Expanding the Frontiers of Population Nutrition Research: New Questions, New Methods, and New Approaches

Abstract

Nutrition research, ranging from molecular to population levels and all points along this spectrum, is exploring new frontiers as new technologies and societal changes create new possibilities and demands. This paper defines a set of frontiers at the population level that are being created by the increased societal recognition of the importance of nutrition; its connection to urgent health, social, and environmental problems; and the need for effective and sustainable solutions at the population level. The frontiers are defined in terms of why, what, who, and how we study at the population level and the disciplinary foundations for that research. The paper provides illustrations of research along some of these frontiers, an overarching framework for population nutrition research, and access to some of the literature from outside of nutrition that can enhance the intellectual coherence, practical utility, and societal benefit of population nutrition research. The frontiers defined in this paper build on earlier forward-looking efforts by the American Society for Nutrition and extend these efforts in significant ways. The American Society for Nutrition and its members can play pivotal roles in advancing these frontiers by addressing a number of well-recognized challenges associated with transdisciplinary and engaged research.

Making nutrition guidelines fit for purpose

“…Nutrition researchers1020212223 and organisations such as Cochrane11 are calling for reform of conventional evidence synthesis and translation approaches so they are better able to overcome limitations in available evidence and include evidence relevant to modern nutrition problems. Below we give two examples of reforms in public health.…”

Collaboration, Negotiation, and Coalescence for Interagency-Collaborative Teams to Scale-Up Evidence-Based Practice

“…This emphasis is not unique to the U.S. and similar initiatives exist in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries (Bero et al, 1998; Brownson, Colditz, & Proctor, 2012). Developing effective approaches to EBP implementation is an important initiative for improving health care and social services globally and locally (Pelletier, Porter, Aarons, Wuehler, & Neufeld, 2013). …”

A perspective on the development and sustainability of nutrition surveillance in low-income countries

“…For example, in an evaluation of nutrition surveillance in Botswana it was reported that some of the district-and clinic-level health staff had never seen a report from the system ( [117], p.4); similar observations were made in an evaluation of the Malawi INFSS system ( Table 1). The lack of involvement of stakeholders at lower levels and the need to increase their participation is often mentioned in the literature (for example, [42,[118][119][120]). The justification partly relates to the quality and use of data, which are linked: if those who collect data then use the resulting information, there should be more incentive for them to collect high quality data.…”