Development and validation of a screening instrument to assess the types and quality of foods served at home meals

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although there is growing interest in assessing the home food environment, no easy-to-use, low cost tools exist to assess the foods served at home meals, making it difficult to assess the meal component of the food environment. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a user-friendly screener to assess the types of foods served at home meals.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Primary food preparing adults (n = 51) participated in a validation study in their own homes. Staff and participants independently completed a screener as participants cooked dinner. The screener assessed the types of foods offered, method(s) of preparation, and use of added fats. Two scale scores were created: 1) to assess offerings of foods in five food groups (meat and other protein, milk, vegetables, fruit, grains), 2) to assess the relative healthfulness of foods based on types offered, preparation method, and added fats. Criterion validity was assessed comparing staff and participant reports of individual foods (kappa (k)) and scale scores (Spearman correlations).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Criterion validity was high between participants' and staffs' record of whether major food categories (meat and other protein, bread and cereal, salad, vegetables, fruits, dessert) were served (k = 0.79-1.0), moderate for reports of other starches (e.g., rice) being served (k = 0.52), and high for the Five Food Group and Healthfulness scale scores (r = 0.75-0.85, <it>p </it>< .001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This new meal screening tool has high validity and can be used to assess the types of foods served at home meals allowing a more comprehensive assessment of the home food environment.</p

Recruiting and retaining young adults in a weight gain prevention trial: Lessons learned from the CHOICES study

Young adults are at risk for weight gain but little is known about designing effective weight control trials for young adults or how to recruit and retain participants in these programs. The Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings (CHOICES) study evaluated the effectiveness of a weight gain prevention intervention for 2-year college students. We describe the methods used to recruit and retain the colleges and their students, describe the sample and discuss recommendations for future studies

The validation of a home food inventory

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Home food inventories provide an efficient method for assessing home food availability; however, few are validated. The present study's aim was to develop and validate a home food inventory that is easily completed by research participants in their homes and includes a comprehensive range of both healthful and less healthful foods that are associated with obesity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A home food inventory (HFI) was developed and tested with two samples. Sample 1 included 51 adult participants and six trained research staff who independently completed the HFI in participants' homes. Sample 2 included 342 families in which parents completed the HFI and the Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) and students completed three 24-hour dietary recall interviews. HFI items assessed 13 major food categories as well as two categories assessing ready-access to foods in the kitchen and the refrigerator. An obesogenic household food availability score was also created. To assess criterion validity, participants' and research staffs' assessment of home food availability were compared (staff = gold standard). Criterion validity was evaluated with kappa, sensitivity, and specificity. Construct validity was assessed with correlations of five HFI major food category scores with servings of the same foods and associated nutrients from the DHQ and dietary recalls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Kappa statistics for all 13 major food categories and the two ready-access categories ranged from 0.61 to 0.83, indicating substantial agreement. Sensitivity ranged from 0.69 to 0.89, and specificity ranged from 0.86 to 0.95. Spearman correlations between staff and participant major food category scores ranged from 0.71 to 0.97. Correlations between the HFI scores and food group servings and nutrients on the DHQ (parents) were all significant (p < .05) while about half of associations between the HFI and dietary recall interviews (adolescents) were significant (p < .05). The obesogenic home food availability score was significantly associated (p < .05) with energy intake of both parents and adolescents.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This new home food inventory is valid, participant-friendly, and may be useful for community-based behavioral nutrition and obesity prevention research. The inventory builds on previous measures by including a wide range of healthful and less healthful foods rather than foods targeted for a specific intervention.</p

Results of a 2-year randomized, controlled obesity prevention trial: Effects on diet, activity and sleep behaviors in an at-risk young adult population

Excess weight gain tends to occur in young adulthood. However, research examining effective weight-related interventions for this age group has been limited. As one of seven trials in the EARLY Trials consortium (Early Adult Reduction of weight through LifestYle intervention), the CHOICES Study (Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings) tested effects of a technology-integrated, young adult weight gain prevention intervention. It was a randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline (2011) and 4-, 12- and 24-months post-intervention initiation and included 441 participants (ages 18-35) who were students at three Minnesota community colleges. The 24-month intervention included a 1-credit academic course and social networking and support online intervention. This analysis examined effects on 12 secondary behavioral outcomes across three domains: diet (fast food, sugary beverages, breakfast, at-home meal preparation), physical activity/screen time (minutes and energy expenditure in leisure time physical activity, television viewing, leisure time computer use) and sleep (hours of sleep, time required to fall asleep, days not getting enough rest, difficulty staying awake). The intervention resulted in significant reductions in fast food (p=0.007) but increases in difficulty staying awake (p=0.015). There was limited evidence of other behavior changes at 4 months (0.05<p<0.1) in the expected direction but differences by treatment condition dissipated over time. Analyses examining summary treatment effects (i.e., modeling effects on all behavioral outcomes simultaneously) indicated significant overall effects (p=0.014), largely driven by 4-month results (p=0.005). Additional research is needed to understand effective obesity prevention among young adults, particularly when addressing multiple weight-related outcomes

Weight-Gain Reduction Among 2-Year College Students: The CHOICES RCT

The young adult years have been recognized as an influential period for excess weight gain. Non-traditional students and those attending 2-year community colleges are at particularly high risk for a range of adverse weight-related outcomes

Using School-Level Interviews to Develop a Multisite PE Intervention Program

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) is a randomized, multicenter field trial in middle schools that aims to reduce the decline of physical activity in adolescent girls. To inform the development of the TAAG intervention, two phases of formative research are conducted to gain information on school structure and environment and on the conduct of physical education classes. Principals and designated staff at 64 eligible middle schools were interviewed using the School Survey during Phase 1. The following year (Phase 2), physical education department heads of the 36 schools selected into TAAG were interviewed. Responses were examined to design a standardized, multicomponent physical activity intervention for six regions of the United States. This article describes the contribution of formative research to the development of the physical education intervention component and summarizes the alignment of current school policies and practices with national and state standards

Physical Activity Attitudes, Preferences, and Practices in African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian Girls

Physical activity levels in girls decline dramatically during adolescence, most profoundlyamong minorities. To explore ethnic and racial variation in attitudes toward physical activity, semistructured interviews (n = 80) and physical activity checklists (n = 130) are conducted with African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian middle school girls in six locations across the United States. Girls from all groups have similar perceptions of the benefits of physical activity, with staying in shape as the most important. Girls have similar negative perceptions of physical activity, including getting hurt, sweating, aggressive players, and embarrassment. Chores, runningor jogging, exercises, and dance are common activities for girls regardless of ethnicity. Basketball, swimming, running, and dance are commonly cited favorite activities, although there are slight differences between ethnic groups. The results suggest that factors other than ethnicity contribute to girls’physical activity preferences and that distinct interventions may not be needed for each ethnic group

Weight and Weight-Related Behaviors Among 2-Year College Students

The purpose of this paper is to describe weight indicators and weight-related behaviors of students enrolled in 2-year colleges, including sex differences

A 2-year young adult obesity prevention trial in the US: Process evaluation results

Our objective was to conduct a process evaluation of the CHOICES (Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings) study, a large, randomized, controlled trial designed to prevent unhealthy weight gain in young adults (aged 18–35) attending 2-year community colleges in the USA. The 24-month intervention consisted of participation in an academic course and a social networking and support website. Among intervention participants, completion rates for most course activities were >80%, reflecting a high level of dose received. Course retention and participant satisfaction were also high. Engagement results, however, were mixed with less than half of participants in the online and hybrid sections of the course reporting that they interacted with course materials ≥3 h/week, but 50–75% reporting that they completed required lessons ‘all/very thoroughly’. Engagement in the website activities was also mixed with more than half of intervention participants logging onto the website during the first month, but then declining to 25–40% during the following 23 months of the intervention. Intervention engagement is a challenge of online interventions and a challenge of working with the young adult age group in general. Additional research is needed to explore strategies to support engagement among this population, particularly for relatively long intervention durations

The Vehicle, Spring 1984

Vol. 25, No. 2 Table of Contents The OpeningKathy Fordpage 3 PaintThomas B. Waltrippage 3 PhotographLisa Fresepage 4 City as Castigating AnimalJerry McAnultypage 5 LimitsMichelle Mitchellpage 6 In SilenceKeila Tooleypage 6 PhotographLisa Fresepage 7 Indian CreekJerry McAnultypage 8 The Right Idea about RainMichelle Mitchellpage 8 Van Gogh\u27s Young Male PeasantKeila Tooleypage 9 AbigailMaggie Kennedypage 9 CleaningJennifer K. Soulepage 10 Heat WaveJerry McAnultypage 11 VigilJanet Gracepage 11 Hatred of ClownsMichelle Mitchellpage 12 Trees in the YardKeila Tooleypage 13 Lost on Back RoadsToby Mirabellipage 13 The Death of My Father\u27s HandsGina Grillopage 14 Soft LandingMaggie Kennedypage 14 Incident in the Generic AisleMaggie Kennedypage 15 Happy Well-adjusted Individuals, ConsideringJennifer K. Soulepage 16 Old ManGina Grillopage 17 It Doesn\u27t MatterTed Boonepage 18 A Love Poem for Charles DonaldCathy Moepage 18 David Willey at Whitman WharfSue Oiler Millerpage 19 I Am the ArtsBrenda Renee Drummerpage 20 Mothers and DaughtersJennifer K. Soulepage 22 ScratchesMichelle Mitchellpage 26 SedativeStacey Flanniganpage 26 Calloused HandJanet Gracepage 27 Cool CatStacey Flanniganpage 27 For My History Teacher, Miss WilhelmCathy Moepage 28 Short Poem for Chris\u27s EyesBob Zordanipage 28 MissingMichelle Mitchellpage 29 Over ThereGraham Lewispage 30 Strange BedfellowsMaggie Kennedypage 31 Retired PlumberMichelle Mitchellpage 32 Rumors of War DeadKathy Fordpage 33 Night LightsKeila Tooleypage 33 Fish on the Train TracksJerry McAnultypage 34 DaddyKeily Tooleypage 34 A Message to the MessengerAmy Eadespage 35 Dancing AloneKathy Bowerpage 36 HandsMaggie Kennedypage 36 The Key to the Ladies\u27s RoomMichelle Mitchellpage 37 Crashing the BlueStacey Flanniganpage 37 The Cradle will FallMichelle Mitchellpate 38 One IslandKeila Tooleypage 38 Black Walnut PaintSue Oiler Millerpage 39 SerendipityGraham Lewispage 40 Cover ArtLisa Fresehttps://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1045/thumbnail.jp