EurekAlert! In the Spotlight

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we’re focusing on nutrition and the powerful role it plays in our lives. Here, we’ll share the latest research on how nutrients affect the body and brain, how scientists investigate diet and health, what these findings may mean for building healthier habits, and more.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 15-Jun-2026 11:16 ET (15-Jun-2026 15:16 GMT/UTC)

9-Jun-2026

American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and The Obesity Society (TOS) announce new strategic alliance to advance health through nutrition and obesity science

American Society for Nutrition
Business Announcement

In a significant step forward for advancing science to support public health, the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and The Obesity Society (TOS) are proud to announce a new strategic alliance that unites two leading scientific organizations under a shared vision: advancing health through the best in nutrition and obesity research and practice. This collaboration reflects a growing recognition that nutrition and obesity science are interconnected disciplines critical to improving global health. Together, ASN and TOS will work to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge research into effective practice, education, and policy.

Meeting: NUTRITION 2026

9-Jun-2026

NUTRITION 2026: The leading source for the latest science

American Society for Nutrition
Meeting Announcement

NUTRITION 2026 puts science in the spotlight as thousands of nutrition researchers and health professionals convene for the the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition. Qualifying journalists are invited to join the action July 25–28 in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

Meeting: NUTRITION 2026

9-Jun-2026

Edutainment matters: Can short video apps improve household food consumption in rural China?

KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Short video apps boost rural households' food consumption and dietary diversity. Improvement in nutrition awareness mediates the positive relationship between short video app use and dietary diversity. Effects are stronger for high-income rural groups and remote villages with access to express delivery services.

Journal: Journal of Integrative Agriculture
Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China

9-Jun-2026

Risk factors for fatty liver disease may begin to develop as early as the prenatal period and early childhood

Tampere University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The accumulation of excess fat in the liver is not solely a consequence of the combined effects of hereditary factors and adult lifestyle‑related factors. A new study by researchers at Tampere University and the University of Eastern Finland indicates that both maternal health during pregnancy and early-life nutrition may have long-term implications for children’s liver health.

Journal: The Journal of Pediatrics

8-Jun-2026

South and Southeast Asia lead the world on taxing sugary drinks

Tufts University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research from Tufts University shows that taxes placed on sugar-sweetened beverages are being adopted at an accelerating pace around the globe, with 64 countries passing sugar-sweetened beverage taxes for health purposes between 1990 and 2024, covering 3.5 billion people worldwide.

Journal: The Lancet Global Health

8-Jun-2026

Thrifty food plan costs vary widely across US regions and cities

Elsevier
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, examined how the cost of the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which serves as the basis for determining maximum SNAP benefits, varied across geographic regions, metropolitan areas, and seasons from 2012 to 2018. Researchers found that where a household is located plays a much larger role in the cost of a healthy diet than year-to-year inflation.

Journal: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

8-Jun-2026

Pennington Biomedical's Dr. Jacob Mey named a Media Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Business Announcement

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is proud to welcome six new registered dietitian nutritionists to the program of trained media experts who help translate nutrition science into clear, consumer-friendly information, including Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Jacob Mey. Dr. Mey is the first spokesperson from Pennington Biomedical and the only current Academy Spokesperson based in Louisiana.