Peter Kopelman

Who is Peter Kopelman?

Peter Graham Kopelman is the Principal of St George's, University of London.

Kopelman was educated at Felsted School and studied medicine at St George's Hospital. Professor Kopelman has a long-standing interest in diabetes care and initiated a district-wide scheme for integrated care in east London. He established an Obesity Clinic at the Royal London Hospital in 1980 that now has a national reputation and receives referrals from around the United Kingdom. The clinic focuses particularly on patients with extreme obesity and those with lesser degrees of obesity but who have developed complications as a consequence of the condition.

Professor Kopelman’s major research interest is in the field of obesity, in particular endocrine aspects and possible genetic determinants. He is also interested in the pathophysiology of associated complications and their management. Professor Kopelman is a past chairman of the Association for the Study of Obesity, President of the European Association for the Study of Obesity, a Trustee of the International Association for the Study of Obesity and a member of the Department of Health and Food Standards Agency Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Professor Kopelman is a member of the Chief Medical Officer’s Working Group on physical activity. He is chairman of the Royal College of Physicians Committee on Nutrition and chaired the College’s Working Party on the management of obesity with particular reference to drug therapy. He also chaired the College’s Working Party on nutritional care of patients that resulted in the publication of a report entitled “Nutrition and Patients – a Doctor’s Responsibility”.