Research to determine the relationships between diet and genetic regulation and between diet and fitness on health is required to establish nutrient needs of individuals. Underlying the research objectives is a continued need to better understand the function of individual nutrients and naturally occurring protectants in foods and their interactions, and to develop reliable indicators of nutritional status and health. New methodologies, including those in molecular and cellular biology, have the potential to create new and more reliable indicators of nutrient status and predictors of nutrient needs. Southern Relevance Poor diets in the Southern region contribute to the highest rates in the nation of hypertension, strokes, diabetes, and other diseases associated with poor nutrition. Better definition of proper nutrition within ethnic and other cultural dietary patterns is needed to increase the longevity and quality of life in the South, as well as to reduce health care costs of the region.
Objectives Determine the role of diet in obesity and eating disorders.
Determine the role of dietary intake in energy balance, weight control, obesity, and eating disorders. Investigate diet-health relationships. Increase understanding of the role of diet in maintaining and enhancing health and reducing the occurrence and progression of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. Establish optimal nutrition for diverse populations. Determine nutrition for optimal health and performance for diverse populations during critical stages of the life cycle, including infancy, youth, pregnancy, lactation, and advanced age.