Development of peer-led youth theater as a nutrition education tool to promote the healthy traditional Latino diet

"The overall purpose of my research was to develop culturally appropriate nutrition education for Latino immigrants. In phase one, a needs assessment was conducted with the low-income Latina population (N=166) in Guilford County, North Carolina. Seventy-six percent were overweight/obese. Eighty-nine percent were living in food insecure households. Forty percent living in food insecure households with moderate hunger were obese compared to 73% of respondents with severe hunger. Severe food insecurity was related to less positive nutrition beliefs (χ2 (9,N=166)=17.56, p<.05). Forty-five percent had received nutrition education previously. Having had previous nutrition education was related to positive nutrition beliefs, self-efficacy and knowledge [χ2 (9, N=166)= 29.04, p < .001, χ2 (2, N=154)= 4.89, p < .05, χ2 (3, N=157)= 10.36, p < .05, respectively]. Highly traditional diets were related with less weight increase and better diet quality (χ2(12,N=104)=21.94, p<.05, χ2 (9, N=155)= 18.79, p< .05, respectively. The purpose of phase two was to better understand the dietary acculturation process. Observations, in-depth interviews, and questionnaires were conducted with one family in Mexico. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were conducted with families (N=4) in Guilford County, North Carolina. Decreases in fruit and vegetable intakes and increases in snack and processed food had occurred. Availability, food displacement and cost were identified as reasons changes occurred. Because of school children's diets adopt faster thus becoming the primary driver of the families' dietary acculturation. In phase three, nutrition theater education was developed to address knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of Latino youth. Pre and post surveys were conducted with an intervention group (N=19) and with a matched non-intervention group (N=19). The traditional Latino diet was promoted. Seventy percent reported learning about nutrition. Respondents thought the American diet (group defined as hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza and French fries) was less healthy (P< .05). They also liked vegetables more and were planning to or trying to eat more beans, fruits and vegetables and less sugar after the intervention (P <.05). No changes occurred in the non-intervention group. Theater education with nutrition information appears to be effective at increasing knowledge, promoting positive attitudes and behaviors of Latino youth."--Abstract from author supplied metadata

Frequency of Vending Machine Usage as a Predictor of Weight Status Among College Students

Background: College students have identified frequent unhealthy snacking from vending machines as influencing their dietary intake and weight status. However, research on associations between vending usage and weight status is lacking. Objectives: 1.) Compare college students’ demographic characteristics by frequency of vending machine usage (FVU) and body mass index (BMI). 2.) Determine associations between FVU and BMI levels among college students. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, a convenience sample of college students (n=110) completed an online survey providing demographics, height and weight, and FVU – categorized as “none” (never or rarely), “low” (less than once per month, or “high” (once per month or more). Demographics were analyzed using descriptive statistics with comparisons by FVU and BMI levels. Associations between FVU and BMI levels, alone and controlling for sex and race/ethnicity, were tested using a proportional odds logistic model. Results: The majority of participants were in the lowest FVU (50%) and normal BMI (56%; M=24.2 kg/m2) levels. BMI was significantly different by FVU levels (p=.012). Logistic regression indicated the highest FVU category was associated with a 4.6 times greater odds of being overweight or obese (p=0.001). Conclusion: This study described a significant relationship between higher levels of FVU and higher levels of BMI among college students. This formative evidence can inform future vending interventions in this population

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Healthy Food Retail Programs: Extension Agents’ Perceptions

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to understand the perceptions Extension professionals have about healthy food retail programs (HFRPs). Family and Consumer Science (FCS) agents from one state in the southeastern United States were interviewed about their definitions of HFRPs, what challenges and benefits existed, and strategies for successful HFRP implementation. Participants reported that HFRPs would bring immense benefits to their communities, including expanding the recognition of Extension. However, one specific suggestion that was identified was hands-on training needed before initiating HFRPs, particularly on strategies for relationship development with retail store owners

“Take Off 4-Health�: Nutrition Education Curriculum for a Healthy Lifestyle Camp for Overweight Youth

There is evidence that residential summer weight loss camps can be effective to initiate or support the small change approach to address childhood obesity. This report describes the development and evaluation of nutrition education for overweight adolescents attending a three week healthy lifestyle camp. Campers were given a diet prescription based on MyPryamid and self-selected their meals and snacks that were served family style. The curriculum included eating strategies known to contribute to healthy weight in youth. Campers demonstrated improved ability to estimate portion sizes. Thirty-four campers completed the three week experience with a weight loss considered to be safe. Note: the deposited item is not the final published version, but rather is the last revised manuscript sent to the publisher

More than Fast Food: Development of a Story Map to Compare Adolescent Perceptions and Observations of Their Food Environments and Related Food Behaviors

The purpose of this convergent, multiphase, mixed methods study was to better understand the perceptions of adolescents’ food environments and related food behaviors using grounded visualization and story mapping. Adolescents from one high school (13–16 years) in the southeastern United States were evaluated via data from health behavior surveys (n = 75), school environment maps, focus groups (n = 5 groups), and Photovoice (n = 6) from October 2016 to April 2017. Data from each phase were integrated using grounded visualization and new themes were identified (n = 7). A story map using ArcGIS Online was developed from data integration, depicting the newly identified themes. Participants failed to meet national recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake (2.71 cups). Focus group and Photovoice findings indicated the need for convenience food items in all environments. The story map is an online, interactive dissemination of information, with five maps, embedded quotes from focus groups, narrative passages with data interpretation, pictures to highlight themes, and a comparison of the participants’ food environments. Story mapping and qualitative geographic information systems (GIS) approaches may be useful when depicting adolescent food environments and related food behaviors. Further research is needed when evaluating story maps and how individuals can be trained to create their own maps

More than Fast Food: Development of a Story Map to Compare Adolescent Perceptions and Observations of Their Food Environments and Related Food Behaviors

The purpose of this convergent, multiphase, mixed methods study was to better understand the perceptions of adolescents’ food environments and related food behaviors using grounded visualization and story mapping. Adolescents from one high school (13–16 years) in the southeastern United States were evaluated via data from health behavior surveys (n = 75), school environment maps, focus groups (n = 5 groups), and Photovoice (n = 6) from October 2016 to April 2017. Data from each phase were integrated using grounded visualization and new themes were identified (n = 7). A story map using ArcGIS Online was developed from data integration, depicting the newly identified themes. Participants failed to meet national recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake (2.71 cups). Focus group and Photovoice findings indicated the need for convenience food items in all environments. The story map is an online, interactive dissemination of information, with five maps, embedded quotes from focus groups, narrative passages with data interpretation, pictures to highlight themes, and a comparison of the participants’ food environments. Story mapping and qualitative geographic information systems (GIS) approaches may be useful when depicting adolescent food environments and related food behaviors. Further research is needed when evaluating story maps and how individuals can be trained to create their own maps

The Impact of COVID-19 on Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to the Healthfulness of Communities With Low-Income

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges affecting the wellbeing of individuals in communities with low income. Understanding where people live and how those environments can facilitate or hinder living a healthy lifestyle is essential for developing interventions that target behavior change and health promotion. Objective: This study compares Extension Nutrition Educators’ (NEs) perceptions of the barriers and facilitators impacting the healthfulness of the environment of communities with low income in eleven states before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Barriers to participation in a worksite wellness program

The purpose of this research was to determine barriers that prevent participation in an employee wellness program, Wellness Wednesdays: "Eat & Meet" About Healthy Living, conducted at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina. All ECU ARAMARK employees (n = 481) over the age of 18 were eligible to participate in the wellness program. Weekly 30 minute classes, taught by a Registered Dietitian, on various nutrition- and health-related topics were conducted for 10-weeks. Five question knowledge quizzes were administered to participants at the end of each class to determine the comprehension of material presented. Qualitative interviews (n = 19) were conducted with employees (participants and non-participants) and the program organizer after the completion of the 10-week program to identify barriers to program participation. A total of 50 (10.4% of the total number of potential participants) ECU ARAMARK employees, managers, and leadership team directors attended Wellness Wednesdays at least once during the 10-week program. Employees, on average, scored 71-100% on the weekly knowledge quizzes administered at the end of each class. The most common barriers to participation reported included (most often to least often reported): insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, time limitations, not interested in topics presented, undefined reasons, schedule, marketing, health beliefs, and not interested in the program. Results showed that employee wellness programs can be effective in increasing knowledge of employees on nutrition- and health-related topics. However, program planning that addresses identified barriers including insufficient incentives, inconvenient locations, and time limitations may facilitate higher participation in future worksite wellness opportunities

Telomerecat: A ploidy-agnostic method for estimating telomere length from whole genome sequencing data.

Telomere length is a risk factor in disease and the dynamics of telomere length are crucial to our understanding of cell replication and vitality. The proliferation of whole genome sequencing represents an unprecedented opportunity to glean new insights into telomere biology on a previously unimaginable scale. To this end, a number of approaches for estimating telomere length from whole-genome sequencing data have been proposed. Here we present Telomerecat, a novel approach to the estimation of telomere length. Previous methods have been dependent on the number of telomeres present in a cell being known, which may be problematic when analysing aneuploid cancer data and non-human samples. Telomerecat is designed to be agnostic to the number of telomeres present, making it suited for the purpose of estimating telomere length in cancer studies. Telomerecat also accounts for interstitial telomeric reads and presents a novel approach to dealing with sequencing errors. We show that Telomerecat performs well at telomere length estimation when compared to leading experimental and computational methods. Furthermore, we show that it detects expected patterns in longitudinal data, repeated measurements, and cross-species comparisons. We also apply the method to a cancer cell data, uncovering an interesting relationship with the underlying telomerase genotype

The genomic landscape of balanced cytogenetic abnormalities associated with human congenital anomalies

Despite the clinical significance of balanced chromosomal abnormalities (BCAs), their characterization has largely been restricted to cytogenetic resolution. We explored the landscape of BCAs at nucleotide resolution in 273 subjects with a spectrum of congenital anomalies. Whole-genome sequencing revised 93% of karyotypes and demonstrated complexity that was cryptic to karyotyping in 21% of BCAs, highlighting the limitations of conventional cytogenetic approaches. At least 33.9% of BCAs resulted in gene disruption that likely contributed to the developmental phenotype, 5.2% were associated with pathogenic genomic imbalances, and 7.3% disrupted topologically associated domains (TADs) encompassing known syndromic loci. Remarkably, BCA breakpoints in eight subjects altered a single TAD encompassing MEF2C, a known driver of 5q14.3 microdeletion syndrome, resulting in decreased MEF2C expression. We propose that sequence-level resolution dramatically improves prediction of clinical outcomes for balanced rearrangements and provides insight into new pathogenic mechanisms, such as altered regulation due to changes in chromosome topology