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Community-Academic Partnerships to Promote Health Literacy and Address Social Needs Among Low-Income Families During COVID-19.
Haidar, A, Khoei, A, Alex, SE, Blick, C, Lopez, E, Wendt, S, Ghanta, R, Almohamad, M, Cousins, S, Noyola, J, et al
Journal of nutrition education and behavior. 2021;(1):75-78
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Abstract
Brighter Bites is a school-based health promotion program that delivers fresh produce and nutrition education to low-income children and their families across 6 locations in the US. This article provides a perspective on how, despite coronavirus disease 2019-related school closures, Brighter Bites pivoted rapidly to collaborate with medical and public health institutions to improve health and food literacy among their families. Through these partnerships, Brighter Bites was able to rapidly provide accurate, evidence-based information related to coronavirus disease 2019 and other social needs, including food, housing, transportation, and access to health care, to help fill a needed gap in vulnerable communities.
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The Nutrition and Health Communication Education Program and For Accurate Science Project of Sabri Ülker Foundation: Initiatives from Turkey.
Mutuş, B, Erdin, S, Şen, N, Arca, DM, Hacaloğlu, S, Besler, HT
World review of nutrition and dietetics. 2020;:221-226
Abstract
In recent decades interest in food and health issues has not ceased to increase globally. Consumers typically obtain information on issues related to food, nutrition, and health via a wide variety of media channels, including TV, radio, newspapers, internet, and social media. Unfortunately, the messages that reach consumers through these different channels can be conflicting, inaccurate, or confusing. The "For Accurate Science Platform" of the Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation aims to disseminate current and reliable information to the public about health and nutrition. Since 2017, the Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation has also organized a 2-day education program, entitled the "Nutrition and Health Education Program," with the aim of educating and providing a better understanding of nutrition science and science communication to participants from the media and influencers who are interested in area of nutrition and health. This program is also accredited by the Society of Nutrition and Food Science (SNFS) as an international nutrition communication training program. This year the theme of the program was "Popular Diets: Health Effects and Effective Communication." Popular diets is one of the most frequent topics in nutrition communication, sought by millions of people, and where the available information is not always evidence based. A recent meta-analysis by the British Medical Journal on the role of food in weight management found that no dietary method has been shown to achieve superior results in terms of long-term weight maintenance. Many popular diets limit food groups and/or nutrients to achieve faster results. However, these limitations might cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies and lead to hidden hunger in the short and long term. Thus, inaccurate and non-scientific news about popular diets can negatively affect the worldwide burden of hidden hunger.
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Beyond survival: Practical wellness tips during the 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic.
Maniuk, T, Mok, G, Schouela, N, Thurgur, L, Ho, M, Fischer, L, Syed, S
CJEM. 2020;(5):579-583
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Extended Reality Technologies in Nutrition Education and Behavior: Comprehensive Scoping Review and Future Directions.
McGuirt, JT, Cooke, NK, Burgermaster, M, Enahora, B, Huebner, G, Meng, Y, Tripicchio, G, Dyson, O, Stage, VC, Wong, SS
Nutrients. 2020;(9)
Abstract
The use of Extended Reality (XR) (i.e. Virtual and Augmented Reality) for nutrition education and behavior change has not been comprehensively reviewed. This paper presents findings from a scoping review of current published research. Articles (n = 92) were extracted from PubMed and Scopus using a structured search strategy and selection approach. Pertinent study information was extracted using a standardized data collection form. Each article was independently reviewed and coded by two members of the research team, who then met to resolve any coding discrepancies. There is an increasing trend in publication in this area, mostly regarding Virtual Reality. Most studies used developmental testing in a lab setting, employed descriptive or observational methods, and focused on momentary behavior change like food selection rather than education. The growth and diversity of XR studies suggest the potential of this approach. There is a need and opportunity for more XR technology focused on children and other foundational theoretical determinants of behavior change to be addressed within nutrition education. Our findings suggest that XR technology is a burgeoning approach in the field of nutrition, but important gaps remain, including inadequate methodological rigor, community application, and assessment of the impact on dietary behaviors.
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Achieving Dietary Sodium Recommendations and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention through Culinary Medicine Education.
Razavi, AC, Dyer, A, Jones, M, Sapin, A, Caraballo, G, Nace, H, Dotson, K, Razavi, MA, Harlan, TS
Nutrients. 2020;(12)
Abstract
Sodium-reduction initiatives have been a cornerstone of preventing hypertension and broader atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) since the early 1970s. For nearly 50 years, public health and clinical guidelines have concentrated on consumer education, behavioral change, and, to a lesser extent, food policy to help reduce sodium intake among Americans. While these efforts undoubtedly helped improve awareness, average sodium consumption remains at approximately 4200 mg/day in men and 3000 mg/day in women, well above the United States Dietary Guidelines of 2300 mg/day. Culinary medicine is an emerging discipline in clinical and public-health education that provides healthcare professionals and community members with food-based knowledge and skills. With the hands-on teaching of kitchen education to individuals, culinary medicine provides eaters with tangible strategies for reducing sodium through home cooking. Here, we review opportunities for culinary medicine to help improve both individual- and population-level sodium-reduction outcomes through five main areas: increasing adherence to a plant-forward dietary pattern, food literacy, the enhancement of complementary flavors, disease-specific teaching-kitchen modules, and the delivery of culturally specific nutrition education. Through this process, we hope to further underline the value of formal, hands-on teaching-kitchen education among healthcare professionals and community members for ASCVD prevention.
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A scoping review of evaluation frameworks and their applicability to real-world physical activity and dietary change programme evaluation.
Fynn, JF, Hardeman, W, Milton, K, Jones, AP
BMC public health. 2020;(1):1000
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity and dietary change programmes play a central role in addressing public health priorities. Programme evaluation contributes to the evidence-base about these programmes; and helps justify and inform policy, programme and funding decisions. A range of evaluation frameworks have been published, but there is uncertainty about their usability and applicability to different programmes and evaluation objectives, and the extent to which they are appropriate for practitioner-led or researcher-led evaluation. This review appraises the frameworks that may be applicable to evaluation of physical activity and/or dietary change programmes, and develops a typology of the frameworks to help guide decision making by practitioners, commissioners and evaluators. METHODS A scoping review approach was used. This included a systematic search and consultation with evaluation experts to identify evaluation frameworks and to develop a set of evaluation components to appraise them. Data related to each framework's general characteristics and components were extracted. This was used to construct a typology of the frameworks based on their intended programme type, evaluation objective and format. Each framework was then mapped against the evaluation components to generate an overview of the guidance included within each framework. RESULTS The review identified 71 frameworks. These were described variously in terms of purpose, content, or applicability to different programme contexts. The mapping of frameworks highlighted areas of overlap and strengths and limitations in the available guidance. Gaps within the frameworks which may warrant further development included guidance on participatory approaches, non-health and unanticipated outcomes, wider contextual and implementation factors, and sustainability. CONCLUSIONS Our typology and mapping signpost to frameworks where guidance on specific components can be found, where there is overlap, and where there are gaps in the guidance. Practitioners and evaluators can use these to identify, agree upon and apply appropriate frameworks. Researchers can use them to identify evaluation components where there is already guidance available and where further development may be useful. This should help focus research efforts where it is most needed and promote the uptake and use of evaluation frameworks in practice to improve the quality of evaluation and reporting.
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School Health Program: Impacting Physical Activity Behaviors Among Disadvantaged Students.
Dai, CL
The Journal of school health. 2019;(6):468-475
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are more apt to experience lower availability of nutritious foods, lack opportunities to exercise, and lack access to recreational facilities, and thus, are more likely to be obese and at greater risk for developing chronic diseases. We review school health education programs' impact on physical activity behaviors among disadvantaged students. METHODS The inclusion criteria of the study were articles: published in English with full text between 2011 and 2017; focused on school health education programs for disadvantaged school-aged students; assessed programs including a physical activity component; examined school-aged children and adolescents' physical activity behaviors; and assessed programs with comparison groups. RESULTS There were 13 studies matching inclusion criteria in this review. The results of this review indicated that school-based health education programs which included culturally appropriate physical activity, parent involvement, and enhanced student motivation and choice of activities appeared to increase physical activity levels among disadvantaged school-aged students. Health education programs should also emphasize behavioral change skills, such as goal setting and self-motivation, to positively impact on students' physical activity behaviors. CONCLUSIONS School-based health education programs may help increase access to physical activity among disadvantaged populations.
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National policies to prevent obesity in early childhood: Using policy mapping to compare policy lessons for Australia with six developed countries.
Esdaile, E, Thow, AM, Gill, T, Sacks, G, Golley, R, Love, P, Wen, LM, Rissel, C
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 2019;(11):1542-1556
Abstract
Interventions for obesity prevention in early childhood (first 5 years of life) are likely to have a significant preventive health impact. This mapping review identified recommended policy options for the Australian Federal Government (AFG) by comparing countries with similar population, income, and language to Australia. Policies were mapped in six countries using two matrices. The first matrix examined policy context, describing obesity prevention governance. The second matrix examined policy content, compared with global recommendations. Policies were grouped into downstream (healthcare), midstream (lifestyle and settings), and upstream (determinants of health, including food and built environments). Results identified variance in obesity governance across the six countries including policy coherence, leadership, institutional drivers, and overlapping responsibility across different levels of government. While countries tended to have more downstream or midstream policies, upstream policies were more likely when countries had invested in system-wide approaches to obesity such as developing a national obesity strategy, having separate food/nutrition and physical activity plans, and a dedicated preventive health agency. This study recommends a range of initiatives for the AFG to strengthen policies for the prevention of obesity in early childhood, including prioritising the development of a national food/nutrition strategy.
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Potential interventions targeting adolescent nutrition in Indonesia: a literature review.
Oddo, VM, Roshita, A, Rah, JH
Public health nutrition. 2019;(1):15-27
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to take stock of nutrition interventions that warrant consideration as a minimum package of interventions in Indonesia to improve four key nutrition indicators for adolescents: stunting, thinness, overweight and anaemia. DESIGN We conducted a review of the peer-reviewed literature published between 1995 and 2017 on nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions that target adolescents in Indonesia. The search to identify studies was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar and EMBASE, using key search terms. We also explored programmatic and policy documents from the grey literature as they related to adolescents and/or Indonesia. Our search yielded thirty-five peer-reviewed articles and programmatic documents. SETTING Indonesia. SUBJECTS Adolescent girls and boys. RESULTS There is very limited evidence on the impact of interventions specifically among adolescents in Indonesia. Nevertheless, findings from our review suggest the minimum package of interventions in Indonesia could include the following nutrition-specifc interventions: (i) iron-folic acid supplements, paired with antihelminths delivered at scale via school-based platforms and through health centres; and (ii) diet counselling and nutrition education provided through school-based platforms, adolescent youth centres/peer education and technology-based platforms. The minimum package could also include the following nutrition-sensitive interventions: (i) improving access to reproductive health services; and (ii) increasing the coverage of interventions designed to increase school attendance. CONCLUSIONS Programmes and policies targeting adolescent nutrition are relatively new and coverage is low. To improve the nutritional status of this vulnerable population, additional evaluations of adolescent programming and surveillance data on adolescents are needed.
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Addressing Obesity in Aging Patients.
Batsis, JA, Zagaria, AB
The Medical clinics of North America. 2018;(1):65-85
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Abstract
Obesity in older adults affects not only morbidity and mortality but, importantly, quality of life and the risk of institutionalization. Weight loss interventions can effectively lead to improved physical function. Diet-alone interventions can detrimentally affect muscle and bone physiology and, without interventions to affect these elements, can lead to adverse outcomes. Understanding social and nutritional issues facing older adults is of utmost importance to primary care providers. This article will also discuss the insufficient evidence related to pharmacotherapy as well as providing an overview of using physiologic rather than chronologic age for identifying suitable candidates for bariatric surgery.