David Bradley Allison is an American obesity researcher, biostatistician, and psychologist.
Education
1985 – Bachelor of Arts, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York
1987 – Master of Arts, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
1990 – Doctor of Philosophy., Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York
1991 – Post-Doc, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
1994 – Fellowship, Columbia University and Saint Luke"s-Roosevelt Hospital Center
According to data analyzed by the journal Nature, Allison has ranked in the top 10 for most federally funded grants. Allison has been described as one of the leading skeptics regarding commonly issued nutrition advice. Author Judith Stern wrote "He is also known for challenging conventional ideas, exploring novel hypotheses, and holding himself and others to rigorous standards of evidence." Although Allison has had some critics regarding his stance on questioning the link between consuming any one particular food and obesity, he has been defended by others and praised for his strong adherence to solid scientific practice.
Allison is the founding Field Chief Editor of Frontiers in Genetics.
He also serves as a frequent consultant and expert witness in the legal setting.
Career
He is Distinguished Professor, Quetelet Endowed Professor of Public Health, and Associate Dean for Science of the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Education 1985 – Bachelor of Arts, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York In 2008, Allison resigned as president-elect of the Obesity Society after signing an affidavit opposing a law that would have required calorie counts to be listed on restaurant menus. In 2011, American Broadcasting Company News ran a story about Allison.
The story quoted him as saying there was too little "solid evidence" to support a link between soft drink consumption and obesity.
The article noted that "..critics say his skepticism stems from his financial ties to entities such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi and the American Beverage Association.." Allison was featured in the 2014 documentary film Federation Up, which criticized his research for being funded by food companies. Allison responded that "the film-makers’ behavior seems counter to thoughtful dialogue," although he added that he had not seen the film yet and so could not provide a detailed response.
Views
Author Judith Stern wrote "He is also known for challenging conventional ideas, exploring novel hypotheses, and holding himself and others to rigorous standards of evidence." Although Allison has had some critics regarding his stance on questioning the link between consuming any one particular food and obesity, he has been defended by others and praised for his strong adherence to solid scientific practice.
Membership
The New York Times reported that Allison"s affidavit "ran counter to the conventional thinking in his field" and provoked criticism from some members of the Society.