Gary D. Foster, director of Temple University’s Center for Obesity Research and Education (CORE), has been appointed to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The appointment was announced by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack.

An internationally recognized expert on obesity, Foster was one of 15 renowned experts appointed to the advisory committee, whose recommendations and rationale will serve as a basis for the eighth edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Every five years, the guidelines are updated and published jointly by HHS and USDA. They serve as the foundation for national nutrition programs, standards and education, as well as provide key recommendations for the general population as well as specific population groups to help people choose an overall healthy diet that works for them.

“It’s an honor to be selected to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and to work with such a distinguished group of scientists on this very important public health issue,” said Foster. “It is a great opportunity to examine the existing data on the key components of a healthy diet, especially in the context of alarmingly high rates of childhood and adult obesity.”

Foster, who is also the Laura Carnell Professor of Medicine, Public Health and Psychology in Temple’s School of Medicine, will be joined on the advisory committee by leading experts from schools and institutions including the Baylor School of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Harvard School of Public Health, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Tufts University, Cornell University, Yale School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Minnesota, University of California San Diego and Boston University School of Medicine.

The committee’s inaugural public meeting will be held June 13-14, in Bethesda, Md. Additional information about the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, including meeting details, press releases and fact sheets, is available at www.health.gov/DietaryGuidelines.

“As we aim to improve the health of all Americans, we look forward to the important work of this Committee,” said HHS Secretary Sebelius. “Their guidance will help shape recommendations on how we can all live healthier lives by eating a nutritious diet — a key factor in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.”

“The president and first lady have made it a priority to ensure Americans have access to the information they need to improve their overall health and nutrition,” said USDA Secretary Vilsack. “USDA takes great pride in partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services as we strive to reverse childhood obesity and build a healthier next generation based on the solid science that undergirds the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”