The Obesity Society: Grants, Awards & Programs

The Obesity Society (TOS) is the preeminent scientific organization dedicated to obesity research, clinical care, and prevention. Founded in 1982 as the North American Association for the Study of Obesity (NAASO), TOS comprises approximately 4,000 members worldwide, including basic scientists, clinical investigators, physicians, and educators. Through peer-reviewed journals, conferences, grants, and awards, TOS bridges metabolic science and clinical practice.

What it is and who runs it

The Obesity Society is an international non-profit scientific association based in Rockville, Maryland. It is governed by an elected Governing Board consisting of executive officers—including the President, Vice President, and Treasurer—alongside directors representing clinical practice, basic science, and at-large members. Key operational and scientific initiatives are managed by standing committees, including the Grants Committee and Awards Committee.

The society advances obesity research across nutrition science and endocrinology. TOS publishes two journals: Obesity, its flagship publication with Wiley, and Obesity Science & Practice, an open-access journal. Each autumn, the society convenes ObesityWeek®. As described on the official page on 2026-11-10, TOS administers competitive research grants and awards to support emerging investigators and recognized leaders.

Eligibility (summary, with the official source)

As described on the official page on 2026-11-10 (https://www.obesity.org/grants/), the primary grant mechanism is the TOS Early Career Research Grant. Applicants must meet strict career-stage, institutional, and funding criteria:

Society Membership: The Principal Investigator (PI) must be an active TOS member in good standing at application. Domestic and international members are eligible.
Terminal Degree: The PI must hold an earned doctoral degree (PhD, DSc, DVM, MD, or DO) conferred before submission.
Career Stage: Within 5 years of receiving a PhD, DSc, or DVM, or within 8 years of receiving an MD or DO.
Position: Must hold a full-time, entry-level post (postdoctoral fellow, instructor, or junior Assistant Professor) at an academic or research institution.
Prior Funding Restrictions: Investigators must not have received an R01 NIH research project grant, equivalent R-level grant, or an NIH K-series career development award.
Mentorship: Postdoctoral fellows and instructors must have a primary mentor who provides an institutional commitment letter. Assistant Professors do not require a mentor.
Funding Potential: The project must show strong potential to generate preliminary findings for future extramural awards.

What it funds or requires

TOS Early Career Research Grants provide pilot capital for novel basic or clinical obesity investigations. As described on the official page on 2026-11-10, the program operates under the following rules:

Award Ceiling and Term: Up to $25,000 for a 12-month period, with funding initiating the subsequent calendar year.
Tracks: Two grants are awarded annually: one in Basic Science and one in Clinical Research.
Allowable Direct Costs: Funds support direct project expenses, including laboratory consumables, assay kits, animal care, subject incentives, and analytical software.
Zero Indirect Costs: TOS enforces a strict 0% indirect cost policy; no institutional overhead or facilities and administrative (F&A) expenses are paid. Applicants must ensure their sponsored research office approves this policy (see foundation vs. federal indirect cost rates).
Regulatory Approvals: Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) documentation is required before funds disburse.
Reporting: Grantees must submit a scientific progress report and financial reconciliation at the close of the grant year.

Application or compliance steps

Navigating the TOS grant lifecycle involves specific procedural milestones:

Verify Membership and Degree Timing: Confirm active membership and eligibility windows (≤5 years post-PhD/DSc/DVM; ≤8 years post-MD/DO).
Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI): Submit an LOI via the online portal during the spring window outlining aims, methodology, significance, and future funding plans.
Prepare Invited Proposal: Invited candidates receive notification roughly one month later to submit a full application with technical narrative, specific aims, and preliminary data.
Assemble Endorsements: Gather biosketches, mentor letters (for trainees), and institutional sign-off agreeing to the 0% overhead rate.
Peer Review: The Grants Committee scores proposals on Significance, Investigator, Research Plan, and Future Plans.
Post-Award Management: Finalize institutional agreements. For project delays, recipients follow procedures aligned with standard grant renewal vs. no-cost extension rules.

Typical timeline phases (no calendar dates as facts)

The operational cycle for TOS grants and awards progresses through distinct programmatic phases:

Phase 1: Announcement and LOI Submission: The society opens the application cycle in spring, accepting Letters of Intent through the member portal.
Phase 2: LOI Triage and Invitations: The Grants Committee screens LOIs and issues invitations for full proposals approximately one month after submission.
Phase 3: Full Proposal Peer Review: Invited investigators submit complete scientific narratives and line-item budgets for panel evaluation during mid-summer.
Phase 4: Award Notification: Recipients are notified in autumn ahead of ObesityWeek®. Institutional agreements and regulatory clearances are finalized.
Phase 5: Award Activation and Performance: Funds initiate at the start of the following calendar year for a 12-month active research period.
Phase 6: Reporting and Closeout: Investigators submit final progress and financial reports and disseminate findings at ObesityWeek®.

Common mistakes

Applicants and research administrators should avoid several frequent pitfalls:

Budgeting Indirect Costs: Requesting university overhead. TOS enforces a 0% indirect cost policy; budgets with overhead are rejected.
Exceeding Career Limits: Applying beyond allowable degree windows (>5 years post-PhD/DSc/DVM or >8 years post-MD/DO) without approved leave documentation.
Ineligible Funding History: Applying while holding or having held an NIH R01, R21, or K-award.
Omitted Mentor Documentation: Submitting a fellow or instructor proposal without a comprehensive mentor letter detailing laboratory access and guidance.
Overly Broad Scope: Designing complex clinical trials unachievable within a $25,000 budget and 12-month window. Reviewers favor focused pilot studies.
Vague Future Plans: Failing to detail how pilot data will directly enable a competitive federal R-series application.
Lapsed Membership: Submitting an LOI without active TOS membership in good standing.

Beyond early-career grants, The Obesity Society administers named career honors, dissertation recognitions, and meeting travel grants, as described on the official page on 2026-11-10:

Program Name	Program Category	Target Career Stage	Award Value	Primary Eligibility and Scope
TOS Early Career Research Grant (Basic Science)	Research Grant	Early Career (≤5 yr PhD, ≤8 yr MD)	Up to $25,000	Basic science obesity research; 1-year term; 0% indirect costs; requires active membership.
TOS Early Career Research Grant (Clinical Research)	Research Grant	Early Career (≤5 yr PhD, ≤8 yr MD)	Up to $25,000	Clinical obesity studies; 1-year term; 0% indirect costs; requires active membership.
Ethan Sims Young Investigator Award	Abstract & Research Award	Student / Trainee	$1,000 cash + $1,500 travel + OW registration	Honors two oral abstract presenters (Basic and Clinical) at ObesityWeek®.
George A. Bray Doctoral Dissertation Award	Dissertation Award	Recent Doctoral Graduate	$2,000 cash + plaque + OW registration	Recognizes an outstanding defended doctoral dissertation in obesity.
George A. Bray Master’s Thesis Award	Thesis Award	Recent Master’s Graduate	$2,000 cash + plaque + OW registration	Recognizes an outstanding defended master’s thesis in obesity.
Jules Hirsch Innovation Award	Named Career Award	Early Career (≤10 yr post-training)	$2,500 cash + plaque	Honors novel research contributions with significant impact; ObesityWeek® lecture.
Xavier Pi-Sunyer Award	Named Career Award	Mid-Career (15–25 yr post-degree)	$2,000 cash + plaque	Recognizes mid-career investigators making innovative contributions to research or care.
George L. Blackburn Award for Excellence in Obesity Medicine	Named Career Award	Mid-Career	$5,000 cash + plaque	Recognizes transformative contributions to obesity medicine; funded by GLBFNM.
TOPS Research Achievement Award	Named Career Award	Senior Investigator	$5,000 cash + $1,000 travel + plaque	Honors singular research achievement; funded by TOPS Club, Inc.
Thomas A. Wadden Award for Distinguished Mentorship	Named Career Award	Mid-Career to Senior	$1,000 cash + plaque	Honors sustained mentorship of junior investigators in obesity research.
Early Career Travel Award	Conference travel grant (award)	Early Career Member	$1,500 travel stipend	Provides travel assistance to two early-career TOS members to attend ObesityWeek®.
Rolls-Simons Travel Award	Conference Travel Award	Student / Trainee	$1,000 travel stipend	Supports trainee attendance at ObesityWeek® based on abstract review scores.

FAQ

What is The Obesity Society and what is its focus?

The Obesity Society (TOS) is a scientific organization founded in 1982 dedicated to obesity science, prevention, and clinical care. It publishes Obesity, hosts ObesityWeek®, and funds research grants and career awards for scientists and clinicians.

How much funding does the Early Career Research Grant provide?

The grant provides up to $25,000 for a 12-month period. Two grants are awarded annually—one for Basic Science and one for Clinical Research—to support pilot investigations.

Can international researchers apply for TOS grants?

Yes. International TOS members in good standing are eligible, provided they meet career-stage requirements and hold a qualifying appointment at an academic or research institution.

Are indirect costs or university overhead covered?

No. The Obesity Society maintains a strict 0% indirect cost policy. All awarded funds must support direct project costs such as reagents, assays, animal housing, and study personnel.

Can an investigator with an existing NIH grant apply?

No. Investigators who have held or currently hold an NIH R01, equivalent federal R-series award, or an NIH K-series career development grant are ineligible.

Sources

The Obesity Society. “TOS Grants Programs.” Official program guidelines, eligibility criteria, and review mechanisms. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/grants/
The Obesity Society. “About The Obesity Society.” Mission, vision, leadership, and organizational structure. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/about-us/
The Obesity Society. “The Obesity Society Awards.” Criteria and nomination procedures for named, section, and abstract-based awards. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/awards/
The Obesity Society. “Dues and Categories.” Membership criteria, ethical standards, and professional benefits. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/membership/
The Obesity Society. “Governance and Leadership.” Board structure, standing committees, and nomination guidelines. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://www.obesity.org/governance/