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From the College of Natural Sciences
Weight Loss Programs Tailored to a Person's Genome May Be Coming Soon
Some health experts predict that the next big advance in helping overweight people achieve a healthier weight will be to use an individual's genetic data to customize diets and physical activity plans, an approach known as "precision weight loss." A recent summary report on the genetics of weight loss, developed by some of the leading experts in this field, finds that the biggest challenge to realizing this dream is the need for better analytical tools for discovering the relationships between genetics, behavior and weight-related diseases
Photo credit: Bill Branson, NIH
Nutrition Science Students Advise Swimmer Planning to Cross the Pacific Ocean
Long-distance swimmer Benoit Lecomte visited campus as the guest of two College of Natural Sciences departments working with him as he prepares to attempt to swim across the Pacific Ocean, a 5,500-mile voyage to raise awareness about climate change and ocean health.Department of Nutritional Sciences at UT Austin chair, Molly Bray, and h...
Audio: The Case of the Missing Folate
When Richard Finnell first met her, Rachel was a nine-year-old girl with severe developmental delays. Her condition seemed to be caused by a deficiency in a critical B vitamin called folate. Yet she had plenty of folate circulating in her blood. Somehow it was vanishing before it got to her brain and spine. Eventually Finnell made a surprising discovery. He's now using new genetic tools like CRISPR to better understand her condition and test possible therapies.
Breakthroughs in Breast Cancer Research
Cancer researcher Linda deGraffenried, professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences, was featured on Fox 7 Austin for breast cancer awareness month.
6 Tips for Staying Sharp
This time of year, students cram information into the dark, neglected corners of their brains just long enough to survive those dreaded final exams and later in life, many of us come up against similar challenges with learning and memory. I asked experts across The University of Texas at Austin—including neuroscientists, psychologists, a nutritionist and a physical education expert—for their best, research-based advice for staying mentally sharp throughout life.
Overweight Children who Eat Vegetables are Healthier, Research Finds
Getting children who are overweight to regularly eat even just a helping or two of the right vegetables each day could improve their health in critical ways, a new study reports.
Report Calls for New Priorities in Breast Cancer Prevention
Environmental factors of breast cancer need to be a research priority, committee says.
Researcher Looks at Changing Diet and Chemotherapy to Combat Aggressive Cancers
Linda deGraffenried and her team of researchers are focused on helping the 15 percent of breast cancer patients and 10 percent of prostate cancer patients who are facing a dim prognosis.
Longer Formula Feeding and Later Introduction of Solids May Increase Risk of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children
A research team in the Department of Nutritional Sciences has found that infant feeding patterns may increase the risk of a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL.
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