![[Nutritional Sciences Preschool]](http://njaes.rutgers.edu/_common/images/subheads/njog.gif "[Nutritional Sciences Preschool]"){kind=small}
In 2012, NJOG has a focus on metabolism/omics in obesity and how it affects diseases (diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer; DOCC) and a new group of faculty are meeting and discussing issues of concern. Our current projects to address obesity in NJ are a) the MOVEN project in collaboration with UMDNJ in the Latino community, and in a new project in the Rutgers University dining halls. For this new Rutgers project, NJOG director, Shapses, met with a new team of Psychology Professors (Tomiyama and Chapman) and the RU dining/Nutritional Sciences faculty (Policastro) to determine if modifications to the dining hall presentation of food can influence choices of food and beverage quantity and quality. The goal is to increase healthier choices by students and faculty/staff - sometimes without even noticing. The research meetings and projects should lead to interesting new directions and results.
Our Mission
The New Jersey Obesity Group's mission is to increase inter- and multi-disciplinary research of the causes, metabolic complications, treatment and prevention of obesity by facilitating collaboration and communication between researchers at Rutgers University, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, other universities, and industry in the metropolitan area.
Our Goals
The goals of NJOG are to support obesity-related research, organize state and national-level symposia for health care workers, educators, and the public, and our specific projects this year are: 1. To identify populations at risk for complications of obesity in N.J.; 2.. to provide health-related support for underprivileged and urban populations; 3. to understand common pathways that may cause both obesity and cancer. NJOG members serve the community by providing obesity-related advise, through weight loss counseling and participation in health fairs. Individuals have gained from our programs by learning more about healthful ways to eat and also were successful in losing body weight.