|
Items in cart [4] |
Questions? Call 888-624-8373 |
| Copyright © 2009. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Statement |
Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 55
6
Summary
Speakers and participants addressed a wide array of issues related to food and
health. They cited obesity, hunger, malnutrition, and diabetes as some of the
major food-related health concerns. They described research pertaining to the
use of various foods to treat or prevent chronic diseases, the role of foodborne
pathogens in causing intestinal illnesses, and the need for improvements in
biosecurity. Diet and food-related health concerns were seen as a driver for the
movement toward a preventive health-care system.
Participants also discussed a variety of mechanisms for bringing together the
nation's agriculture and health-care infrastructures with the goal of improving
public nutrition and health. They pointed to models of successful integration in
education, government, and the private sector, but they also cited many
shortcomings, especially in institutional support of multidisciplinary research.
Multidisciplinary teams made up of professionals in such fields as nutrition,
medicine, public health, agricultural production, food technology, behavior,
economics, and marketing are the key to defining and refining the underlying
research that is necessary. Evaluation of the performance of those mechanisms
was identified as a necessary component of a successful program.
The theme of consumer education and information emerged throughout the
symposium. Many participants agreed that better education in diet and health
55
OCR for page 56
56
EXPLORING A VISION
was needed at all levels and for all sectors of society, starting in early childhood.
Participants expressed a wide range of opinions on whether consumers receive
consistent and clear information about diet and health from the media and other
sources. However, there was close agreement on the need for more research in
the behavioral and social sciences to determine the factors behind consumers'
dietary and lifestyle choices and the need to find ways to overcome resistance to
healthier options.
Specifically, meeting attendees made the following suggestions:
.
.
.
.
.
.
Form Interdisciplinary Bridges All too often, the food and health
components of institutions, such as various colleges that belong to the
same university, are cut off from each other and fail to work together to
achieve common goals. Whether they are due to physical, conceptual,
or historical barriers, these counterproductive arrangements need to be
replaced to allow more synergy.
Reevaluate Reward Structures Investigators are often trained and
rewarded for individual work rather than teamwork, and a shift to
multidisciplinary research requires a modification of reward structures.
"Glue investigators," who would act as liaisons between individuals
and teams, could help to resolve the issue.
Revise Support Infrastructure Many issues are related to support
difficulties in obtaining adequate funds for nutrition-related research,
funding inequities among federal agencies in amount and duration, and
the need for more funding specifically earmarked for food-health
research and training. A new institution that bridges agriculture and
health may be needed.
Identify a Champion A person or a body with high visibility and
integrity is needed for a sustained campaign to promote awareness of
the interdependence of food and health, and awareness of the need for
increased research on this topic.
Integrate Food-Health Research with Behavioral Studies There is
awareness that behavioral and social factors influence food and lifestyle
choices, but there is a dearth of specific knowledge about the issue, and
it is crucial for further research.
Begin Nutrition Education in Early Childhood Early education will
reinforce healthful eating habits, which also could be conveyed from
child to parent.
OCR for page 57
SUMMARY
.
57
Involve Leaders ir' Goverr~mer~t arid the Public Changes in
agricultural policies, such as farm subsidies, and in production practices
may be needed to provide consumers with healthier food choices.
Participants suggested a number of avenues for change, including
legislation.
At the close of the meeting, participants were left with the words of William
Kirwan, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, who expressed the
hope of many of the participants that the workshop will be the catalyst for a new
paradigm for research and education in food and health.
OCR for page 58
Representative terms from entire chapter:
lifestyle choices
