ABSTRACT
Nutrition plays a significant role in seven out of the ten leading causes of death worldwide.
Sound nutritional practices are central to the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases as is emphasized in multiple evidence-based guidelines from various scientific organizations.
There is widespread consensus among healthy nutrition guidelines, all of which emphasize increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy as well as recommending decreased consumption of red meat, processed meats, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
The influences on eating behavior are complex, including individual, family, community, and public policy factors.
Key challenges include making existing knowledge on sound nutrition more accessible to help individuals implement this knowledge into their daily lives.
Additional education of physicians to improve knowledge in the area of nutrition will be vital to meeting this challenge.
