Project co-financed by:
Description of the project (SICRIS):
Diet and lifestyle play a major role in the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in both Slovenia and worldwide. A number of determinants, including social and economic ones, impact population lifestyle habits and create health inequalities. High quality research investigating links between nutrition/lifestyle habits and the health status of the population is essential for scientific progress in the area of public health and to support health policy with efficient approaches for improving public health. To perform efficient research in this area a highly interdisciplinary and inter-institutional approach is needed. The objectives of the our programme group are divided into four key thematic sets: (a) developing a nutritional methodology; (b) investigating the lifestyle habits/health status of the population; (c) assessing ways to efficiently promote healthy foods and diets; and (d) support developing functional foods.
At a time of a global rise in obesity, some population groups are still at a high risk of nutrient deficiencies. An efficient methodology should be developed to identify such risks. Employing digital nutrition assessment methods will contribute to the more efficient use of resources in nutrition research and clinical practice, but such methods should be tailored for use in each country and a specific target population. In addition, novel approaches should be developed to enable resourceful targeting of studies of specific target populations. Optimisation of access to subjects with specific dietary and/or lifestyle habits remains a key challenge which should be resolved to facilitate scientific progress in the areas of public health and nutrition.
The promotion of healthy diets and foods is also challenging. A common approach to achieve this involves public campaigns for raising awareness about specific nutrition- and health-related issues, but to achieve cost efficiency such actions should be driven by the use of best practices and results of recent scientific research. Moreover, the efficiency of such actions should be evaluated to support future initiatives. Food labelling and advertising are also powerful tools that can affect dietary habits. The labelling of a nutrition declaration and use of nutrition/health claims/symbols enable the promotion of healthy foods/diets, but understanding the needs and behaviours of the consumer are key elements to assure the efficiency of such an approach.
Another approach to improve public health is to facilitate the development of so-called functional foods, which should support body function over meeting basic nutrition needs. Such foods can also advance research and innovation, along with the global competitiveness of Slovenian industry.
