Emilia Huvinen

Emilia Huvinen
Nationality	Finnish
Citizenship	Finland
Alma mater	University of Helsinki
Occupation	Obstetrician-gynecologist Obesity physician Researcher Author Public speaker
Notable work	Hungry genes? Understanding obesity without blame (2026)
Title	Docent (associate professor), University of Helsinki
Scientific career
Fields	Obstetrics and gynecology; obesity medicine; women’s metabolic health; PMOS (formerly PCOS); menopause and cardiometabolic health; GLP-1 receptor agonists and pregnancy

Emilia Huvinen is a Finnish gynecologist, obesity physician, researcher, author, public speaker, and science communicator. Her current work focuses on obesity medicine and women’s metabolic health across the reproductive life course, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS), menopause as a cardiometabolic transition, and questions concerning the evidence and safety of GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure around conception and during pregnancy. She is a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and holds the title of docent (associate professor) in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Helsinki. In her clinical work, she emphasizes compassionate, patient-centered care, combining current scientific evidence with empathetic, individualized treatment that considers each patient’s life stage and overall circumstances.

Education and medical career

Huvinen earned her medical degree at the University of Helsinki and later specialized in obstetrics and gynecology. Her doctoral research, based on the Finnish RADIEL study, examined gestational diabetes and the long-term effects of lifestyle intervention among women at high risk. It reported that lifestyle counseling during pregnancy was associated with a lower prevalence of impaired glucose regulation one year after delivery.

She became a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology in 2019 and was appointed docent in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Helsinki in 2024. She is a visiting researcher at the University of Helsinki and practices both gynecology and obesity medicine at Aava Medical Centre and Weightclinic.online. At Weightclinic.online, she serves as Director of Women’s Health.

Research

Huvinen’s earlier research, arising from the RADIEL study, examined gestational diabetes, postpartum glucose metabolism, and maternal and offspring metabolic health beyond pregnancy. Her studies have investigated the relationship between children’s early postnatal growth and adiposity at age five, and the extent to which genetic susceptibility modifies the effect of lifestyle intervention.

Her more recent academic, educational, and clinical interests connect obesity medicine with women’s health, including polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS), menopause as a cardiometabolic transition, and obesity pharmacotherapy. Within pharmacotherapy, her public education has highlighted the limited evidence concerning GLP-1 receptor agonist exposure around conception, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. Collaborative research has also addressed associations between maternal prepregnancy body mass index and maternal and cord-blood metabolomes.

Obesity medicine and women’s health

Huvinen’s clinical, educational, and public work connects obesity medicine with gynecology. Her current areas of focus include polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS), reproductive health, pregnancy, menopause as a cardiometabolic transition, and weight stigma. Her approach emphasizes obesity as a chronic, multifactorial disease and uses people-first language rather than attributing body weight to personal failure.

In 2025, Huvinen co-authored a European Association for the Study of Obesity position statement on care for women living with obesity across the reproductive life. She also contributed to the development of an international patient-centered outcome set for adults living with obesity, published in eClinicalMedicine in 2025.

Professional leadership and collaboration

Huvinen contributes to European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) work on women and obesity through position-statement development and professional education on reproductive health and obesity pharmacotherapy. EASO has described her as one of the founders of the Nordic Obesity Network. She represents the Finnish Association for the Study of Obesity (FASO) in the European Obesity Care Academy (EOCA), serves on its Steering Committee, and has played a central role in developing the academy. Huvinen is also a member of the FASO board and the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (DPSG).

Writing and public communication

Huvinen’s Finnish-language book Paskat geenit? Uusin tieto ylipainon syistä ja sen hoidosta was published by Minerva in 2024. An Estonian translation, Sitad geenid? Palju uut teavet ülekaalu põhjuste ja ravi kohta, translated by Margit Mõistlik, was published by Tänapäev in 2025. The book explains biological, genetic, social, and environmental influences on obesity and discusses evidence-based treatment while challenging shame and blame.

An English edition, Hungry genes? Understanding obesity without blame, was published by Huvinen Health Oy in August 2026 in paperback (ISBN 978-952-88-2397-1) and EPUB (ISBN 978-952-88-2398-8). Its launch was included in the 2026 Obesity Matters Wellness Workshop program.

Huvinen is also one of the hosts of the Finnish women’s-health podcast Naisten vuoro, produced with gynecologist Leena Väisälä and nutrition therapist Hanna Partanen.

Public speaking and media

Alongside her clinical and academic work, Huvinen is an invited speaker internationally at scientific congresses and educational events, both in person and online. In 2026, she gave the keynote “Women’s Health Over the Lifespan” at the Canadian Obesity Summit. At ECO 2026, she gave a keynote on female sex and gender in obesity and also spoke on obesity-related complications after menopause.

Huvinen regularly contributes to professional education organized by EASO. Her teaching has included an EASO webinar on obesity, fertility, PCOS, and pregnancy; the EASO Early Career Network Winter School; the EASO Obesity Masterclass; and continuing-professional-development modules on obesity and women’s health across the reproductive life course.

She also contributes regularly to media, podcasts, and public education on obesity care, women’s health, hormonal transitions, and weight stigma. Selected appearances include interviews with Yle, Helsingin Sanomat, EASO, and Jaksa paremmin; the Obesity Canada podcast Scale Up Your Practice; and a Finnish Thyroid Association public lecture on thyroid health and menopause. She has also written for general audiences about weight management across women’s life stages.

Selected publications

• Mekonnen, T., et al. (2025). “Development of a core patient-centred outcome set for adults living with obesity: a modified delphi-based international consensus.” eClinicalMedicine, 87, 103422. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103422
• Filippi-Arriaga, F., et al. (2025). “EASO Position Statement: Women with Obesity across the Reproductive Life – Fertility, Preconception, Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding.” Obesity Facts, 18(6), 625–639. doi:10.1159/000546449
• Huvinen, E. (2025). “Laihdutuslääkkeillä kuuri kohti kesäkuntoa vai kenties jotain muuta?” Erikoislääkäri, 35(2), 45–47. Official issue listing
• Tieu, S., et al. (2024). “Genetic risk of type 2 diabetes modifies the association between lifestyle and glycemic health at 5 years postpartum among high-risk women.” BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 12(2), e003942. doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2023-003942
• Blanco Sequeiros, E., et al. (2023). “Early ascending growth is associated with maternal lipoprotein profile during mid and late pregnancy and in cord blood.” International Journal of Obesity, 47(11), 1081–1087. doi:10.1038/s41366-023-01361-x
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2022). “Genetic risk of type 2 diabetes modifies the effects of a lifestyle intervention aimed at the prevention of gestational and postpartum diabetes.” Diabetologia, 65(8), 1291–1301. doi:10.1007/s00125-022-05712-7
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2021). “Ascending Growth Is Associated With Offspring Adiposity in Pregnancies Complicated With Obesity or Gestational Diabetes.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 106(5), e1993–e2004. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgaa979
• Huvinen, E., Holopainen, E., & Heikinheimo, O. (2021). “Norethisterone and its acetate – what’s so special about them?” BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, 47(2), 102–109. Epub 2020. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2020-200619
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2020). “Lifestyle and glycemic health 5 years postpartum in obese and non-obese high diabetes risk women.” Acta Diabetologica, 57(12), 1453–1462. doi:10.1007/s00592-020-01553-1
• Wekker, V., et al. (2019). “Long-term effects of a preconception lifestyle intervention on cardiometabolic health of overweight and obese women.” European Journal of Public Health, 29(2), 308–314. doi:10.1093/eurpub/cky222
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2018). “Heterogeneity of gestational diabetes (GDM) and challenges in developing a GDM risk score.” Acta Diabetologica, 55(12), 1251–1259. doi:10.1007/s00592-018-1224-x
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2018). “Heterogeneity of gestational diabetes (GDM) and long-term risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome: findings from the RADIEL study follow-up.” Acta Diabetologica, 55(5), 493–501. doi:10.1007/s00592-018-1118-y
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2018). “Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention During Pregnancy and First Postpartum Year: Findings From the RADIEL Study.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 103(4), 1669–1677. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02477
• Huvinen, E., et al. (2016). “Heterogeneity of maternal characteristics and impact on gestational diabetes (GDM) risk – implications for universal GDM screening?” Annals of Medicine, 48(1–2), 52–58. doi:10.3109/07853890.2015.1131328
• Koivusalo, S. B., et al. (2016). “Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Can Be Prevented by Lifestyle Intervention: The Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL): A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Diabetes Care, 39(1), 24–30. doi:10.2337/dc15-0511

Selected talks, educational media and interviews

• EASO continuing professional development: Women, Obesity, and Reproductive Health: What Clinicians Need to Know.
• Obesity Canada podcast: Understanding PCOS and obesity with Dr. Emilia Huvinen (video podcast).
• EASO webinar: Women’s Health: Pregnancy, Fertility & Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
• Finnish Thyroid Association: Kilpirauhanen ja vaihdevuodet (public lecture).
• Yle interview: Obesity medications, biology, and weight stigma.
• Helsingin Sanomat interview: Syyllisyyden lihavuudesta on loputtava — lääkäri Emilia Huvinen.
• Jaksa paremmin interview: Jos kello on sekaisin, roskaruoka kutsuu.
• Weightclinic.online article: Painonhallinta naisen eri elämänvaiheissa (authored article).
• EASO interview: Women with obesity across the reproductive life course.
• ECO 2026: Gender differences and menopause as a cardiometabolic transition.
• Canadian Obesity Summit: Women’s Health Over the Lifespan — keynote announcement.

External links

• University of Helsinki research profile
• European Obesity Care Academy
• Aava Medical Centre profile
• Weightclinic.online physician profile