from basic to clinical to community and have included effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on immune function and body composition; investigations of the molecular mechanisms involved in virally-induced obesity; energy expenditure mechanisms involved with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity, as well as development of a new approach for modeling the metabolic dynamics of complex diseases; development of biofeedback methods for weight loss using naturally occurring stable isotopes; and approaches for decreasing excessive gestational weight gain in obese pregnant women.

The Difference Between Recess and Physical Play

Dr. Whigham has been a member of TOS since 2000, attending meetings annually, and giving numerous oral and poster presentations. She has served on the Finance Committee for 2 years, was a member and is currently Chair of the Audit Committee, and participated in the latest round of the TOS Strategic Plan. She has served as a reviewer for Obesity, International Journal of Obesity, and numerous other journals; is on the editorial board for Nutrition and Diabetes; and has been a guest editor for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism. She chaired the Dannon Leadership Institute Alumni Association. She is frequently interviewed for obesity-related news stories from around the world.


Vision for TOS: I have been a member and strong supporter of TOS since I first began doing research in the obesity field in 2000. Coming into TOS with a strong basic science background, the professional networking, as well as young investigator grant funds I received through TOS, have helped me apply that basic science approach in meaningful clinical and translational research endeavors. My vision includes expansion of the impact of TOS in high-impact research areas including understanding the fundamentals of the etiology and pathophysiology of obesity. TOS also needs to continue to be a leader in advocacy, education, and treatment of obesity.
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@LeahWhigham

Add Some Festive Vegetables and Fruits to Your Holiday Meals: by Leah Whigham, Executive Director
Paso del Norte Institute for Healthy Living

The holiday season is upon us, and many of us have a hard time maintaining healthy eating habits during this time of year. One approach is to focus on including more vegetables and fruits.
Adequate intake of vegetables and fruits is important for several reasons:
1) Many vegetables and fruits are good sources of nutrients that most of us don’t get enough of such as folate, potassium, dietary fiber, and vitamins A, C, and K.
2) Eating vegetables and fruits is associated with decreasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart attacks and stroke) and some types of cancer.
3) Eating vegetables and fruits (without a lot of added fats or sugars) in place of higher calorie foods can help people who are trying to lose weight or maintain weight loss.

To read more click here!