Purdue nutrition science professor named to 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

Heather Eicher-Miller, associate professor in Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Science, was named to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. She was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Brian Powell

Expertise of Purdue University’s Department of Nutrition Science will shape national dietary recommendations.

Heather Eicher-Miller, associate professor in Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Science, was named to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The independent committee of 20 nutrition researchers from across the nation will review scientific evidence on nutrition and health across all life stages. The group will use a health equity lens to ensure socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity and culture are considered throughout. It also will look at new issues coming forward in nutrition and health.

“The purpose is to make sure the guidelines are based on current scientific evidence,” Eicher-Miller said.

Eicher-Miller and the other committee members were selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The committee’s analysis and research will culminate in a scientific report for the HHS and USDA to consider in making the 2025 “Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

Every five years, the committee reviews the latest in nutrition and medical research to provide the scientific basis for these national recommendations. These guidelines provide the foundation for national nutrition programs, standards and education. The committee also drafts priorities for the next committee members to consider.

The 2020-2025 advisory committee that helps guide Americans toward a healthy diet currently features a Purdue nutrition science faculty member – Richard Mattes, Purdue Distinguished Professor of Nutrition Science and Public Health.

Eicher-Miller’s expertise and research interests fit in well with the committee’s standards. Her nutrition science research interests include the following:

• Food insecurity with a health equity lens for low-resourced groups.
• Timing of dietary intake.
• Dietary patterns — how different combinations of food or dietary qualities contribute to health and prevention of chronic disease.

Eicher-Miller will attend her first advisory meetings on Feb. 9 and 10 in Washington, D.C. The meetings will be livestreamed. The public can get meeting details, submit public comments and learn more about the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee at DietaryGuidelines.gov.

“I’ve always been interested in the process of how dietary guidelines are made,” said Eicher-Miller, noting she’s familiar with and has read research from most of the fellow 2025 committee members. “Something I always think about when we take on research is how can this help people and promote health? One of the biggest tools to do that is making guidelines.”

Purdue’s long-standing representation in the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is a point of pride within the Department of Nutrition Science and the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences. Laura Murray-Kolb, head of the Department of Nutrition Science, is confident Eicher-Miller’s expertise will align with the committee and the nation’s nutritional health goals at large.

“This is an extremely high honor for the field of nutrition science and an important responsibility because this committee sets the guidelines for how we use dietary intake to maintain or regain health,” Murray-Kolb said. “It also speaks of the high quality of our faculty, like Dr. Eicher-Miller.”

Marion K. Underwood, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, added “Dr. Eicher-Miller will contribute much to this committee because of her groundbreaking work on health and nutritional disparities among food-insecure and diverse populations and her expertise in developing innovative techniques to evaluate food insecurity, diet and health.”

Writer: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu

Source: Heather Eicher-Miller, heicherm@purdue.edu