Contact info

Dr Irene Strychar
CRCHUM � H�pital Notre-Dame
1560, Sherbrooke Street East
Pavillon Mailloux - Room K-6244
Montreal, QC H2L 4M1

Tel: 1-514-890-8000, ext. 28039 (lab)
Fax: 1-514-412-7603
E-mail: [email protected]

Research keywords

Irene Strychar completed a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition at the Universit� de Montr�al, a Master degree in education, counselling, at the University of Ottawa, a Doctoral degree in adult education at the University of British Columbia, and post doctoral studies in nutrition education at the Penn State Nutrition Centre, Pennsylvania State University and in preventive medicine at the Department of social and preventive medicine at the Universit� de Montr�al. Prior to becoming a faculty member at the Universit� de Montr�al in 1988, she worked in community nutrition in Ontario and British Columbia. Currently, Dr Strychar is responsible for the Behaviour Research Unit at the Montreal Diabetes Research Center affiliated with the CHUM. She is also a member of TRANSNUT, a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Nutrition Changes and Development, at the Department of Nutrition, Universit� de Montr�al. Dr Strychar is a former FRSQ Research Scholar and has served on numerous grant review committees, including the CIHR and the FRSQ. Dr Strychar represents the Canadian Public Health Association at Health Canada's Network on Health Eating. She is also a surveyor for Dietitians of Canada's Accreditation Program of University Nutrition Departments.

Click here for pdf CV

Dr Strychar found that the majority of physicians screen their patients for diabetes in the office-based setting, and approximately 50% provide lifestyle advice to patients with pre-diabetes; almost all patients who receive advice, do not remember receiving it. Dr Strychar was the first to demonstrate the beneficial effects of a high monounsaturated fat diet on fasting plasma triglyceride levels among individuals with type 1 diabetes in good glycemic control. Beneficial effects on postprandial triglyceride levels were also found.

Click here for PubMed listing

Click here to consult the Dietary Behaviours, Nutrition Programs and Counselling: A Guide for Nutrition Educators by Dr Irene Strychar.

Current projects in the laboratory fall into four areas.

Adolescents' perceptions of diabetes. We are examining the perceptions of diabetes among school-age adolescents without diabetes.

Lifestyle behaviours and depression in diabetes. In a longitudinal telephone population-based study (Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research, Schmitz N. et al) we are examining the relationship between lifestyle behaviours, diabetes care practices, perceptions of diabetes control, body mass index, and symptoms of depression among 2000 Quebecers with diabetes.

Psychosocial factors associated with obesity. As part of the Montreal Ottawa New Emerging Team initiative, we are studying the psychosocial factors associated with weight loss, weight loss maintenance, weight cycling, and dropout in weight loss interventions.

Obesity and malnutrition in West Africa. As a member of TRANSNUT, a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Nutrition Changes and Development (Delisle H. et al), we are planning the development of an academic nutrition program in West Africa to better equip health professionals address the problem of obesity and malnutrition coexisting in same households. Obesity prevention programs among adolescents are another focus of this initiative.