Speakers:  Anupama Tate, DMD MPH; Jill Brodsky, MD, MBA; Mark R. Corkins, MD, CNSC; Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH; Jeff Karp, DMD, MS

This session will highlight the physiological mechanisms and consequences behind the adage "you are what you eat." The entire body has a microbial flora that varies by location and can be positive and health promoting or negative and pathogenic. The flora within the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus respond to the diet provided. This session will present how nutrition impacts the microbiome, overall metabolic health, and development. It will promote interprofessional advocacy for improving nutrition by exploring barriers families face in obtaining healthy food options. It will add to the knowledge and the ability to explain the importance of good nutrition for optimal health during childhood and adolescence.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the role the microbiome has in the health and development of children.
• Describe how diet alters children’s microbiome and how that impacts overall health
• Be able to counsel families on general nutrition principles to maintain a healthy diet that fosters a healthy microbiome
• Identify 3 lifestyle interventions that can reduce the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in children
• Define risk factors for the development of Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents

Speaker Contact Info:

Anupama Tate: atate@childrensnational.org

Jill Brodsky: jbrodsky@caremount.com

Mark Corkins: mcorkins@uthsc.edu

Francisco Ramos-Gomez: frg@dentistry.ucla.edu

Jeff Karp: jmkarp@umn.edu