Category: Featured News
Maternal Weight Gain During Pregnancy Affects the Infant Fecal Microbiota
Summary With support from a NORCH Pilot and Feasibility Grant, Dr. Lauren Fiechtner and others recently reported that gestational weight gain affects the composition and diversity of the infant gut microbiome. Using data and infant fecal samples from 84 infant-mother pairs, four distinct microbiota profiles were identified: Bifidobacterium-dominant, Enterobacter/Veillonella-dominant, Bacteroides-dominant, and Escherichia-dominant. Infants whose mothers had more weight gain during pregnancy were less likely to have a Bacteroides-dominant profile (risk ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.71-0.96] per 1kg of gestational weight gain). Further, a larger amount of gestational weight gain predicted lower bacterial diversity. Key Findings The degree of maternal weight … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, Publications Tags: Harvard Medical SchoolUNC Introduces New Core Merging Nutrition and Genetics
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) introduces the new Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics (NGx) Core. Located at the UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) on the NC Research Campus in Kannapolis, the goal of the NGx Core is to assist investigators in conducting nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics studies that lead to a better understanding of the interaction between lifestyle and genetics on health and disease. “We want to help investigators realize that neither nutrition nor genetics should be studied in isolation,” explained Saroja Voruganti, PhD, NGx director and Assistant Professor of Nutrition at the NRI. “Our … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News Tags: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillHarvard NORC Newsletter – March 2017
Welcome to the NORCH! On behalf of the Administrative Core, we would like to welcome and extend our appreciation to all our returning and new members, and to inform the community of our newly re-organized Center. . We are very pleased to introduce our first official Monthly Newsletter! The NORCH is under new leadership and has re-organized. Many updates have been in progress over the last few months, including our NEW & IMPROVED WEBSITE; please visit and browse at: www.norch.org (we recommend using a Chrome browser if available). Anyone can subscribe to this newsletter through a form provided on the website as well. Our contact … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, Newsletters Tags: Harvard Medical SchoolBLOG – Childhood Obesity: A Major Health Concern
Obesity is a disease that impacts all levels of society. It is the most prevalent nutritional disorder among children and adolescents and is continuing to rise. In 2012 more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. Why is being overweight or obese such an issue? Obesity is considered a major health concern in developed countries: overweight children are at higher risk of becoming overweight adolescents, and overweight adolescents are at … Read More »
Categories: Blogs, Featured News Tags: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillDaily Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Alters Human Brain and Behavior, Study Finds
Research shows that consuming too much sugar over time contributes to weight gain and obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. So why do we keep going back for more, even when the risks are clear? In a unique experiment, Kyle Burger, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and director of UNC’s Neuropsychology of Ingestive Behavior Laboratory, examined the behavioral responses of 20 healthy-weight individuals to a sugar-sweetened beverage and beverage logos after the individuals had a daily drink of that beverage for three weeks. Burger’s research, published online Feb. 8 … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News Tags: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillPhysical Activity Good for Your Health, But What’s Happening Below the Surface?
New grant from National Institutes of Health will allow U-M researchers to focus on molecular changes that occur during and after exercise The University of Michigan was recently awarded $8.2 million from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the molecular changes that occur during and after physical activity. U-M is one of several centers throughout the United States to receive a grant from the NIH to participate in the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC). The 6-year funding will begin this month and will allow U-M to establish the Michigan Chemical Analysis Site within the Consortium. The Consortium … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News Tags: University of MichiganUNC Food for All Campus Lecture Series: Spring 2017 Call for Proposals
Are you engaged in exciting food-related research, teaching, and publication at UNC? Do you have an idea for an outstanding food-related lecturer (scholars, journalists, documentarians, community activists, food entrepreneurs, artisans, practitioners) to bring to campus? UNC-Chapel Hill’s Food for All (FFA) pan-university academic theme is sponsoring a multi-disciplinary food studies lecture series, and is seeking proposals from the university community. Micro-grants are available for speaker events with an expectation of cost-sharing between FFA and the co-sponsoring department, institute, or organization. Food for All is currently accepting proposals for speakers during the spring of 2017. Preference will be given to events that … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, Funding Tags: University of North Carolina at Chapel HillLow FODMAP Diet and IBS
A new study from University of Michigan finds a change in diet, can help people treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It’s based on a low FODMAP diet. FODMAP, a frequently recommended diet, which stands for Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols. FODMAPS are different types of sugar and fiber that ferment and cause G.I. symptoms in some people. A new study from University of Michigan finds a change in diet, can help people treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The diet excludes many compounds found in wheat, some fruits and vegetables, garlic, onions and sugar substitutes. Gastroenterologist, Dr. William Chey and registered dietitian Lauren Van … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News Tags: University of MichiganEating for Wellness: Can a Change in Diet Improve Your Health?
The key to eating for wellness is not necessarily what foods to eat, but rather how and when we eat them, says Suzanne Judd, PhD associate professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Biostatistics. There is no definite right or wrong. It’s often a matter of personal taste and unique body chemistry. Food influences the way a person feels, how he or she sleeps and interacts with others. Too much food can lead to extra weight, and extra weight is associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease and decreased physical function. Diet can affect how people with chronic illness feel. It’s … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News Tags: University of Alabama at BirminghamCould Playing Video Games Help Kids Lose Weight, Gain Confidence?
Child obesity more than doubled between 1980 and 2012, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls it an “epidemic.” But what if video games could actually help kids lose weight? A new study by a group of Louisiana researchers is showing how they can actually play a big role in children’s health, reports CBS News correspondent Jamie Wax. Jerry Walker is a dancing machine, but it’s not all fun and games – there’s a mission behind the 12-year-old’s moves. “I’m like, “Oh, yes, I am so ready to get in shape. I will get in shape,'” Jerry said. … Read More »
Categories: Featured News, News, Videos Tags: Pennington Biomedical Research Center