Walter Willett to receive McGill’s Bloomberg Manulife Prize

Walter Willett
Walter Willett, Fredrick John Stare professor of epidemiology and nutrition and chair of the Department of Nutrition

Walter Willett, Fredrick John Stare professor of epidemiology and nutrition and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), has been selected to receive the 2013 Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health. The prize, awarded by McGill University in association with Lawrence and Frances Bloomberg and Manulife Financial, will be awarded at a ceremony in Toronto on January 27, 2014.

The $50,000 Bloomberg Manulife Prize, launched in May 2011, is awarded annually to a researcher from anywhere in the world whose work promises to broaden understanding of how physical activity, nutrition, or psychosocial factors influence personal health and wellbeing. The winner is chosen by a jury of distinguished academics from universities and research institutions across North America.

Willett is the author of more than 1,000 scientific articles on diet and disease, and author of the national bestseller, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, which presents nutritional recommendations based on available data from epidemiologic and clinical studies.

The award recognizes him as “the single-most cited nutritionist in the world, and a sought-out expert on the topic of health and nutrition. Known for his strong criticism of policies and guidelines that fail to reflect the best scientific evidence, Willett has dedicated himself to pursuing research that can inform the public about how proper nutrition contributes to better health, and ultimately, a longer life,” a McGill announcement stated.

Read the announcement

photo: Kent Dayton

Learn more

Walter Willett and the science of eating well (HSPH News)

HSPH’s Walter Willett endorses sugary drinks ban on Boston city property (HSPH News)

Time to Focus on Healthier Beverages (HSPH video)

Ask the Experts: Healthy Fat (HSPH’s The Nutrition Source)

Nutrition research at HSPH