Dietary studies refer to research conducted on human nutrition and diet. These types of studies involve analyzing food intake, eating habits, and overall diet quality in order to determine their impact on health outcomes. Dietary studies can be observational or interventional, depending on whether they are designed to observe existing patterns of food consumption or to manipulate a person's diet through controlled experiments. The goal of these studies is often to identify links between specific nutrients, food groups, or overall eating habits and health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, or other chronic illnesses. By understanding the relationship between dietary patterns and health outcomes, researchers can develop recommendations for optimal nutrition and guide public policy decisions related to food consumption.