Diet, Food, Exercise and Nutrition During Social Distancing

Our long-term goal is to contribute to the development of evidence-based nutritional and physical activity recommendations for the prevention and management of overweight and obesity and related chronic diseases. The overall objective for this study is to determine if a 20-week educational program, project DFEND, related to behavior change and health will improve nutrition and physical activity outcomes as well as indicators of wellbeing. Our central hypothesis is that regular attendance of weekly lectures, weekly meetings with personalized coaches, and weekly health challenges via virtual platforms (e.g. Zoom, Facebook, YouTube) will improve health outcomes related to nutrition and physical activity. Our rationale for these studies is that the results of this research will enhance the potential to develop evidence-based nutritional and physical activity behavioral recommendations to treat and/or prevent development of overweight and obesity.