Anastasia Snelling

Food Insecurity among Community College Students: Prevalence and Association with Grade Point Average.

This study investigated the prevalence of food insecurity among community college students (N = 301) and the relationship between food insecurity and student grade point average (GPA). It employed a cross-sectional intercept survey, utilizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Household Food Security Survey Module, student self-reported GPA, and demographic variables. The research setting was two community colleges in Maryland—one located in a low income urban area and one located in an affluent suburban area. Results demonstrate that 56% of the students in the overall sample were classified as food insecure. Students at higher risk of food insecurity included those who reported living alone and those who reported being single parents. Students identifying themselves as African American or as multiracial were also at increased risk for food insecurity. Food insecure students were more likely than food secure students to report a lower GPA (2.0–2.49) versus a higher GPA (3.5–4.0). Data suggest that food insecurity is an issue for a large percentage of the community college student sample. Food insecurity may have adverse effects on student academic performance and is a factor to be considered by college administrators, faculty, and students.

The Impact of Nutrition Standards on Competitive Food Offerings and Purchasing Behaviors of High School Students

BACKGROUND With adolescent obesity rates on the rise, the school food environment is receiving closer scrutiny. This study looks at the effects of nutrient standards as part of a wellness policy that was implemented in 3 public high schools in 1 county, by analyzing the nutritional value of competitive food offerings and purchases before and after the development of the standards. METHODS All food offerings and purchases were labeled based on their nutritional density using a stoplight approach of green, yellow, and red colors for the pre- and post- period. The stoplight approach to ranking foods is on a continuum of nutrient density, with green foods being the healthiest choices and red foods offering minimal nutrient density. RESULTS Results showed that after the implementation of the standards, red foods made up 30% of offerings, down from 48% of offerings prior to the existence of the guidelines. The proportion of red food purchases also decreased, from 83% to 47%. Additionally, yellow food offerings increased from 18% to 48% and purchases increased from 6% to 34%. CONCLUSION Results indicate that the nutrient standards as part of the wellness policy contributed to a positive shift in the nutritional value of competitive food purchases and offerings.

Development and Validation of a Stages of Change Algorithm for Calcium Intake for College Female Students

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a staging algorithm for calcium intake. Methods: Three hundred seventy-six college-aged females at a private university were randomly selected to participate. After 8.5% of the data were omitted due to incomplete surveys, the sample consisted of 344 female participants. Calcium intake was measured as self-reported consumption with a 26-item food frequency questionnaire. Stages of change classifications were based on a four-item algorithm for calcium intake, and self-efficacy was measured with three items. Results: Significant differences were found between calcium intake levels between precontemplation, contemplation/preparation and action/maintenance. Results also showed that 40% of the participants were in action/maintenance and were consuming the Dietary Reference Intake level of 1,000 mg of daily calcium. Participants in the action and maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy than the preaction group. Conclusion: The study suggests that the stages of change algorithm may be used as an effective tool in assessing daily calcium intake among a college female population.

Associations between Grades and Physical Activity and Food Choices: Results from YRBS from a Large Urban School District.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between television viewing time, physical activity level, food consumption patterns, and academic performance of adolescents in a large urban school district in the USA where health disparities are prevalent, particularly among minority residents. Design/methodology/approach – The 2010 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was used to analyze the relationship between academic grades and physical activity patterns and food consumption in a large urban school district serving over 77,000 students. Findings – Results indicated that students who self-reported grades of As and Bs had higher levels of physical activity and less screen time compared to students who reported grades of Ds and Fs. Further, as grades decreased the consumption of soda and fast food increased. Originality/value – Higher grades track significantly with improved physical activity and lower intake of soda and fast food. These findings provide additional support for the role of regul...

The Effect of Nutrient‐Based Standards on Competitive Foods in 3 Schools: Potential Savings in Kilocalories and Grams of Fat

BACKGROUND The study investigated how nutrient standards affected the number of kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat in competitive foods offered and sold in 3 high schools. METHODS The study is a quasi-experimental design with 3 schools serving as the units of assignment and analysis. The effect of the nutrient standards was measured by the change in kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat in offerings and purchases of competitive foods pre- and postimplementation of the standards. A paired sample t-test was used to compare kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat pre- and postimplementation of nutrition standards. RESULTS After the implementation of the nutrition standards, students in 3 high schools purchased significantly smaller numbers of kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat, during the postpolicy school year of 2007-2008 than during the prepolicy school year of 2004-2005. CONCLUSION Using nutrient standards to guide the selection of competitive foods offered in school cafeterias may positively affect intake of kilocalories, total grams of fat, and total saturated fat of those foods. The quantitative assessment is novel and demonstrates the reduction in kilocalories and fat in both the competitive food offerings and purchases as a result of nutrient standards.

A mobile farmers’ market brings nutrition education to low-income students

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of a nutrition-education intervention delivered at low-income middle schools in Washington, DC in the USA, using a mobile farmers’ market to bring hands-on lessons to schools. The program was a partnership between a local farm and university and was funded by the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition grant. Design/methodology/approach – Seven low-income middle schools received the intervention, which included 45-minute lessons focussed on nutrition education and sustainable farming concepts. The farmers’ market was delivered via a converted school bus, allowing for full market setup at each school to provide local fruits and vegetables as teaching tools. The nutrition-education lesson focussed on the USDA MyPlate and healthy meal planning. The farm education component focussed on organic farming principles, sustainability of local food systems, and seasonality. A six question pre- and post-survey was administered to 408 ...

A Marketing Strategy for a Campus Wellness Program

Abstract A strategic marketing plan was created for an east coast university campus wellness program serving over 12,000 students, faculty, and staff, to include three major program objectives: (1) to increase program awareness and name recognition, (2) to aid in recruitment and enrollment of program participants, and (3) to increase the profit margin by 100 percent. Moreover, a marketing philosophy, marketing goals, demographic analysis, mass segmentation, and marketing strategy analysis were established as components in the strategic plan. In addition to the various media vehicles employed in marketing strategies, several marketing techniques adapted and employed in this strategic plan to accomplish these objectives including: (1) LIFE Enhancement Leaders; specially trained groups of peer educators serving as liaisons to the academic departments and dormitories, (2) a Guest Speaker Series held at various locations on campus, and (3) evening and weekend wellness workshops and screening clinics. As a resu...

Teachers as role models in solving childhood obesity

The rise in childhood obesity has led policymakers to target schools and school districts to take a leadership role in addressing this epidemic. As such, teachers must be prepared to address the complex nature of childhood obesity through nu- trition and health education. This paper outlines how teachers have the potential to be agents of change in schools thereby cre- ating a culture of health within the school environment. Through professional development workshops and employee wellness programs, teachers have the opportunity to learn the knowledge and skills needed to promote health resulting in teachers being role models of healthy behaviors and integrating health concepts into daily instruction. The purpose of this study was to assess the beliefs and self-efficacy of classroom teachers before and after a professional development program focused on aligning nutrition lessons with district learning standards in an urban middle school. The school faculty was exposed to a minimal in- tervention designed to align nutrition and health standards to core curriculum learning standards. As a result of this program, teachers showed significant changes in their beliefs in the intersection of health and learning and improved their self-efficacy for delivering health and nutrition education aligned to existing learning standards. This project presents the promise that teachers can develop the confidence and conviction to include health across the curriculum and positively impact student and teacher health outcomes.

Translating school health research to policy. School outcomes related to the health environment and changes in mathematics achievement

This paper describes an exploration of the relationship between mathematic achievement and the school health environment relative to policy-driven changes in the school setting, specifically with regard to physical education/physical activity. Using school-level data, the authors seek to understand the relationship between mathematics achievement and the school health environment and physical education minutes. This work provides a description of the aspects of the school health environment, an exploration of the interrelationships between school health and student achievement, and an assessment of the effects of the school health policy and practice on student performance and health status. Based on these findings, we identify additional research necessary to describe the relationship between obesity and learning in children.

Health promotion overview: evidence-based strategies for occupational health nursing practice.

Health promotion practice has evolved over the past four decades in response to the rising rates of chronic disease. The focus of health promotion is attaining wellness by managing modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, diet, or physical activity. Occupational health nurses are often asked to conduct worksite health promotion programs for individuals or groups, yet may be unfamiliar with evidence-based strategies. Occupational health nurses should lead interprofessional groups in designing and implementing worksite health promotion programs. This article introduces occupational health nurses to health promotion concepts and discusses evidence-based theories and planning models that can be easily introduced into practice.