Joanne Ikeda is a nutritionist emeritus and co-founder of the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health. She is a nationally recognized expert on pediatric obesity and the dietary practices of ethnic and immigrant populations, as well as a strong proponent of obesity approaches that emphasize health promotion rather than weight loss. Ikeda is widely known for her pioneering research on the food habits and dietary quality of California's "nutritionally vulnerable" low-income, immigrant and ethnic populations, and has developed culturally sensitive and relevant educational programs for these groups. Ikeda has authored or co-authored several books and many training manuals designed to help health care professionals, paraprofessionals and parents instill healthy eating habits and encourage physical activity in children and adolescents. She has chaired the Weight Realities Division of the Society for Nutrition Education, is past president of the California Dietetic Association, and was formerly the California delegate to the American Dietetic Association. She served as scientific advisor to the National Organization to Advance Fat Acceptance. Ikeda retired in 2006 as a lecturer and cooperative extension specialist, but remains very active in the field of nutrition education. She also serves as a nutrition consultant to the Cartoon Network.