Office: 339 Bevier Hall

Phone: (217) 244-2851

Fax: (217) 244-1873

E-mail: rjreber@illinois.edu

Relationship between diet and disease; relationship between exercise and nutrition

Ph.D. University of Illinois-1970

Spitler Teaching Award from the UI College of Agriculture

Dr. Robert Reber is an Associate Professor of Nutrition with an appointment as an Extension Specialist in Nutrition with U of I Extension. He has been past Chair of the Nutrition and Wellness Development Team for Extension. The team is made of U of I campus-based staff, Nutrition and Wellness Educators, and EFNEP Educators that are located at Extension Centers throughout the state. The team has the responsibility of delivering research-based nutrition and wellness educational programs to the people of Illinois. Recent efforts have included the development of a wellness curriculum to be used with the CES’ limited-income audiences in the EFNEP and FNP programs. The aim of the program is to help clientele adopt positive lifestyle habits and accept wellness as their personal responsibility.

Dr. Reber was involved in a year-long wellness study at Robert Allerton Park this last year. Daily walking activity and fruit and vegetable consumption were monitored along with body weight, percent body fat, and blood pressure. Educational intervention included six workshops as well as fliers. Results are now being tabulated. Dr. Reber also organizes a five session in-service education service each spring that is offered to dietician and professional home economists throughout the state via the university’s TeleNet system. Credit is given via ADA for participants.

Dr. Reber’s outreach and public service efforts include diet and disease relationships including coronary heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; interrelationships between nutrition and exercise including the effects on body composition; nutrition and the adolescent athlete; and the effects of consumer food choices on the sustainability of food production systems.