Dr. Jeanette Newton Keith, M.D. is a gastroenterologist with specialized training in clinical nutrition. As medical director of the medical weight management clinic, she seeks to improve the care of obese patients at increased risk for diabetes and other co-morbid diseases. Her research interests include the study of magnesium nutriture in obesity, cardiac arrhythmia in obese patients, nutritional risk factors for the development of colon cancer in the setting of obesity and lactose intolerance in minorities. She is presently a co-investigator with Dr. Karen Kim on two multi-center protocols studying the effect of pharmacologic therapy on the incidence of colon adenomas, especially for obese patients. In addition to calcium’s role in colon polyp formation, both magnesium and calcium aberrations have been implicated in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in the setting of central morbid obesity. One of her current projects is an effort to address misinformation regarding lactose intolerance in minorities, as inadequate intake of calcium has been associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, obesity, and hypertension. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Estimates Survey (NHANES) III suggests that the lowest calcium intake among minorities correspond to the highest incidence of complications such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Hypothetically, if one can improve the intake of dietary calcium, there should be a reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes and obesity among the at-risk minority patients. Future plans include a community-based research project relating to calcium intake, obesity and diabetes.