** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** OBESITY AND RELATED CHRONIC CONDITIONS THREATEN THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF 66% OF ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES. WEST VIRGINIA, A MOSTLY RURAL STATE, HAS THE HIGHEST RATES OF OBESITY-RELATED CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND THE LOWEST INTAKE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN THE NATION. IMPLEMENTATION OF U.S. PREVENTATIVE SERVICE TASKFORCE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE PATIENTS WITH DIET-RELATED BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING TO PREVENT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS IMPEDED BY COMPETING TIME DEMANDS OF PHYSICIANS, POOR ACCESS TO NUTRITION CARE PROVIDERS, AND UNCERTAINLY OF REIMBURSEMENT. TELENUTRITION, THE DELIVERY OF NUTRITION CARE USING TECHNOLOGY, IS AN EMERGING AREA THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO NUTRITION CARE BY OVERCOMING GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS. OUR LONG-TERM GOAL IS TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED ON A WIDE SCALE ACROSS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS AND SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS. THE OVERALL OBJECTIVES IN THIS APPLICATION ARE 1) TO DEVELOP AND EVALUATE A TELENUTRITION INTERVENTION, WHICH INCLUDES STUDENT-DELIVERED HEALTH COACHING IN RURAL APPALACHIA, AND 2) TO USE COMPETENCY-BASED TRAINING AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING TO PREPARE FUTURE NUTRITION PROFESSIONALS TO PROVIDE TELENUTRITION FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION. THE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION OBJECTIVES ARE INTERDEPENDENT AND OFFER A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THIS INTEGRATED PROJECT DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THE PROGRAM PRIORITY OF DIET, NUTRITION, AND PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES AS IT AIMS TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EATING PATTERNS THAT SUPPORT THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY-RELATED CHRONIC CONDITIONS IN RURAL AREAS.