title: Increased Intake of Foods with High Nutrient Density Can Help to Break the Intergenerational Cycle of Malnutrition and Obesity.
abstract: A workshop held at the University Medical Center in Groningen, The Netherlands, aimed at discussing the nutritional situation of the population in general and the role diet plays during critical windows in the life course, during which the body is programmed for the development of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs are increasingly prevalent as our society ages, and nutrition is well known to play an important role in determining the risk and the time of onset of many common NCDs. Even in affluent countries, people have difficulties to achieve adequate intakes for a range of nutrients: Economic constraints as well as modern lifestyles lead people to consume diets with a positive energy balance, but low in micronutrients, resulting in increasing prevalence of obesity and suboptimal nutritional status. Information about nutrient density, which refers to the content of micronutrients relative to energy in food or diets, can help identify foods that have a low calorie to nutrient ratio. It thus allows the consumption of diets that cover nutritional needs without increasing the risk of becoming obese. Given the impact a nutrient dense, low energy diet can have on health, researchers, food industry and governments jointly should develop options for affordable, appealing nutrient-rich food products, which, in combination with physical activity, allow for optimal health throughout the life-course.
authors.affiliation: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, Kaiseraugst 4303, Switzerland. barbara.troesch@dsm.com.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Troesch
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologische Chemie und Ernährungswissenschaft, Universität Hohenheim, Stuttgart 70599, Germany. Hans-K.Biesalski@uni-hohenheim.de.
authors.forename: Hans K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Biesalski
authors.affiliation: FrieslandCampina, Bronland 20, Wageningen 6708 WH, The Netherlands. rolf.bos@frieslandcampina.com.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands. e.buskens@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Buskens
authors.affiliation: Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. pcc@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht 6200MD, The Netherlands. w.saris@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Wim H M
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Saris
authors.affiliation: Nestlé Research Center, Vers-chez-les Blanc, Lausanne 26 1000, Switzerland. jorg.spieldenner@rdls.nestle.com.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spieldenner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands. h.j.verkade@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Henkjan J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Verkade
authors.affiliation: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, Kaiseraugst 4303, Switzerland. peter.weber@dsm.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., Wurmisweg 576, Kaiseraugst 4303, Switzerland. manfred.eggersdorfer@dsm.com.|Department of Pediatrics, Beatrix Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 30001, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands. manfred.eggersdorfer@dsm.com.
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eggersdorfer
mesh_terms: D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: PUFA; life cycle; non-communicable  diseases; nutrient density; obesity; vitamin