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: 21-Jun-2026 09:16 ET (21-Jun-2026 13:16 GMT/UTC)

20-Jan-2026

Otago experts propose fiber as first new essential nutrient in 50 years

University of Otago
Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka nutrition experts are calling for dietary fiber to be officially recognised internationally as an essential nutrient - the first ‘new’ essential nutrient in more than 50 years.

Journal: Nature Food

20-Jan-2026

Replacing animal products with plant-based foods—even ultra-processed ones—reduces diabetes and heart disease risk, finds new review

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Replacing animal products with plant-based foods—even ones classified as ultra-processed like bread, cereal, and veggie burgers—helps reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, finds a new review by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health.

Journal: BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health

20-Jan-2026

New expert consensus statement affirms lifestyle interventions for the treatment and prevention of major depressive disorder

American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The consensus statement affirms that lifestyle interventions—optimal nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, connectedness, and avoidance of risky substances—are integral components of MDD care.

Journal: American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine

15-Jan-2026

Sylvester Cancer Tip Sheet for January 2026

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Reports and Proceedings

Digesting the new dietary guidelines, a "wipe test" for PFAS on firefighter gear, a potential new path for small-cell lung cancer care, RNA splicing errors in leukemia and more are in this tip sheet from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

15-Jan-2026

UC Irvine public health experts highlight climate change-driven nutrition gaps

University of California - Irvine
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Climate change is affecting the nutrition of everyday foods, which could increase health risks, especially in vulnerable communities.

Dietary supplements may help fill emerging nutrition gaps, but questions remain about their safety, effectiveness, affordability and appropriate use.

Journal: Advances in Nutrition

15-Jan-2026

Parental concerns about child disordered eating common among youth with high weights in behavioral intervention

Elsevier
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, examined parental concerns about child disordered eating among families participating in a long-term, motivational interviewing (MI)-based behavioral intervention. Disordered eating refers to a range of unhealthy eating-related thoughts and behaviors, such as loss of control eating, excessive concern about weight or shape, or restrictive eating, that may not meet the criteria for a diagnosed eating disorder. Researchers found that nearly half (44.9%) of parents reported at least one concern related to disordered eating at the start of the intervention.

Journal: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

15-Jan-2026

More resources and collaboration needed to support prevention and treatment of obesity

American Heart Association
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Obstacles to preventing and treating obesity, including limited access to healthy foods, limited time to prepare meals and exercise, neighborhood factors, weight stigma and financial constraints, are more likely to affect people in lower-income communities, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Association’s flagship journal Circulation.

Journal: Circulation