Professor Rachel Batterham

Professor Rachel Batterham is Professor of Obesity, Diabetes and Endocrinology at University College London (UCL). She holds a prestigious National Institute of Health (NIHR) Research Professorship (2016-2021). She established and leads the University College London Hospital (UCLH) Bariatric Centre for Weight Management & Metabolic Surgery. She leads the UCL Centre for Obesity Research within the Department of Medicine and is the Director for the UCLH/UCL NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Obesity Research Theme. Professor Batterham laboratory’s research is focused on increasing our understanding of body weight regulation and developing new therapies for the treatment of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes. She has received several international awards including the RSM Steven’s Lecture (2018), Andre Mayer award from the World Obesity Federation (2016), the Diabetes UK Rank Fund Nutrition Prize (2015), the Lilly Scientific Achievement Award from The Obesity Society (2014), and the Linacre Medical from the Royal College of Physicians (2010). Professor Batterham has made significant clinical contributions to defining the management of obese patients through her membership of the NICE Obesity Guideline Development Group and Royal College of Physicians Advisory Group on Health and Weight. Professor Batterham is currently a NICE Clinical Expert (2016-2021), Scientific Chair for the International Federation for Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Diseases (IFSO) European Chapter (since 2015), a Trustee for the Association for the Study of Obesity (since 2016) and Council Member for British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society (since 2016). Professor Batterham is passionate about reducing the stigma that people with obesity experience and ensuring that the patient voice is heard and has established a charity for people affected by obesity, Obesity Empowerment Network UK.