Dr. Rob van Dam’s research is focused on nutrition and physical activity in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. He is interested in extending this research to diverse ethnic groups. The ultimate goal of this research is to inform recommendations and policies for the lifestyle prevention of chronic diseases. He conducts epidemiological studies, trials, and meta-analyses to define more precisely what aspects of dietary and movement patterns affect cardio-metabolic health. For this purpose, he is currently incorporating metabolic and proteomic biomarkers and device-based and digital assessments to gain more insight into patterns of lifestyle behaviors. He has conducted pioneering research on the impact of dietary composition in type 2 diabetes and on diet and cardio-metabolic diseases in Asian populations. In addition, he examines how the cultural and physical environment influence lifestyle behaviors to bridge epidemiological studies and behavioral interventions.