Throughout his career at Case Western Reserve University, Professor Paul Ernsberger helped science better understand the relationships between body weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose.

Medical educator and research scientist Paul Ernsberger died on May 4, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the age of 65. Ernsberger was highly regarded in his field, with 438 publications to his credit that have been cited by other scientists 10,989 times.

Ernsberger was especially held in high esteem by advocates dedicated to advancing body acceptance at any size. He researched and wrote about the health risks of yo-yo dieting, rapid weight loss followed by a fast regain, also known as weight cycling. He was a keynote speaker or workshop presenter at many conferences held by ASDAH (Association for Size Diversity and Health) and also a number of NAAFA conventions over the years, beginning in the 1980s.

His most recent NAAFA workshop presentation was at the 50th Anniversary Convention in Las Vegas in 2019. He supported the HAES principles, and would calmly engage anyone in a rebuttal who took the opposite position.

Born in Yonkers, New York, Ernsberger became fascinated with chemistry at a young age when his father, a Presbyterian minister, and his mother, a teacher, gave him a chemistry set for his birthday. After high school, he completed studies at Macalester College in 1978 with a B.S. in Physiological Psychology and then attended Northwestern University in Chicago for his graduate work. In 1984 he earned his PhD in Pharmacology from the Feinberg School of Medicine.

After earning his PhD, he served as an assistant professor for 5 years at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, NY, where he conducted research on the central control of the circulatory system. It was during these years that Ernsberger discovered a neurotransmitter in the brain that affects weight control and one's metabolic "set point."

In 1989 Ernsberger joined the faculty at Case Western Reserve University, where he worked for 32 years. At the time of his death, he was an Associate Professor at the medical school and the director of the Laboratory of Metabolic Pharmacology.

"After 40 years of bench research on fundamental questions of basic science, I am transitioning into human subject research," Ernsberger wrote shortly before his death. "My recent human-centered approach represents an extension of my prior bench research . . . into the biological consequences of large and rapid loss and regain of body weight . . ."

In addition to his love of science and medical research, Paul enjoyed singing bass parts in choirs. He also played the string bass for a variety of bands, and enjoyed singing in the choir of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cleveland.

Paul is survived by his son, Tim Ernsberger; his partner, Cathy Willeman Niswonger; his sister and his brother.

"He was loved by so many people," said his partner, Cathy. "We shared a love for a man who has made it his life's work to help those who were totally misunderstood and not given the dignity and respect they deserve simply because of their 'packaging'. He loved and served them through his tireless research. I will miss his kind eyes, witty jokes, infectious laugh, and deep bass voice."

NAAFA's founder, Bill Fabrey, said "I have known Paul since he was in graduate school, long ago. He added so much to NAAFA's mission in his advisory capacity, and with his warmth and humor as well. Losing Paul is a blow to the size acceptance movement, but we are grateful for the years that he gave us."

Hollywood's Fatphobia Problem

Actress Jen Ponton shares in this TEDx Talk from her own experiences and from her studies of discrimination against people in fat bodies. She shares facts that are very familiar to many of us and ends on a hopeful note. Like NAAFA, she believes representation matters!

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MlO3MjwFc5w