Thomas A.Wadden, Ph.D., is the Albert J. Stunkard Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also is Director of the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders. He received his A.B. in 1975 from Brown University and his doctorate in clinical psychology in 1981 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Wadden's principal research is on the treatment of obesity by methods that have included lifestyle modification, physical activity, very-low-calorie diets, medication, and surgery. He also has investigated the metabolic and behavioral consequences of obesity and weight loss. He has published over 300 scientific papers and book chapters, and co-edited six books, the most recent of which is Obesity and Its Associated Eating Disorders: A Guide for Mental Health Practitioners (with Terrence Wilson, Albert Stunkard and Robert Berkowitz). His research has been supported for nearly 30 years by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Dr. Wadden is past President of the Obesity Society and past associate editor of the journal, Obesity, published by the society. He has served on several NIH panels, including study sections, the Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity, and the Obesity Clinical Guidelines Committee. He also has served as a consultant to the Department of Veteran's Affairs, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Institute of Medicine. His research has been recognized by several awards, including the George Bray Founders Award and the TOPS Research Award, both from The Obesity Society.
