Rhonda Bell

Biography

I lead a team of trainees (graduate and undergraduate students and post docs) and research staff in studies that examine the role of nutrition in promoting health and preventing and treating diabetes and its complications. My research program integrates applied and basic research. Much of my work is conducted within the paradigm of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, examining the role of nutritional intake during sensitive periods of development on health, specifically diabetes risk, in mothers and their offspring.

Research Interest

In the applied setting, I am leading the ENRICH Program (a Collaborative Research and Innovation Opportunity funded by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions) aimed at improving maternal health during pregnancy and postpartum using innovative strategies that meet the needs of diverse groups of women across Alberta. The goals of this Program are to: 1) advance knowledge regarding food and nutrient intake and energy expenditure in pregnancy and postpartum; 2) understand perceptions and experiences of diverse groups of pregnant and postpartum women pertaining to diet, body weight and health; 3) identify needs, gaps and opportunities in health service delivery systems that may be harnessed to promote optimal dietary intake and appropriate weight management strategies; and 4) collaborate with knowledge users, to develop and evaluate strategies aimed at promoting optimal dietary intake and appropriate weight management. The Program builds on on-going projects that I am part of, including the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study (a large, prospective cohort study examining the relationship between maternal nutritional intake in pregnancy, mental health and child health and development) and Sweet Moms (examining the effects of dietary fructose on pregnancy and infant outcomes).