OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — December 8, 2025 — Michelle Nguyen, PhD, of the University of Oklahoma Health, has been awarded first place in The Obesity Society’s (TOS) prestigious Lightning Talks competition, held during ObesityWeek 2025 in Atlanta.

Nguyen was recognized for an exceptional abstract titled “Physical Activity is Associated with Decreased Biological Age in a Behavioral Weight Loss Trial.” The study was selected as one of the top early-career submissions and highlighted during the fast-paced TOS Lightning Talks session, where presenters are challenged to distill their research into a compelling three-minute presentation for a broad scientific audience.

The Lightning Talks competition showcases leading work from early-career investigators and students, emphasizing both scientific innovation and effective communication. Nguyen’s presentation earned the highest honor among this year’s finalists.

ObesityWeek, hosted annually by The Obesity Society, remains the leading scientific conference dedicated to obesity research, prevention, and treatment. The 2025 meeting brought together experts across basic science, clinical care, intervention development and public health policy to address one of the world’s most urgent health challenges.

TOS’ Early-Career Professional Sub-Committee formally congratulated Nguyen and noted the significance of the achievement for both the researcher and the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Geroscience.