The Abstract: October 18, 2021

October 18, 2021

Smith named inaugural Dickson Foundation - Harris Teeter Distinguished Professor in nutrition

September 29, 2021
Dr. Susan M. Smith has been named the inaugural holder of The Dickson Foundation - Harris Teeter Distinguished Professorship in nutrition. Smith joined the UNC faculty in 2016, and is a professor of nutrition at the Gillings School and the deputy director for science at the Nutrition Research Institute.

Blue Cross NC, UNC join forces for new clinical study to improve food security, chronic health conditions

September 22, 2021
With a $3.2-million investment, Blue Cross NC is collaborating with UNC Health and UNC-Chapel Hill researchers to conduct a first-of-its-kind clinical study to establish sustainable best practices for helping individuals put nutritious food options on the table and improve health.

Shaikh named co-director of UNC Nutrition Obesity Research Center

September 8, 2021
Dr. Raz Shaikh has been named co-director of the UNC Nutrition Obesity Research Center alongside fellow co-director Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis.

Paving new paths to choline

August 23, 2021
UNC Nutrition Research Institute Assistant Professor Isis Trujillo studies choline, an essential nutrient that is critical for brain development in the womb.

Chile’s Law of Food Labeling and Advertising encourages notably healthier choices

August 11, 2021
Chile’s package of healthy food policies successfully decreased purchases of unhealthy food and drinks during the initial implementation phase, according to a new study. Researchers say the significant reductions in calories and nutrients of concern (sugar, sodium and saturated fat) underscore the potential for heathy food policies to significantly affect public health — even in the short-term.

SuperSNAP helps food insecure households afford healthy foods

August 11, 2021
Led by UNC-Chapel Hill researchers, a new study showed that an additional $40 per month for SNAP beneficiaries substantially increased the purchase of healthier food options for people who struggle with food insecurity.

Concern grows over the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in American diets

August 10, 2021
Ultra-processed foods are growing more pervasive in American diets, especially for kids. Drs. Katie Meyer and Lindsey Smith Taillie have co-authored an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association that calls for action to understand the role these foods play in the American food system and develop policies to reduce their consumption.

Improving maternal and child nutrition is a family endeavor

July 16, 2021
Maternal and child nutrition researchers are gaining a clearer picture of the role that fathers, grandparents and other family members play in feeding. To develop a holistic approach that considers this family system, experts at UNC-Chapel Hill, including Dr. Stephanie Martin, have contributed to a special compendium of research that could lead to better nutritional results for caregivers and children.

Review shows minimal evidence that dietary supplements lead to weight loss

June 23, 2021
Although Americans spend billions on them, published research shows a lack of strong evidence that dietary supplements and alternative therapies help adults lose weight.