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Dr. Nahla Hwalla, Ph.D, RD
President LANFS
Dean of Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences
at the American University of Beirut, Beirut-Lebanon
(AODA Country Representative)
Huda Ardakani Maamari , BSc.
Vice President LANFS
Head of Dietary Department, Hotel Dieu de France
University Hospital, Beirut-Lebanon
(AODA member)
Omar Obeid, Ph.D.
Accountant LANFS
Professor of Human Nutrition, Nutrition and Food
Sciences Department at the American University of Beirut,
Beirut-Lebanon
(AODA member)
Nadine Mahboub, MSc.
Secretary LANFS
Nutrition Instructor, Nutrition Department at the
Lebanese International University, Beirut-Lebanon
Abir Barhoumi, MSc.
Treasurer LANFS
Therapeutic Dietitian, Dietary Department at the
American University of Beirut Medical Center,
Beirut-Lebanon
Sawasan Wazzan Jabri, MSc.
Public Relations LANFS
Dietician and Director of the Nutrition and Diet Center
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For further assistant or any information
needed please contact:
Ms. Lisa Bilal
Dean’s Office, room 109.
Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences
American University of Beirut
Telephone: 00961-1-350000 Ext. 4422
Fax: 00961-1-744460
E-mail: lebanondiet@gmail.com
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Welcome to the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences
(LANFS). LANFS is a non-governmental non-profit organization founded
in 1970, the first association established in the Middle East and is a
valued and credible organization in Lebanon and the region. Currently,
LANFS groups around 400 active members. LANFS is an adhering body
of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences (IUNS) and The Middle
East and North Africa Nutrition Association (MENANA), and a member of
the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS).
The Association’s primary goal is health promotion and disease
prevention. A large segment of the Association’s work focuses on raising
awareness of the Lebanese public on healthy nutritional behavior. This
goal is being successfully achieved through several conferences,
exhibitions and sessions directed to the public as well as to the scientific
communities in Lebanon and the region.
At LANFS, we constantly provide direction for quality dietetic practice
and nutrition education as we are strongly engaged in conducting
community based nutrition and food science research. We ensure to
continuously update our members and educate the public on new
advancements. The Association is an active participant in international
and regional meetings held on Nutrition and Food sciences and promotes
the scientific role of Lebanon in these sectors. The Association also offers
consultancy services to public and private institutions seeking our
expertise and knowledge in Nutrition and Food sciences.
Being a member at the LANFS will provide you exposure to innovative
studies and practices in Nutrition and Food sciences.
I encourage you to browse our Web Site and join us to become an active
member of our Association. |
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Studies reveal Lebanese are getting fatter
Lebanon will face an epidemic of obesity-related illnesses, if adults, adolescents,
and children continue to put on weight, according to two national obesity surveys
carried out by AUB.
Through collaborative efforts between the Nutrition and Food Science Department
at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) and the Faculty of Health
Sciences (FHS), two studies, in 1997 and 2008, showed an alarming trend in the
percentage of the population which is overweight.
Results showed that 53 percent of people over 20 were overweight in 1997, a
figure that continues to grow. A two-fold increase was observed from 1997 to
2008 among the elderly population and the percentage of overweight youths
(aged 6-19) grew from 20 percent in 1997 to 35 percent in 2008, with a doubling
in obesity rates.
The studies found that the Lebanese population will face a spate of obesity-related
illnesses if current trends continue. Although being overweight should be considered
a disease on its own, it is also one of the key risk factors for other conditions
including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and some forms of cancer.
Obesity in Lebanon is mainly due to poor dietary practices, consisting of a high-fat
diet and consumption of soda drinks, the studies found. Researchers revealed that
adults who were the least educated and married were also more prone to being
overweight. As for adolescents and children, the majority who were least physically
active had the highest rates of being overweight.
According to Dean Nahla Hwalla at FAFS, there was a need to draw on the latest
scientific evidence to recommend mobilization efforts to the government,
international agencies, and local communities.
In addition, preventive action is needed to reduce the prevalence of overweight
people through proper educational practices, public health campaigns, and
intervention programs. |
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4th International Congress on
PREDIABETES and the METABOLIC SYNDROME
FMadrid, Spain, April 6-9, 2011
The 4th International Congress on Prediabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome will provide a platform for doctors and pharmaceutical
companies to present the latest research and developments in the prevention of Diabetes and CVD.
For more information please visit the congress website: www.kenes.com/prediabetes
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The 6th International Symposium on Diabetes & Pregnancy (DIP)
Salzburg, Austria, March 24-26, 2011
This Symposium not only documents the past 80+ years of progress in the field of diabetes and pregnancy, but also presents the most
up-to-date tools, techniques and management protocols to ensure the optimal outcome of pregnancies complicated by diabetes.
In addition, the areas that remain controversial, such as screening and diagnosis, will be discussed in detail. The latest theories and
literature on the immunology of Type 1 diabetes will also be included, giving us hope that the near future holds the answers to
prevention of this disease.
In addition, this Symposium provides an international approach to enhancing the quality of care for women with diabetes in pregnancy,
and answers for the clinician to enable delivery of optimal care for all pregnancies complicated by diabetes.
For more information please visit the congress website: www.kenes.com/dip
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| Dean Nahla Hwalla named Fellow of International Union for
Nutritional Sciences |
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Dean Nahla Hwalla was recently
elected a fellow of the International Union for Nutritional Sciences (IUNS).
Dean Hwalla is the first IUNS member from the Middle East to receive this
recognition.
The IUNS was established in 1968 and at present has 79 full members. The
objectives of the IUNS are to promote advancement in nutrition science,
research, and development through international cooperation at the global
level, and to encourage communication and collaboration among nutrition
scientists as well as to disseminate information in nutritional sciences through
modern communication technology. |
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Since 1993, the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences, headed by Hwalla, has been a member of the IUNS. With
this new appointment, she will be entitled to the following additional privileges: proposing and recommending candidates for
fellowship, suggesting names for IUNS committees and commissions, representing IUNS in regional meetings, and receiving,
gratis, publications of IUNS.
Hwalla was granted this prestigious recognition as testimony to her dedication to the field of nutrition, demonstrated through her
many scientific publications in reputable international journals, various academic achievements, the establishment of nutrition
centers, human resource development, undertaking national projects, and formulation of national nutritional policies and programs.
According to Hwalla, while this recognition is an honor for herself, more importantly it is an honor for the Department of Nutrition
and Food Science, the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and of course AUB as a whole.
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| Policy Brief: Scaling-Up Nutrition, A Framework for Action |
The policy brief “Scaling up Nutrition: A Framework for Action” is based on a collaborative effort of the World Bank, UNICEF,
WHO, WFP, FAO and a wide range of developing country partners, community service organizations and bilateral agencies. An
extensive consultation process conducted over a number of months included a series of face to face meetings hosted by the
Center for Global Development, the European Commission and the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN), the United
Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN), USAID, UNICEF and the World Bank.
Financial support was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Government of Japan, UNICEF, the Department
for International Development (DFID) and the World Bank.
The principal aim of the brief is to catalyze actions to redress the serious neglect of nutrition in development efforts. It is not
an action plan, but rather an enabling framework, with broad and representative endorsement. A call to make nutrition central
to the strategies of other sectors – particularly food security and agriculture, health, and social protection, it also advocates
for substantial scaling up of investments in a specific range of exceptionally cost-effective nutrition interventions. This multi-
sector approach is imperative both for nutrition objectives and for realization of most of the Millennium Development Goals.
As part of the call for action, the framework is seeking endorsement from different organizations. LANFS has joined 60 other
agencies from across the world including the International Nutrition Foundation in confirming their endorsements to the
framework.
The policy is just published in the March edition of the Food and Nutrition Bulletin.
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Al-Khatib: Coffee has many benefits when
consumed in moderation |
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| The perks of drinking coffee |
A corporate nutritionist and AUB graduate highlighted coffee's health perks on
January 7, 2010 while noting that the popular drink could brew trouble in
people with certain conditions.
In a lecture titled "Demystifying Coffee" and organized by the Nutrition and
Food Sciences Department at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences in
collaboration with the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences,
Lynn Al-Khatib, a nutritionist at the Nestle Corporation, said if coffee is drunk
in moderation, it offers a number of benefits to consumers.
Defining moderate coffee drinkers as those who consume less than five cups
a day, Al-Khatib said that coffee is nutritionally beneficial, with its mix of
anti-oxidants, fibers, caffeine, and low calorie content. |
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In fact, nutritionists recommend that everyone consume 3-4 cups of coffee a day, said Al-Kahtib, insisting that the java drink is
not addictive unless consumed excessively.
The method by which instant coffee is processed does not detract from the bean's natural anti-oxidant benefits, said Al-Khatib,
and that's why instant coffee has become the second most popular drink, after water.
Although moderate coffee consumption does not cause heart problems or ulcers, contrary to common perceptions, drinking
coffee is not recommended to people who already suffer from heart or stomach problems, added Al-Khatib.
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| Training workshop on New WHO Child Growth Standards |
An international training workshop on “New WHO Child Growth Standards” was
organized by the World Health Organization quarters in Geneva in association
with the WHO Collaborating Center for Education, Research, and Training at the
Nutrition and Food Sciences Department at the American University of Beirut
and the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences (LANFS).
The workshop took place at the Crown Plaza Hotel-Hamra, Beirut from June 8
until June 11 2010. Twenty one health professionals (instructors, dieticians,
and nurses) were invited from different universities, hospitals, and the Ministry
of Public Health to attend the workshop. |
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The WHO new growth charts differ from any existing growth charts in a number of ways. For the first time they describe “how
children should grow,” which is a prescriptive approach, and represents a standard, rather than a reference describing “how
children are growing”. The New WHO Child Growth Standards are global and for all children. They are intended to monitor the
growth of every child worldwide regardless of ethnicity, socioeconomic status and type of feeding. It is, then, a more proactive
way of measuring and evaluating child growth, setting out normative conditions and evaluating children and populations against
that standard.
The WHO Child Growth Standards will be used as a tool in public health, medicine and governmental and health organizations
for monitoring the well-being of children and detecting children or populations not growing properly or under- or overweight and
may require specific medical or public health responses. Normal growth is an essential expression of health and a way to
measure efforts designed to reduce child mortality and disease. Moreover, with the increase of childhood obesity which is
becoming a concern globally and in Lebanon in particular, the new standards will play a pivotal role in the prevention and early
recognition of childhood obesity. The new charts therefore provide a simple tool to assess the effectiveness of such efforts and
help counter the double burden of malnutrition. It is important for parents, health professionals, and other caregivers to assess
the growth and development of children at the individual and population level.
“The workshop will give the participants an excellent opportunity for being the first trained professionals in Lebanon who will
provide the manpower for future training of health professionals in the country,” said Nahla Hwalla, Dean of the Faculty of
Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) and President of LANFS.
The assessment of children’s growth will increase awareness of the magnitude of the problem of child malnutrition worldwide and
decision-makers will be alerted as to how much remains to be done in order to ensure children’s healthy growth and development.
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| Nutrition and Diet Center News |
Mrs. Sawsan Wazzan Jabri owner of the Nutrition and Diet Center launched
“The Lean Camp” on Tuesday June 15th 2010 under the patronage of first lady
Mrs Wafa Sleiman. This revolutionary program is the first diet and health
establishment in Lebanon and the Middle-East to address all aspects of
overweight and obesity among children aged 10 to 17 years of age. It was
developed in partnership between the Nutrition and Diet Center and Peaks
Resort. Youngsters get to enjoy 12 day sessions packed with fun and
educational activities. They participate in several activities – hiking, climbing,
zipline, archery, aerobics, zumba, rappel, high ropes, biking, team games – to
name a few. They also participate in fun evening activities, take part in educational and
interactive nutrition and cooking classes, eat healthy nutritious meals and lose |
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weight. This summer, Lean Camp
was a success. Youngsters did not only have an increase in their knowledge, but rather acquired the skills needed for behavioral
change. Participants are still being followed up by the Nutrition and Diet Center and are more motivated than ever to improve
their lifestyle and lose weight. As part of Lean Camp’s continuous support and follow up for these participants, the Lean Camp joined the 10 Km fun run at Beirut Marathon on November 7,
2010. Once again, Lean Campers took the challenge. At every kilometer passed, Lean Campers felt the need to stop, but a voice
within kept saying “Yes you can do it! You can go beyond yourself!” Lean Campers felt so proud and motivated to achieve more
after they completed the 10 km fun run.
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| Dietary exposure to essential and toxic trace elements from
a Total diet study in an adult Lebanese urban population |
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| L. Nasreddine, O. Nashalian, F. Naja, L. Itani, D. Parent-Massin,
M. Nabhani-Zeidan, N. Hwalla |
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This study assesses, by the Total diet study approach, the adequacy
of micronutrient intake (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) and the dietary
exposure of a Lebanese adult urban population to two toxic elements
(Cd, Pb). The foods that made up the average ‘total diet’ were
derived from a previous survey. A total of 1215 individual foods
were collected, prepared and cooked prior to analysis. Analytical
quantification was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometry. Average daily intakes of Co (11.4 lg/day), Cu (1104.19
lg/day), Fe (13.00 mg/day), Mn (2.04 mg/day), Ni (126.27 lg/ day)
and Zn (10.97 mg/day) were below toxicological reference values
and were found to satisfy nutritional recommendations, except for
manganese in men and iron in women. Average dietary exposure to
Pb and Cd represented 3.2% and 21.7% of the respective provisional
tolerable weekly intakes. Estimates of dietary intakes of iron
appeared to be inadequate for 63% of adult women. These findings
should constitute a current measure of assessing the adequacy and
safety of foods consumed in Lebanon and may be a basis for future
monitoring studies. |
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| Adolescent obesity in Syria: prevalence and associated factors |
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| L. Nasreddine, A. Mehio-Sibai, M. Mrayati, N. Adraand N. Hwalla |
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Background Data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in
Eastern Mediterranean countries remain scarce, particularly for
children and adolescents. The objective of this study is to estimate
the prevalence of obesity and examine associated factors and
covariates amongst school adolescents in Syria.
Methods A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 776
adolescents (386 males and 390 females), aged 15–18 years, was
conducted in six randomly chosen secondary schools in Damascus,
the capital city of Syria. Anthropometric measurements and dietary
assessment data were collected using standard methods and
techniques. Overweight and obesity were defined according to World
Health Organization 2007 child growth standards.
Results The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were estimated
at 18.9 and 8.6%, respectively. Carbohydrate and saturated fatty acid
intakes were significantly higher amongst overweight and obese
(250.66 and 32.82 g/day, respectively) as compared with normal
weight adolescents (218.12 and 26.10 g/day, respectively). Regression
analysis showed... |
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Paulette El-Helou, MPH, CIDC, BSc
Received her postgraduate certificate in diabetes care from UK in 2007. She will graduate with masters of public
health from the University of Liverpool, UK in July 2010. She got engaged in January 2010. |
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Dalia El Khoury, PhD
Graduated from AUB with a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and M.S. degree in Nutrition. Then, she completed
her PhD in Physiology and Physiopathology at Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France, in December 2008. She
joined the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB as a
full-time lecturer in Clinical Nutrition in 2009. She is currently pursuing postdoctoral research at University of
Toronto, Canada. |
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Nadine Mikati, MSc, RD
Graduated from AUB in 2006 with a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Dietetics as well as a minor in Biology. She then
travelled to Michigan where she earned her R.D. (Registered Dietitian) credentials (2008) and her M.S degree in
Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University, Michigan (2009). Nadine is very eager to start her new
venture here at AUB as she joined the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the Faculty of Agricultural and
Food Sciences as an Instructor in 2009. She got engaged in August 2010. |
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Licensed Nutritionist and Clinical Dietitian who maintains a private practice in Beirut, Lebanon. She earned two
Bachelor of Science Degrees, the first one in Biology and Physiology from the Lebanese University and the second
one In Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Biology
and Physiology from the Lebanese University. In 2008, she wrote and published her first Diet Cookbook entitled “
Mawsouaat Al Tabekh El Sohi” which was a success and sold more than 4000 copies. Currently, she’s preparing for
the second edited edition. She also collaborates with many publications and writes her own articles in the monthly
“Mom’s &To Be” magazine.
In 2009, she founded “Centimeal Organic Diet and Nutrition Center”, where she provides healthy low fat meals to
her clients based on their nutritional and health assessment. She has also been appointed as a Senior Consultant
for different Diet Centers in the Gulf Area.
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