Obesity Special Interest Group

Mission and Goals

Mission: Promote the health and well-being of youth who are overweight or obese and their families by fostering the provision of evidence-based assessment and treatment methods utilizing the principles of psychology.

Purpose: Provide a forum for communication and collaboration in both clinical and research realms, in order to further the field’s knowledge of developmental and contextual factors contributing to the etiology of obesity, course and outcome of pediatric obesity, assessment and treatment of behavioral and emotional comorbidities, and obesity prevention initiatives.

Aim: Provide education, training and mentoring of psychologists in the care of youth with overweight or obesity and advocacy for public policy.

Leadership

Executive Committee 2023-2025
Chair: Eileen A. Chaves, Ph.D.
Chair-Elect: Sanita Ley, Ph.D.
Secretary: Carolina Bejarano, Ph.D.
Student/Trainee Member at Large:  Madison Weinstock, MS
Past Chair:Jason E. Boye, PhD, ABPP

Subcommittee Chairs:
Advocacy: Kimberly Reynolds, Ph.D., ABPP and Rebecca Kamody, Ph.D.
Bariatric Surgery: Eileen A. Chaves, Ph.D.
Newsletter: Adelle Cadieux, PsyD
Technology and Website Development: Jason Boye, Ph.D., ABPP
Social Media: Miranda Frank and Maddie Haring
SPPAC Planning:
Research: Cathy Stough, Ph.D. 
Physical Activity: Wendy Ward, Ph.D., ABPP, FAPA, FNAP
Stroll with a Mentor: Madison Weinstock, MS

Additional Information

History:  Founding chair—Wendy L. Ward, PhD ABPP and founding vice chair—Ann M. Davis, PhD, MPH, ABPP.

  • 2007 SIG began as an unofficial interest group
  • 2009 SIG began meeting at Division 54 Regional conference
  • 2010 Became an official SIG of Division 54
  • 2012 SIG had its first elections for terms starting in 2013

Join

SPP invites members with a shared interest to consider joining one or more Special Interest Groups (SIGs) by logging into the Member Portal and going to "Join a SIG/RIG/Affinity Group" on the dropbox.