Nutrition Research

Twin presence of obesity and undernutrition reflects shifts in global food systems

December 15, 2019
Being undernourished or overweight are no longer separate public health issues.

Regulating TV ads targeted to children could reduce their exposure to junk food

December 11, 2019
Chile has mandated some of the most stringent and comprehensive regulations of food marketing. New research from the Gillings School finds that after initial regulations were put in place in 2016, preschoolers’ exposure to child-targeted advertising of unhealthy foods decreased by 35%.

10 Gillings faculty members named Highly Cited Researchers by Web of Science

December 10, 2019
Ten academics from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health were recently named Highly Cited Researchers, according to the Highly Cited Researchers 2019 list from the Web of Science Group.

New food marketing regulations in Chile are reducing the use of child-targeted packaging

December 4, 2019
As part of a comprehensive effort to reduce obesity, Chile now restricts child-directed marketing for products that exceed certain thresholds for added values of sugars, saturated fats, sodium and/or calories. Child-targeted strategies are still allowed for products that do not exceed these thresholds.

The impact of weight management in kids with Type 1 diabetes can shape adulthood experiences

November 21, 2019
New findings from a research team lead by Dr. Elizabeth Mayer-Davis show that weight management challenges faced by adolescents with type 1 diabetes are compounded in young adulthood and influence the habits young people form as they get older.

How would warnings on sugar-sweetened beverages reduce the U.S. obesity rate?

October 17, 2019
“Our study suggests that showing warning labels on sugary drinks is a promising strategy for addressing the obesity epidemic in the U.S.,” Dr. Grummon says. “We found that warnings would reduce obesity prevalence by more than three percentage points. While that number might sound modest, on a national scale it equates to more than five million fewer people with obesity.”

Obesity accelerates risk for health complications in young adults with Type 1 diabetes

August 16, 2019
Obesity in youth and young adults with Type 1 diabetes can lead to early cardiovascular complications in as few as 10 years following diabetes diagnosis, according to new research from the Gillings School.

Researchers promote survivorship programs specific to Latino/a cancer patients

August 5, 2019
As the number of cancer survivors increases, there is a lack of evidence-based, culturally relevant and supportive care programs for Latino/a cancer survivors. Dr. Carmina G. Valle, assistant professor of nutrition, helped adapt a program to fill this gap.

Study finds evidence that omega-3 fatty acid-derived molecules can improve chronic inflammation in obesity

July 31, 2019
A new article, published in the featured spot of the August 2019 Journal of Leukocyte Biology, shares the latest findings on why metabolites made from omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in people living with obesity — and what that means for related inflammation.

Researchers link vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy with neurobehavioral and metabolic disorders in offspring

April 16, 2019
The global prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) during pregnancy is high, estimated at up to 80 percent in the United States and up to 100 percent in Northern Europe.