"Everyone is different, therefore different approaches to weight management, or an overall healthy lifestyle, are to be expected." - Courtney McCormick, MPH, RDN, LDN, Manager of Clinical Research and Nutrition at Nutrisystem. Nutrigenomics is the study of how genes and diet interact to influence the way nutrients cause an individual's body to function. According to research, the human body contains about 20,000 – 25,000 genes.

It is important to understand what health and weight loss strategies work best for you. Genetic testing can be used to recommend different strategies that may help you make more informed choices and achieve outcomes that contribute to overall health.

Courtney McCormick is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a master's degree in public health. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Clinical Research and Nutrition at Nutrisystem. In this role, she helps support the nutritional strategy and clinical research for both the Nutrisystem and South Beach Diet brands. Courtney has focused most of her career in dietetics working in the area of weight management. Early in her career, she coordinated and managed programs that served to prevent childhood obesity. Now, at Nutrisystem, she works within Product Development and Research to develop programs and products that help support adults in managing a healthy weight.

Resources:

Nutrisystem Website The Leaf Lifestyle Blog DNA Body Blueprint Fact Sheet and White Papers South Beach Diet Website The Palm, Lifestyle Blog

W.I.S.E. Choices: Weight Improvement, Satisfaction & Energy – Sound Bites Podcast #79 with Dr. James O. Hill

Transformational Weight Loss: What You REALLY Need to Know About Exercise – Sound Bites Podcast #24 with James O. Hill

Sound Bites is partnering with the American Association of Diabetes Educators! Here are some timely announcements related to diabetes:

• New insulin affordability resource and other access/affordability resources are available at DiabetesEducator.org/affordability
• Diabetes Alert Day is Tuesday, March 26. Understand your risk at DoIHavePrediabetes.org. Find out more about becoming a National Diabetes Prevention Program provider at DiabetesEducator.org/Prevention.
• A new scoping review and gaps analysis of Diabetes Online Communities was just released in the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology that supports its benefits as a tool for people with diabetes. For more information visit DiabetesEducator.org/PeerSupport.