American Society for Nutrition Reflects on Record-Breaking Growth and Global Impact at NUTRITION 2026

By News Staff

As the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) closed out its flagship annual meeting, outgoing President Dr. Naima Moustaid-Moussa reflected on a transformative year marked by record-breaking membership, expanded global partnerships, and pivotal advancements in nutrition science and public health policy.

NUTRITION 2026 brought together nearly 3,000 scientists, clinicians, educators, students, and allied professionals from 57 countries, including the United States and U.S. minor outlying islands. Held during a period when nutrition has increasingly captured national and global attention, the conference served as a dynamic forum for exchanging groundbreaking discoveries, challenging conventional paradigms, and forging critical cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Reflecting on her tenure leading the organization through the 2025–2026 term, Dr. Moustaid-Moussa highlighted the collective dedication of the society’s vibrant community. Spanning basic, clinical, translational, and population-based research, as well as policy and practice, the ASN community demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation despite navigating headwinds related to research funding, scientific integrity, and public misinformation.

A Transdisciplinary Program Grounded in Innovation

The four-day scientific program featured more than 2,000 presentations addressing some of the most pressing issues in modern health and agriculture, ranging from ultra-processed foods and infant nutrition to the "Food is Medicine" movement and sustainable food systems. The conference opened with a specialized pre-conference workshop focused on artificial intelligence and precision nutrition, showcasing the National Institutes of Health’s Nutrition for Precision Health initiative powered by the All of Us Research Program.

A prominent feature of NUTRITION 2026 was the Opening Session, titled "Dietary Guidance at a Crossroads: Science, Practice, and Innovation." Chaired by Dr. Johanna Dwyer—a pioneering voice in the field, Distinguished Fellow, past ASN President, and member of the National Academy of Medicine—the session tackled the complex science informing dietary guidelines. Panelists included former Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee members Dr. Sarah Booth, Dr. Hollie Raynor, and Dr. Bruce Y. Lee, who engaged attendees in a robust dialogue regarding the translation of nutritional science into actionable public policy.

For the first time in the history of the ASN annual meeting, the Presidential Symposium explored a truly global framework: "One Health in a Global Context: At the Crossroads of Food Systems, Nutrition, and Human Health." The keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and Dr. Tahmeed Hamed, Executive Director of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b). Both leaders, recognized among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, emphasized how climate-resilient agriculture and locally driven interventions can profoundly improve nutritional outcomes for vulnerable populations, particularly women and children in climate-stressed regions.

Celebrating Excellence and Honoring Community Pillars

Amidst the intensive scientific symposia, NUTRITION 2026 provided a platform to celebrate the individuals who have shaped the society and the broader discipline. ASN paused to remember esteemed members who passed away over the previous year, honoring legacies of mentorship and foundational research.

The conference also recognized outstanding professional achievements across multiple tiers of membership. The society welcomed the second cohort of 69 Excellence in Nutrition Fellows, honoring their contributions to science, education, and practice. In addition, 21 members were formally inducted as Distinguished Fellows during the Fellows Lunch. Representing ASN’s highest honor, this designation acknowledges members with more than 30 years of dedicated service and sustained excellence in the field. Long-standing members with over 50 years of affiliation, alongside past society presidents, were likewise commended for their enduring leadership.

The institutional strength of ASN was further underscored by performance metrics across the society’s four peer-reviewed journals: Advances in Nutrition, The Journal of Nutrition, Current Developments in Nutrition, and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. All four publications achieved increases in their Impact Factors this year, reflecting the rigorous peer review and trusted scientific integrity that underpin evidence-based nutrition policy and practice.

2025–2026 Presidential Report and Strategic Milestones

In her comprehensive presidential report, Dr. Moustaid-Moussa detailed the realization of core strategic goals aimed at amplifying ASN’s global reach and societal impact.

Under the first pillar of expanding leadership in advocacy, policy, and education, ASN membership surged to a record-breaking milestone of over 9,000 members. This growth was bolstered by initiatives such as the Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs (ANDP) and the American Society for Nutrition Foundation (ASNF) Presidential Student Scholarships. On the public policy front, ASN actively engaged with federal entities, including the NIH and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Notably, ASN led the Friends of ONR coalition in advocating for a historic funding increase for the NIH Office of Nutrition Research for Fiscal Year 2026.

The second core priority advanced the transdisciplinary lens of One Health, integrating nutrition more closely with agriculture, environmental health, and food systems. Meanwhile, the third priority focused on strengthening global connections and partnerships to foster capacity building, knowledge exchange, and professional development opportunities for international and early-career members.

To re-engage basic and translational scientists, the fourth strategic priority focused on regional conferences and workshops. ASN partnered with the ANDP community to co-sponsor regional events, such as the 22nd Annual Russell Klein Nutrition Research Symposium held at The Ohio State University. Discussions are also underway with partner organizations such as the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, the European Nutrition Association, and The Obesity Society to develop future joint regional and global scientific programming.

Other notable organizational achievements included the rollout of the Laboratory Animal Nutrition Taskforce for an Education and Research Network (LANTERN) action plan, which focuses on rigorous design standards for animal diets. Planning also advanced alongside the ASNF for the upcoming ASN Centennial in 2028, supported by record-breaking participation from sustaining corporate and institutional partners.

Insights from the Membership and Looking Ahead

Feedback gathered from ASN’s 2026 member survey revealed high overall satisfaction with the society’s offerings, particularly regarding annual meetings, scholarly journals, and networking platforms. While members identified ongoing hurdles—such as securing research funding, managing publishing costs, combating misinformation, and navigating regulatory barriers—early-career professionals placed special emphasis on mentorship, collaboration, and career placement services. Society leadership indicated that staff are actively utilizing these insights to tailor member engagement strategies moving forward.

Concluding her address, Dr. Moustaid-Moussa expressed profound gratitude to ASN Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Courtney, the executive staff, volunteer leaders, and the broader membership for translating presidential visions into tangible public health advancements. She also extended personal appreciation to her family, her laboratory team at Texas Tech University and Texas Tech Health Sciences, and academic colleagues for their steadfast support throughout her tenure.

As leadership transitions, the American Society for Nutrition stands poised to build upon its foundational commitment to rigorous, trusted, and evidence-based science in the years to come.