Editor-in-Chief, Pediatric Obesity
World Obesity Federation and Wiley · Journal vacancy
Editor-in-Chief, Pediatric Obesity
We are looking for an Editor-in-Chief to oversee the leading journal for high-quality research into obesity in childhood and adolescence, and to further expand its reach and impact.
About the journal
Pediatric Obesity is an online-only, peer-reviewed, monthly journal devoted to worldwide research into obesity during childhood and adolescence – a topic of intense interest in the scientific community and of increasing concern to health policymakers and the public in every country. It is the leading journal for high-quality papers covering all areas of paediatric obesity. In addition to its monthly issues, the journal publishes commercial and non-commercial supplements in the same style and layout as regular issues.
The journal is owned by the World Obesity Federation (WOF), a not-for-profit charitable body linking over 125 regional and national associations with over 10,000 professional members in scientific, medical and research organisations. WOF’s collection of obesity journals contributes to the goal of advancing evidence-based obesity policy, prevention, management and education by creating, translating and sharing robust evidence.
Aims and scope
Pediatric Obesity publishes high-quality papers across the field, including, but not limited to:
- Genetic, molecular, biochemical and physiological aspects of obesity – basic, applied and clinical studies relating to mechanisms of the development of obesity from in utero, infancy, childhood and adolescence, and impact on health outcomes across the life course
- Metabolic consequences of child and adolescent obesity
- Epidemiological and population-based studies of child and adolescent overweight and obesity
- Measurement and diagnostic issues in assessing child and adolescent adiposity, physical activity and nutrition
- Clinical management of children and adolescents with obesity, including treatment and prevention
- Co-morbidities linked to child and adolescent obesity – mechanisms, assessment and treatment
- Life-cycle factors, for example familial, intrauterine and developmental aspects of child and adolescent obesity
- Nutrition security and the ‘double burden’ of obesity and malnutrition
- Health promotion and public health interventions and strategies to address obesity among children and adolescents
Readership
Paediatricians Obstetricians Endocrinologists Cardiologists Gastroenterologists Nutritionists Dieticians Rheumatologists Bariatric surgeons Metabolic surgeons General surgeons Internists Hospitalists General practitioners Physiologists Epidemiologists Psychologists Nurses working with people with obesity Public health professionals Funding bodies Policymakers
The role
The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) will oversee all editorial aspects of the journal’s management, including commissioning articles and managing the peer review process using Wiley’s ReX digital platform. The EIC will ensure that all submissions meet ethical standards and are subject to rigorous and impartial peer review prior to publication.
The EIC will have a unique opportunity to further expand the reach and impact of the journal. Preference will be given to a candidate who has wide expertise or interest in paediatric obesity and its related complications, has a track record of reviewing academic papers, and can demonstrate enthusiasm for expanding the journal’s reach and influence.
Responsibilities
Approximately 450–500 manuscripts are submitted each year. The current Editor-in-Chief devotes approximately 6 hours per month to the role on average.
Editorial Board
Appoint members and monitor their contributions, allowing for regional and gender diversity and ensuring representation and input from across the wide spectrum of expertise needed, for example clinical, behavioural and basic sciences, and public health.
Monthly publication
- Organise the content of each monthly issue and submit it to Wiley
- List the ‘front cover’ abbreviated heading for each selected manuscript
- Identify the ‘Editor’s choice’ manuscript, which is made open access for one month
- Review and approve the draft front covers and monthly issues before they are placed online
Submitted manuscripts
- Review all submitted manuscripts (new and revised) in ScholarOne for suitability (topic, language quality, format and iThenticate score). Assign acceptable manuscripts to an Associate Editor (AE) for further review, recommend transfer to another WOF journal, or reject. Where issues need addressing before assignment, correspond with authors by returning the paper for major or minor revision.
- For some papers, the EIC may also fulfil the role of AE. In these instances, additional responsibilities include:
- Selecting and inviting potential reviewers, and overseeing the review process to ensure timely action
- Inviting further reviewers if there are insufficient acceptances from the first list
- Following up on overdue reviews by email
Initial decisions
Make initial decisions after reviewing reviewers’ comments. Check that submission formats are correct for all manuscripts that are not rejected, and inform corresponding authors.
Final decisions
When finally accepting a manuscript, there is the opportunity to flag it as worthy of media publicity.
Publications Committee
The EIC is a member of the WOF Publications Committee, which meets quarterly by Zoom and twice a year face to face (at the International Congress on Obesity).
Selection and management of supplements (3–5 a year)
Supplements are an EIC decision, considering the suitability of the topic, the expertise of proposed guest editors and the potential impact on the journal’s Impact Factor. Manage the peer review of all supplement manuscripts by agreed arrangement with Guest Editors, make final decisions on each manuscript and review all manuscript proofs.
Correspondence
Respond to all correspondence addressed to the EIC.
Journal promotion
Work with Wiley management on promotion of the journal.
Collaboration across WOF journals
Work with other World Obesity journal editors to develop virtual supplements on specific topics and other projects.
Commissioning reviews
Invite review manuscripts, or invite specific individuals to submit a review.
Start date: the successful candidate will begin shadowing the current Editor-in-Chief in January 2027, with the role officially commencing in January 2027.
Download the job description
Application
To apply please submit a CV and cover letter to enquiries@worldobesity.org setting out your motivation for applying and summarising your key relevant skills and experience (maximum 800 words) no later than 12 noon (GMT) 20 November 2026. (Applications after this deadline will not be considered.)
The successful candidate will begin shadowing the current Editor-in-Chief in January 2027, with the role to officially commencing in January 2027.
Apply now