Diet & Fitness

One of the biggest challenges facing our nation is obesity. More than 60 percent of the population is overweight (25 percent are clinically obese), and obesity is a leading contributor to chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and osteoarthritis. In addition to its impact on health, obesity also takes a toll on productivity and quality of life.

Research

  • adolescent dietary behaviors
  • dietary and behavior assessment methods
  • dietary calcium and vitamin D on body composition and insulin resistance
  • dietary, physical activity, and body composition assessment methods
  • dietary protein and energy requirements
  • eating patterns and behavior
  • ecological approaches to preventing obesity
  • family mealtime behaviors and benefits
  • fat substitutes
  • food insecurity
  • food safety and nutrition related to chemical contaminants in foods
  • health behavior theory and motivational factors related to diet and exercise
  • ingestive behavior (the independent and interactive influences of neural, genetic, metabolic, hormonal, cognitive, cultural and especially sensory factors on human dietary behavior, nutrient utilization and energy balance)
  • intestinal lipid absorption and how it regulates whole animal energy balance
  • non-cariogenic sweeteners
  • nutrition and inflammation-associated diseases
  • nutrition education for limited resource audiences
  • nutrition education, use of computers
  • nutrition in older adults
  • nutritional regulation of cholesterol metabolism
  • protein, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism
  • more