Nutrition / en More social media use linked to poorer sleep and self-rated health among college students /news/2026-09/more-social-media-use-linked-poorer-sleep-and-self-rated-health-among-college-students <span>More social media use linked to poorer sleep and self-rated health among college students </span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-09-21T14:01:02-04:00" title="Monday, September 21, 2026 - 14:01">Mon, 09/21/2026 - 14:01</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">College students who spend more time on social media tend to sleep worse, and that may have consequences for how they perceive their own health, according to a new 911±¬ÁĎ study.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun EmptyTextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0" lang="EN-US"></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW98911957 BCX0" href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00333549261462497" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The study, published in </span><em><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Public Health Reports</span></em></a><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, found that greater social media use at the start of the school year predicted poorer sleep quality six months later, which in turn predicted worse self-rated health six months after that. According to the researchers, it’s the first study to indicate that poor sleep quality may be a pathway connecting social media use with self-rated health.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“These findings suggest that students’ social media habits early may have </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">effects&nbsp;beyond</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the time spent on the phone,” said study lead author and College of Public Health alumna Akosua Mainoo, BS Community Health '20, MPH '22. “Sleep appears to be one way those habits may carry over into how students perceive their health months later.”</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">One finding ran counter to the researchers’ expectations: Greater overall social media use was associated with poorer sleep, but nighttime use specifically was not. Researchers noted that previous studies on nighttime social media use and sleep have been mixed, and that the effects may depend on other factors, such as light exposure affecting melatonin levels.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-05/larrycheskin_sq.jpg?itok=tHix2ZuZ" width="350" height="350" alt="Head shot of professor Lawrence Cheskin"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Lawrence Cheskin, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, serves as principal investigator.&nbsp;Photo by Emma Anderson.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The research is part of </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW98911957 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/hsh" target="_blank"><em><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mason: Health Starts Here</span></em></a><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, the university’s landmark cohort study following students across their four undergraduate years. Distinguished University Professor </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW98911957 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/profiles/lcheskin" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Lawrence Cheskin</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies serves as principal investigator.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>Why it matters</strong></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Young adults spend about five hours a day on social media, and more than 85% of students in the 911±¬ÁĎ study used YouTube, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Instagram,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and Snapchat daily. Although seven to nine hours of sleep is recommended for young adults, previous research has found that one-third of college students get fewer than seven. Over time, not getting enough sleep is linked to health problems, including depression, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The new study goes a step further in examining how sleep may connect social media use with students’ broader health over time.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Asked in an interview what students should take from the findings, the researchers pointed to the value of reducing social media use.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“Social media is a part of everyday life for college students, so the expectation isn’t to eliminate it,” said Mainoo. “But young people can be more intentional about setting time limits and creating phone-free zones.”</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Cheskin </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">said,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> “Less is more when it comes to social media use by young college students,” and that reducing use can leave more time for “direct interactions with peers and others.”</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <div class="align-left"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2026-09/hsh_sleepsocialmedia.png?itok=QC7AZycO" width="560" height="560" alt="Infographic: Social Media Use &amp; Sleep By The Numbers - 5 hours per day; Young adults spend approximately 5 hours per day on social media. Source: Rothwell, 2023. (Cited in Mainoo et al 2026). More than 85% of students in teh GMU study used Youtube, Instagram, and Snapchat daily. Source: Mainoo et al., 2026; 7-9 hours of sleep per night recommended for young adults ages 18-25. Souce: National Sleep Foundation, 2015; American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2015. 1 out of 3 college students report sleeping fewer than 7 hours per night. Source: Becker et al, 2018. Journal of American College Health"> </div> </div> <h4><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>More study information</strong></span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The researchers analyzed data from 349 first-year students ages 18 to 24 participating in </span><em><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mason: Health Starts</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US"> Here</span></em><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, the broader longitudinal study </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">examining</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> predictors of physical and mental health throughout college. Students completed surveys in August 2019, February 2020, and August 2020.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The researchers noted limitations including self-reported data and participant drop-off over </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">time, and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> called for more longitudinal research on how social media use may affect sleep and health.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The research team also included Lilian de Jonge and Fritz Nii Tettey Lokko of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies; and Jerome L. Short, Eleanor A. Speidel, Jeremy Maciarz, Patricia J. Mejia, and Emmarose Logan Price of the Department of Psychology.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The study was funded by the 911±¬ÁĎ Institute for </span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Biohealth</span><span class="TextRun SCXW98911957 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> Innovation.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0">&nbsp;</p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW98911957 BCX0"><em><span class="EOP Selected SCXW98911957 BCX0">Thumbnail by</span><span class="grey gravel-text"> </span></em><a class="blue science-text js-contributor-link" href="https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/201709276/andrii-lysenko?load_type=author&amp;prev_url=detail"><em><span class="blue science-text">Andrii Lysenko</span></em></a><em><span class="blue science-text"> from Adobe Stock.</span></em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="144601f7-3cd3-4b02-a8ef-507e15637d8a" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div style="background-color:#FFEEC2;padding:5%;"> <h4>Key Takeaways</h4> <ul> <li data-list-item-id="e7e7cb5e2d08ce67eb8ada24d18202ad2"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW139918156 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW139918156 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">911±¬ÁĎ research links greater social media use among college students with poorer sleep quality.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW139918156 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li data-list-item-id="eacfedd4379118a0851c4656c1df3af54"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW139918156 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW139918156 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Poor sleep may help explain how social media use relates to college students’ perceptions of their health.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW139918156 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li data-list-item-id="e42734c2e30348b349511e4234af4a65a"> <p class="Paragraph SCXW139918156 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW139918156 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The findings come from the longitudinal </span><em><span class="TextRun SCXW139918156 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mason: Health Starts Here</span></em><span class="TextRun SCXW139918156 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> study, which tracked 911±¬ÁĎ students’ health throughout college.</span><span class="EOP Selected SCXW139918156 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="54becc83-2aa8-470e-a9fd-d44b810a92b2" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>More Health Starts Here Findings</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-2ea85e11adbb2c56bfe608859748ec521767e87f99bd2032a4c7e97536523c9f"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-09/more-social-media-use-linked-poorer-sleep-and-self-rated-health-among-college-students" hreflang="en">More social media use linked to poorer sleep and self-rated health among college students </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">September 21, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2022-02/new-study-finds-college-freshmen-exceed-many-us-dietary-guidelines-increasing-risk" hreflang="en">New Study Finds that College Freshmen Exceed Many U.S. Dietary Guidelines, Increasing Risk of Chronic Health Conditions</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">February 9, 2022</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lcheskin" hreflang="und">Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/edejonge" hreflang="und">Lilian de Jonge, PhD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18511" hreflang="en">CPH research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14981" hreflang="en">Nutrition Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8771" hreflang="en">College Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12576" hreflang="en">Social Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1046" hreflang="en">Institute for Biohealth Innovation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14986" hreflang="en">Health Starts Here</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18291" hreflang="en">Mason as a Living Lab</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5801" hreflang="en">In the George</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:01:02 +0000 Mary Cunningham 346171 at Tip Sheet: From plate to pyramid, understanding the new dietary guidelines /news/2026-02/tip-sheet-plate-pyramid-understanding-new-dietary-guidelines <span>Tip Sheet: From plate to pyramid, understanding the new dietary guidelines</span> <span><span>Taylor Thomas</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-17T09:41:01-05:00" title="Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - 09:41">Tue, 02/17/2026 - 09:41</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/aminer4" hreflang="en">Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="f7cfc73b-43a3-4222-a632-1275769f3b9c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div style="background-color:#FFEEC2;padding:5%;"> <h4>Key Takeaways</h4> <ul> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW210629086 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW210629086 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The newly released 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends increased animal-derived proteins and full-fat dairy and emphasizes whole grains above refined/highly processed grains.</span><span class="EOP SCXW210629086 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW210629086 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW210629086 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The recent changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the new inverted pyramid have raised some questions about what a healthy, balanced diet should look like.</span><span class="EOP SCXW210629086 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW210629086 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW210629086 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The scientific evidence is weak that higher protein intake and emphasis on animal protein or full-fat dairy improve human health.</span><span class="EOP SCXW210629086 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW210629086 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW210629086 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The emphasis to focus on whole grains and decrease processed carbohydrates is efficacious and supports scientific research.</span><span class="EOP SCXW210629086 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW210629086 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW210629086 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">911±¬ÁĎ Assistant Professor of Nutrition and food systems researcher Allison Miner provides evidence-based responses to pressing questions about the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.</span></p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/2026-02/updateddgafoodpyramid_viausda.png" width="1564" height="1404"> </div> </div> <figcaption>2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans updated inverted pyramid food graphic. Photo via USDA/realfood.gov.</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy: These are the basic food groups that make up a balanced diet. In 2011, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW211697128 BCX0" href="https://www.myplate.gov/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">MyPlate</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US"> was introduced as the primary visual dietary guide for Americans on how to portion these food groups. The release of the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW211697128 BCX0" href="https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US"> brought back a pyramid-shaped graphic.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In honor of </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW211697128 BCX0" href="https://nationaltoday.com/lets-all-eat-right-day/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">National Let’s All Eat Right Day</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, 911±¬ÁĎ food systems expert </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW211697128 BCX0" href="/profiles/aminer4" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Allison Miner</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, a licensed dietitian and assistant professor in the </span><a href="https://nutrition.gmu.edu/"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Department of Nutrition and Food Studies</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, clarifies key guidance updates and answers questions about the reverse from MyPlate back to the pyramid.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>How do the new dietary guidelines differ from the previous version?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The food group portioning largely remains similar to its predecessor, but there are key updates:</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Protein: The latest guidelines double the previous recommendation, which has stood for over 80 years. The type of protein recommended emphasizes animal protein over </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">plant-based</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Dairy: Emphasis is now on full-fat dairy, whereas previous guidance recommended nonfat or low-fat dairy for children over age </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">2 and</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> adults.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Fruits and vegetables: The recommendation is essentially the same, with an approximately half-cup increase in vegetables.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> <li> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Grains: The amount of grain recommended has not changed significantly. The emphasis has changed, however. The shift is toward whole grains and away from refined/highly processed grains. There is strong evidence that whole grains are healthier.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </li> </ul> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In summary, the biggest changes are the higher amount of protein recommended, the increased recommendation for animal-derived proteins, and emphasis on full-fat dairy.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What are ultra-processed foods and are they “bad”?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The phrase “ultra-processed foods” is often thrown around to mean what most think of as "junk” foods: potato chips, packaged cookies, instant noodles, ice cream. But </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed" lang="EN-US">the majority of</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> our food undergoes some form of processing, meaning that the food item has undergone industrial processing that alters it from its original state. In fact, about </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW211697128 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/what-are-ultra-processed-foods" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">75% of food products</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> are considered ultra-processed. Pre-cooking, adding preservatives, artificial coloring, and sugar and salt additives are common in food processing across the board. The ultra-processed foods packed high in saturated fat, sodium, and sugar, and lower in water and fiber are the ones to be wary of. These are the foods that increase </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">risk</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> of chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Processed foods can still contribute positively to a healthy dietary pattern. The takeaway isn’t “avoid all processed foods,” but rather to focus on overall nutrient quality and how that food fits into the whole diet. Limited amounts of potato chips can be part of a healthy diet that includes whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and plant-based protein.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">For example, foods like prepackaged whole-grain bread, low-fat yogurts, and soy milk are technically ultra-processed, but are considered beneficial to one’s health.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What does research say about red meat?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">One of the most notable updates to the dietary guidelines is the protein section and the promotion of red meat. Animal protein was always part of previous recommendations, but there was guidance to limit it due to its higher saturated fat content. There is limited scientific evidence that high animal foods are healthier for the general population than plant-based protein. The strength of evidence is stronger that processed red meat, such as bacon, sausage, and deli meats, are linked to several negative health outcomes including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers, and even premature death.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Scientific evidence consistently supports plant-based protein as healthier for individuals and for the planet.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">It is important to note that portion size, frequency, and preparation methods including what foods are being excluded (fruits, vegetables, whole grains) should be factored in when deciding what foods to include as part of a healthy diet.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What does research say about</strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>full-fat dairy?</strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The new dietary guidelines also recommend full-fat dairy over lower-fat alternatives, but research has mixed findings on benefits versus consequences. Dairy provides nutrients, such as protein, </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">several vitamins,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and minerals—all important to bone health and overall nutrition. However, full-fat dairy contains more saturated fat, which can raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase cardiovascular risk. Low-fat dairy alternatives provide the same benefits while lowering the amount of saturated fat.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">For adults whose overall diet is already low in saturated fat, full-fat dairy can fit as well. The key is to consider the whole dietary pattern rather than focusing on a single food.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What is the new inverted food pyramid?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The food pyramid is a visual of what the average individual should consume in a single day. It is meant to be a basic guide on portion sizes for each food group, the larger sections represent the food groups that should comprise the majority of a person’s daily diet, and as the sections decrease, that indicates the food group portions that should be progressively smaller.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Today's inverted food pyramid is supposed to convey to the public to consume real food over highly processed and packaged food, to prioritize protein and dairy, choose healthy </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">fat</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and reduce sugar. A key point of clarification is, because whole grains are at the bottom of the pyramid, it appears that guidance says to reduce or eat fewer grains. The graphic could be misleading here because that is not what the recommendations say, which is to increase the portion of whole grains and reduce processed grains.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Different from the original pyramid and MyPlate, this one doesn't convey anything about individual portion size.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>Why did the dietary guidelines shift from the pyramid to a plate and back again?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The original food guide pyramid was first introduced in 1992 to be used as a visual guide for the public to easily interpret food guidance from the 1990-1995 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The pyramid visual emphasized two concepts: the base of the pyramid was the widest and represented the largest amount of food Americans should consume. As the pyramid narrowed, so did the recommendation </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun AdvancedProofingIssueV2Themed" lang="EN-US">for the amount of</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> food for each successive food group. There was also no visual guidance as to what kind of food in each food group was healthy. Unfortunately, this did not translate well with the public because there was no guidance as to the amount or kind of food recommended in each section of the pyramid.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">MyPlate was created in 2011 as the visual for the 2010-2015 DGA and to address these issues. It was scaled to the actual size and portion of what people would normally consume for each of the food groups based on a nine to 11-inch diameter (circular) plate.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW211697128 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Today's inverted food pyramid is supposed to convey to the public to consume real food over highly processed and packaged food, to prioritize protein and dairy, choose healthy </span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">fat</span><span class="TextRun SCXW211697128 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and reduce sugar. Different from the original pyramid and MyPlate, this one doesn't convey anything about individual portion size.</span><span class="EOP SCXW211697128 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">##</span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Allison Miner about the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, please email media contact Michelle Thompson at </strong></span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW219434222 BCX0" href="mailto:mthomp7@gmu.edu" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>mthomp7@gmu.edu</strong></span></a><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>Allison Miner, EdD, MS, RDN, </strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">is a licensed dietitian and assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. She has more than 30 years of experience in clinical nutrition, education, and community health, specializing in obesity and cardiovascular disease prevention.</span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>About 911±¬ÁĎ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">911±¬ÁĎ is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW219434222 BCX0" href="http://www.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">gmu.edu</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>About College of Public Health at 911±¬ÁĎ&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW219434222 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The College of Public Health at 911±¬ÁĎ is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and </span><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">training of</span><span class="TextRun SCXW219434222 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.</span><span class="EOP SCXW219434222 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8686" hreflang="en">Food and Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14991" hreflang="en">Dietary Guidelines</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/361" hreflang="en">Tip Sheet</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:41:01 +0000 Taylor Thomas 345356 at Teaming up: College of Public Health and Athletics partner to support athletes holistically /news/2025-10/teaming-college-public-health-and-athletics-partner-support-athletes-holistically <span>Teaming up: College of Public Health and Athletics partner to support athletes holistically</span> <span><span>Taylor Thomas</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-10-27T08:57:51-04:00" title="Monday, October 27, 2025 - 08:57">Mon, 10/27/2025 - 08:57</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">A new partnership between the College of Public Health (CPH) and the Athletics Department is taking shape at 911±¬ÁĎ, starting with a shared commitment to boost nutrition support for student-athletes.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-10/bestof048.jpg?itok=Yo_TBdFg" width="560" height="441"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Photo by Rafael Suanes/911±¬ÁĎ Athletics</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“From the start, we saw an opportunity to merge two strengths at 911±¬ÁĎ: our expertise in public health and Athletics’ commitment to student well-being,” said </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/profiles/mperry27" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Dean Melissa Perry</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> of the College of Public Health. “This collaboration was part of the vision when we recruited Dr. Martin Binks, knowing his leadership could help connect nutrition science directly to the needs of our student-athletes.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“At 911±¬ÁĎ, we believe in developing champions in every aspect of life, which means investing in the holistic well-being of our student-athletes,” said </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://gomason.com/staff-directory/marvin-lewis/504" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Marvin Lewis,</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> assistant vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “This partnership with the College of Public Health reinforces that commitment by bringing expert support in nutrition, wellness, and education—helping our Patriots thrive in competition and beyond. We’re proud to build this model of collaboration and grateful to the College of Public Health leadership for their shared vision and partnership.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Currently, the nutrition department is assisting Athletics as they hire a full-time registered dietitian, who will serve as both a direct resource for student-athletes as well as a preceptor for dietetics students completing supervised practice hours in the </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://nutrition.gmu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-nutrition-dietetics-concentration" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun Underlined SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">The department is also designing a new athlete-focused section </span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">of</span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> one of its most popular courses, </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://cehd.gmu.edu/courses/NUTR-295/" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">NUTR 295: Fundamentals of Nutrition</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">. The class will keep its general nutrition framework while folding in case studies and other content tailored to athletic performance, designed in consultation with coaches and trainers.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"></span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“Athletics is proactively supporting the whole student, not just their athletic performance. Our department shares that philosophy and is ready to support it,” said </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/profiles/mbinks" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Martin Binks</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies (NFS) at CPH.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">On the CPH side, for students enrolled in the MS in Nutrition’s </span><a class="Hyperlink SCXW86640975 BCX0" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/program/nutrition-ms-non-dietetics-concentrations" target="_blank"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Nutrition and Performance concentration</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, the partnership opens more doors for applied learning and collaboration. Internships and practicums with Athletics will place them alongside the university’s strength and conditioning staff, trainers, and teams.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Binks has joined the</span><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong> </strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun CommentStart" lang="EN-US">911±¬ÁĎ Athletics Medical Review Team</span><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>,</strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> a strategically assembled advisory group tasked with evaluating and improving the standard of sports medicine care available to student-athletes. “It’s the first time the College of Public Health has had representation in that process,” Binks noted.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW86640975 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">These initial steps </span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">lay</span><span class="TextRun SCXW86640975 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the groundwork for broader connections between CPH and Athletics in the future. During a September CPH kickoff meeting, faculty and athletics leaders also discussed opportunities in social work and mental-health support, as well as immersive learning using virtual reality and augmented reality to enhance anatomy and physiology education. Additional plans include workshops and seminars on a range of wellness topics related to self-care, sleep, and stress management, as well as topics centered on leadership and life after student athletics.</span><span class="EOP SCXW86640975 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Thumbnail photo by Ayman Rashid/Creative Services/911±¬ÁĎ.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mbinks" hreflang="en">Martin Binks PhD, MBA </a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mperry27" hreflang="en">Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="08e81389-b5ef-466d-b19a-f150da2376e2" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="1828895a-240b-4f80-aaaf-e334f356dbc0"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://publichealth.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Explore 911±¬ÁĎ's College of Public Health <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="a4d28532-46bc-47ff-879e-6a209a56f69c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="559c80e9-1432-4a61-8742-d97a7df5a439" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-8bc29c8d6eeed9a7fa8994ead52dc9730e0f68a655fdbc41fece0fb55170e04b"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-10/george-mason-breaks-ground-basketball-and-academic-performance-center" hreflang="en">911±¬ÁĎ breaks ground on Basketball and Academic Performance Center </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 21, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-10/patriot-profile-maya-bayat" hreflang="en">Patriot Profile: Maya Bayat</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 13, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-10/board-visitors-members-approve-six-year-operating-plan-and-get-updates-ai-grand" hreflang="en">Board of Visitors members approve six-year operating plan and get updates on AI, Grand Challenge Initiative, quantum, enrollment and athletics </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 7, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-10/patriot-profile-tori-bates" hreflang="en">Patriot Profile: Tori Bates </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">October 1, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-08/patriot-profile-michael-marcus-jr" hreflang="en">Patriot Profile: Michael Marcus Jr.</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">August 28, 2026</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/746" hreflang="en">Student Athlete</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/761" hreflang="en">Mason Athletics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17226" hreflang="en">College of Public Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17631" hreflang="en">collaboration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5801" hreflang="en">In the George</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 12:57:51 +0000 Taylor Thomas 344106 at Nutrition education can benefit individuals who are overweight with diabetic foot ulcers  /news/2022-10/nutrition-education-can-benefit-individuals-who-are-overweight-diabetic-foot-ulcers <span>Nutrition education can benefit individuals who are overweight with diabetic foot ulcers&nbsp;</span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-10-13T20:44:49-04:00" title="Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 20:44">Thu, 10/13/2022 - 20:44</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/rbasiri" hreflang="en">Raedeh Basiri, PhD, RDN</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><h4>A new study by Raedeh Basiri, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, suggests that dietary recommendations should prioritize proper wound healing for people who are overweight/obese with diabetic foot ulcers.&nbsp;</h4> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-06/RaedehBasiriWebsite2_0.jpg?itok=I-05uGVY" width="200" height="280" alt="Raedeh Basiri"> </div> </div> <figcaption><a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/rbasiri">Raedeh Basiri</a>, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies,</figcaption> </figure> <p>Nutrition can play an important role in the treatment of chronic wounds; however, it is often overlooked as part of wound care. Diet therapy is not currently part of standard care for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), though some research has shown that nutrition can support healing. A new study by <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/rbasiri" target="_blank">Raedeh Basiri</a>, assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, further supports nutrition intervention to improve clinical outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Basiri’s new study suggests that dietary recommendations should prioritize proper wound healing for individuals who are overweight/obese with DFUs. Proper wound healing can be prioritized by recommending that patients consume adequate energy sources and essential nutrients, according to the study.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Routine visits with a dietitian are essential for assessing the dietary needs of patients with diabetic foot ulcers and designing individualized nutrition therapy, which can result in effective clinical outcomes,” said Basiri, the principal investigator. “Identifying the adequate dietary intake of macro- and micronutrients in these patients, especially for those who are overweight or obese, is critical for expediting the wound-healing process and can make a substantial difference to medical expenses and quality of life in this population.”&nbsp;</p> <p>To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study that evaluates the effects of nutrition education and supplementation with extra calories, protein, and micronutrients on long-term blood glucose control and body composition in patients who are overweight and obese with DFUs. In addition to standard DFU care, the treatment group was asked to consume more low-fat protein sources, vegetables, and high-fiber carbohydrates, and a lower amount of simple carbohydrates; educated about and given examples of healthier food items; and provided a nutritional supplement to take twice a day.&nbsp;</p> <p>On average, patients in the treatment group lost less lean body mass (8.4 lb. vs. 10 lb.) and gained less fat (2 lb. vs. 8 lb.) than the control group. Additionally, DFUs healed 12.85 times faster in the treatment group than in the control group, and inflammation significantly decreased in the treatment group. <a href="/news/2022-06/nutritional-supplements-and-education-decrease-inflammation-diabetic-patients-foot" target="_blank">Previous research by Basiri found that nutritional education and supplements reduced inflammation in DFUs.</a> The research team suspects that Basiri’s previous research, along with previous studies reporting that preventing the loss of lean body mass leads to faster healing of chronic wounds, could be why the treatment group healed quicker.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The findings of this study showed that supplementing a patient’s diet with extra energy sources and nutrients had positive effects on body composition and phase angle (an indicator of cellular health) and did not have any significant negative effects on long-term blood glucose control when combined with nutrition education.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><em><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9460794/" target="_blank">Effects of Nutrition Intervention on Blood Glucose, Body Composition, and Phase Angle in Obese and Overweight Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers</a></em> was published in Nutrients in September 2022. Other researchers included Maria T. Spicer and Thomas Ledermann, and Bahram H. Arjmandi from Florida State University.&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14981" hreflang="en">Nutrition Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 14 Oct 2022 00:44:49 +0000 Mary Cunningham 100596 at Fox 5 DC (video): Dr. Lawrence Cheskin is interviewed about Mason research linking student dietary choices to potential health problems /news/2022-10/fox-5-dc-video-dr-lawrence-cheskin-interviewed-about-mason-research-linking-student <span>Fox 5 DC (video): Dr. Lawrence Cheskin is interviewed about Mason research linking student dietary choices to potential health problems</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-10-06T11:46:58-04:00" title="Thursday, October 6, 2022 - 11:46">Thu, 10/06/2022 - 11:46</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lcheskin" hreflang="und">Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.fox5dc.com/video/1124691">Study: Health risks stem from college student's meals.</a>&nbsp;Cheskin starts at the 35-second mark.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8771" hreflang="en">College Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3386" hreflang="en">College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:46:58 +0000 eander6 99496 at South Florida Reporter: Dr. Sapna Batheja comments on the limitations of research in an article on the weight loss method of front-loading calories /news/2022-09/south-florida-reporter-dr-sapna-batheja-comments-limitations-research-article-weight <span>South Florida Reporter: Dr. Sapna Batheja comments on the limitations of research in an article on the weight loss method of front-loading calories</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-09-13T11:59:05-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 13, 2022 - 11:59">Tue, 09/13/2022 - 11:59</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/sbatheja" hreflang="und">Sapna Batheja, PhD, RDN, LDN</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://southfloridareporter.com/why-front-loading-calories-may-not-help-you-lose-weight/">Why Front-Loading Calories May Not Help You Lose Weight.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10031" hreflang="en">Weight Control</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/12266" hreflang="en">Nutrition and Weight Management</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3386" hreflang="en">College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:59:05 +0000 eander6 95796 at Registered Dietitian Helps Prepare Mason Dietetics Students to Lead Population Health Through Nutrition /news/2022-08/registered-dietitian-helps-prepare-mason-dietetics-students-lead-population-health <span>Registered Dietitian Helps Prepare Mason Dietetics Students to Lead Population Health Through Nutrition </span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-08-28T17:08:45-04:00" title="Sunday, August 28, 2022 - 17:08">Sun, 08/28/2022 - 17:08</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><h4>Mason’s new Master of Nutrition dietetics concentration, commencing in fall 2022, will prepare Registered Dietitians to protect the public, remain competitive, and increase recognition of the field.&nbsp;</h4> <p>Registered Dietitians (RDs) play a leading role in population health through nutrition, and new requirements to become an RD will make the profession even more important. This fall, Mason’s first cohort of Master of Science in Dietetics students begins their education to become RDs with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Future of Education Model curriculum. In the new full-time program, students will earn their master’s degree and complete their internship in two years. Mason is the only program with a main campus in the Washington, D.C., area whose curriculum follows this new best-practice model.&nbsp;</p> <p>Starting in 2024, a master’s degree is required to take the RD licensing exam. These new professional requirements seek to elevate the field to better protect the public, remain competitive, and increase recognition of the field. Additionally, the changes will improve career satisfaction, professional involvement, and compensation among dietitians, according to the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the ACEND, who recommended the changes.&nbsp;</p> <p>The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of dietitians is expected to increase 11% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. RDs are the only licensed nutrition professionals in the United States and are held to the highest professional standard of any nutritional profession.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>A didactic internship, another requirement to take the licensing exam, has always been a key component to being licensed; however, it is now included in the Dietetics curriculum. A great internship can help students explore different aspects of the dietitian nutritionist field and help them feel more prepared to begin their career. It can also provide a direction for where they want to focus their RD skills.&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-08/Fay_Lauren_on-white.jpg?itok=pVil4EQB" width="255" height="350" alt="Lauren Fay, Rd"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Lauren Fay, RD, Mason Dietetics preceptor</figcaption> </figure> <p>"One of the best parts of the internship is having opportunities to work in different areas and getting a feel for what branch of dietetics interests you,” says Oncology Dietitian Clinical Specialist at Inova Cancer Institute Lauren Fay, RD. “There are so many different specialties you can work in within this profession. Being able to get a taste, no pun intended, for what might be the best fit for you is an awesome opportunity and really helps when entering the profession.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The internship requires 280 hours in a clinical setting with a current dietitian. Future preceptors, like Fay, are eager to begin working with Mason students.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s our responsibility as practicing dietitians to ensure the future of our profession is well-trained and it would be crazy for me to miss out on that opportunity to pay it forward,” says Fay. “The difference between in-class learning and internships is that you get to see the application of your knowledge in a real-life setting. I don’t think that can ever be taught out of a book. Seeing a practitioner apply knowledge into a real-life situation gives you a much better understanding of how that information is actually helping individuals and how to apply it in the future.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The program already has 15&nbsp;preceptors in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland dedicated to guiding students through their internships. Internship opportunities range from hospitals and private practice to the <a href="/news/2022-05/college-health-and-human-services-and-servicesource-establish-center-aging-focus" target="_blank">Center on Aging</a> and sports nutrition.&nbsp;</p> <figure class="quote">“Knowing some of their future preceptors, I know students are going to have access to some of the best medical training opportunities that DC has to offer. Being in the DC area is such an amazing experience that benefits Mason students,” says Fay, who is a part of the Advisory Board for Mason’s dietetic internship. &nbsp;</figure> <p>Fay is also a current Mason Master of Public Health (MPH) student with a concentration in Health Policy. She feels that earning this degree will make her a better dietitian and help her further professionalize the field of dietetics. For example, she would like to see RDs present at the table for policy discussions, she says, and she knows the MPH can help her do that. &nbsp;</p> <p>From obesity to food insecurity and sustainability, Fay and other dietitians are key leaders in public health. Once Fay got involved with Mason, she was inspired to become a student herself, and is thrilled to continue sharing her knowledge with the next generation of dietitians, Mason RDs.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://nutrition.gmu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-nutrition-dietetics-concentration" target="_blank">Learn more about Mason's Master of Nutrition, Dietetics concentration that prepares future Registered Dietitians here.</a>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16696" hreflang="en">dietetics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/16701" hreflang="en">registered dietitian</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Sun, 28 Aug 2022 21:08:45 +0000 Mary Cunningham 85771 at Nutrition clinic opens at College’s Population Health Center  /news/2022-08/nutrition-clinic-opens-colleges-population-health-center <span>Nutrition clinic opens at College’s Population Health Center&nbsp;</span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-08-15T13:36:52-04:00" title="Monday, August 15, 2022 - 13:36">Mon, 08/15/2022 - 13:36</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lcheskin" hreflang="und">Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/amckay4" hreflang="en">Allison McKay MS, RD, CSSD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><h4>Department of Nutrition and Food Studies opens clinic with expansion plans to include student practice with the dietitian program.&nbsp;</h4> <p>College of Health and Human Services faculty are committed to creating experiential learning opportunities for students that meet the public health needs of the community. Most recently, Nutrition and Food Studies (NFS) Department Chair <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/lcheskin" target="_blank">Larry Cheskin</a>, an MD, started a once-a-week nutrition clinic at the College’s Population Health Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The opening of the Nutrition Clinic is timely as the NFS Department recently received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and its first cohort of students begin in just a few week. The<a href="https://nutrition.gmu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-nutrition-dietetics-concentration" title="Master of Nutrition in Dietetics"> Master of Nutrition in Dietetics program</a> is directed by Assistant Professor <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/sbatheja" title="Sapna Batheja profile">Sapna Batheja, PhD, RDN, LDN,</a> and follows the Future of Education model for preparing Registered Dietitians. To ensure career-ready graduates, the ACEND Future Education Model integrates coursework and an internship into a two-year master’s program. The Clinic will be an additional source of hands-on learning for Mason dietetics students.&nbsp;</p> <p>“As a university, we have the classrooms to teach students, and at Mason, we have this state-of-the-art medical facility, so we want to train students here too. The advantage of having our Mason nutrition clinic is that it is in the same place that they will receive their didactic training and it’s with the faculty who will teach their courses,” Cheskin said. “Plus, we’re able to better meet the community needs at Mason and underserved people in neighboring communities.”&nbsp;</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/extra_large_content_image/public/2022-08/Nutrition%20Clinic%20Population%20Health%20Center4_1000.jpg?itok=6A_y0INF" width="1000" height="667" alt="Nutrition Clinic in the Population Health Center"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Larry Cheskin, MD, and Allison McKay, RD, discuss the Nutrition Clinic in the College's Population Health Center.</figcaption> </figure> <p>Similar to the <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/news/2022-03/first-its-kind-interprofessional-behavioral-health-clinic-opens-population-health" target="_blank">behavioral health clinic</a> that opened in the Population Health Center earlier in 2022, the nutrition clinic will train students in the Dietetics program under the direct supervision of faculty who are Registered Dietitians or MDs. Clinical rotations for dietetic students will start their second year in the program. Also, like the behavioral health clinic, the nutrition clinic is a sliding scale model, which means the cost is income-based and affordable for those who have limited resources.&nbsp;</p> <p>The clinic will help patients with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and any health effect that diet can improve. Initially, patients will be referred by the School of Nursing’s <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/mapclinics" target="_blank">Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics</a>, interprofessional clinics that serve the uninsured and refugee community within Prince William and Fairfax counties in Northern Virginia. The MAP Clinics also provide opportunities for Mason students to receive firsthand, guided experience in giving interprofessional care to patients and responding to community-based needs. Cheskin aims to grow the program to accept patients from other referrals as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Earlier this year, Registered Dietitian <a href="/profiles/amckay4" target="_blank">Allison McKay</a> was brought into the department as the department manager in anticipation of the clinic. To begin, Cheskin and McKay will treat patients and the number of licensed practitioners will increase with additional funding and when students are able to join the team. Currently, funding for the Clinic is coming from the College, with opportunities for philanthropic support.&nbsp;</p> <p>In the future, Cheskin also intends to expand telemedicine capabilities at the clinic. The Population Health Center is equipped to support telemedicine and, after their initial in-person visit, he could see patients appreciating the option of a virtual visit.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://nutrition.gmu.edu/academics/graduate-programs/ms-nutrition-dietetics-concentration" title="MS Nutrition, Dietetics">Learn more about Mason's Master of Nutrition in Dietetics here.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14096" hreflang="en">population health center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Mon, 15 Aug 2022 17:36:52 +0000 Mary Cunningham 76616 at Using Personalized Nutrition to Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes /news/2022-08/using-personalized-nutrition-help-prevent-type-2-diabetes <span>Using Personalized Nutrition to Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes</span> <span><span>Mary Cunningham</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-08-02T14:46:25-04:00" title="Tuesday, August 2, 2022 - 14:46">Tue, 08/02/2022 - 14:46</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/rbasiri" hreflang="en">Raedeh Basiri, PhD, RDN</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lcheskin" hreflang="und">Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/edejonge" hreflang="und">Lilian de Jonge, PhD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><h4><span><span><span><em>Raedeh Basiri’s new clinical trial seeks to answer whether personalized nutrition intervention can be effective in lowering blood sugar (and thereby help to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular diseases) in people with prediabetes. </em></span></span></span></h4> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2022-06/RaedehBasiriWebsite2_0.jpg?itok=I-05uGVY" width="200" height="280" alt="Raedeh Basiri"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Raedeh Basiri</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span>One in 10 Americans has diabetes and of those who do, 90% have type 2 diabetes. More than 1 in 3 Americans (96 million people) have prediabetes, many of whom don’t know it. Type 2 diabetes is a preventable disease and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies<a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/rbasiri" title="Raedeh Basiri profile"> Raedeh Basiri’</a>s new study hopes that personalized nutrition can stop prediabetes from progressing into type 2 diabetes. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>“Many people know general health tips, such as eat more vegetables, yet are not following the health guidelines, which can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases,” said Basiri, who is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. “We understand that there are many factors that influence individual’s food choices – and sometimes those factors are outside their control. I want to study the <em>why</em> behind why people aren’t following health/dietary guidelines that can help prevent/delay these diseases. Is it access to foods? Their culture? The lack of knowledge? This study looks at how can we as dietitians help people put education into practice based on their individual body and personal desire.”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Type 2 diabetes occurs when there is too much sugar in someone’s bloodstream and it impairs the way the body processes insulin, a hormone that helps the body process sugar (glucose) as fuel. High blood sugar levels can lead to disorders including heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, non-healing foot ulcers, and stroke. With the correct diet and lifestyle adjustments, a person’s blood glucose levels can decrease and return to the non-diabetes range, but type 2 diabetes does not have a cure.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Prediabetes, when blood sugar levels are elevated but not yet at diabetes levels, is reversible if the appropriate lifestyle changes are made. A new study from Basiri and colleagues will help determine to what extent personalized nutrition intervention can help lifestyle changes in participants, who are unaware of having prediabetes or have been diagnosed with prediabetes.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The study emphasizes healthy eating and not weight loss or changing routine exercise to determine if only adjusting food intake will decrease blood glucose level, which in the long term could prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In the study, the treatment and control groups will receive general dietary recommendations, similar to what would be provided to them in&nbsp; clinical settings currently, and be visited by the researchers once a week. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Participants in the treatment group will receive more individualized nutrition education. The goal is to lower participants’ blood sugar levels while meeting their dietary needs with foods they enjoy. Each person has a unique physiology, which makes food affect people differently. For example, if a person is very sensitive to a certain type of carbohydrates and it raises their blood sugar levels, but they love it, the dietitian will work with the participant on portion size and the best time of day for them to eat it. This is personalized nutrition. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The study, “Individualized Nutrition Therapy for Preventing or Delaying Onset of Type-2 Diabetes,” is a clinical trial. It has been approved by Mason’s Institutional Review Board and ClinicalTrials.gov and is funded by Mason's College of Health and Human Services. Nutrition and Food Studies Chair <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/lcheskin" title="Larry Cheskin profile">Larry Cheskin</a> and associate professor <a href="https://chhs.gmu.edu/profiles/edejonge" title="Lilian de Jonge">Lilian de Jonge</a> are co-investigators on the study.</span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14981" hreflang="en">Nutrition Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13881" hreflang="en">Prediabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/13311" hreflang="en">Type II Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10576" hreflang="en">Diabetes</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/9801" hreflang="en">Nutrition News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 02 Aug 2022 18:46:25 +0000 Mary Cunningham 74506 at Medical News Today: Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin comments in an exercise-induced molecule that allegedly suppresses hunger /news/2022-06/medical-news-today-dr-lawrence-j-cheskin-comments-exercise-induced-molecule-allegedly <span>Medical News Today: Dr. Lawrence J. Cheskin comments in an exercise-induced molecule that allegedly suppresses hunger</span> <span><span>eander6</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-22T11:49:16-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 22, 2022 - 11:49">Wed, 06/22/2022 - 11:49</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/lcheskin" hreflang="und">Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/exercise-induced-molecule-suppresses-hunger-may-help-treat-obesity">Exercise-induced molecule suppresses hunger, may help treat obesity.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8081" hreflang="en">Obesity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/10256" hreflang="en">Exercise</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/5361" hreflang="en">Nutrition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8076" hreflang="en">Nutrition Faculty</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3386" hreflang="en">College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:49:16 +0000 eander6 71611 at