** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE INCREASED INCIDENCE OF OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM AND IS THE RESULT OF MANY FACTORS INCLUDING UNHEALTHY EATING PATTERNS, LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, FOOD INSECURITY, AND LOW HEALTH LITERACY. FOR THIS REASON, EFFORTS TO REDUCE OBESITY AND OBESITY-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE MUST ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ON MULTIPLE FRONTS. THE PROJECT WE PROPOSE HERE, AN INTEGRATED, MULTIMEDIA APPROACH TO DELIVERING FOOD, EXERCISE, AND NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE (DFEND), REPRESENTS SUCH AN EFFORT, AND ALIGNS WITH THE PROGRAM PRIORITY AREA TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL, AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE EATING PATTERNS THAT PREVENT AND CONTROL DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES. DFEND ENGAGES A TEAM OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCHOLARS WITH EXPERTISE IN NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, PUBLIC HEALTH, EXTENSION AND OUTREACH, AND STATISTICS. THIS INTEGRATED PROJECT INVOLVES INNOVATIVE RESEARCH, EXTENSION, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE HEALTH LITERACY BY EMPHASIZING HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS, LIFESTYLE CHANGES, AND BEHAVIORS WHICH SUPPORT THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASE. THE OVERALL AIMS OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO IMPROVE HEALTH LITERACY RELATED TO NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADULTS AT RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASE, ENABLE AND REINFORCE HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADULTS AT RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASE, AND ENSURE THAT TOMORROW'S NUTRITION, EXERCISE SCIENCE, AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ARE ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON THE BURDEN OF CHRONIC DISEASE THROUGHOUT THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.