Farryl Bertmann

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Food Insecurity, Dietary Quality, and Obesity Among US Adults

OBJECTIVES We examined whether Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation changes associations between food insecurity, dietary quality, and weight among US adults. METHODS We analyzed adult dietary intake data (n = 8333) from the 2003 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Bivariate and multivariable methods assessed associations of SNAP participation and 4 levels of food security with diet and weight. Measures of dietary quality were the Healthy Eating Index 2010, total caloric intake, empty calories, and solid fat; weight measures were body mass index (BMI), overweight, and obesity. RESULTS SNAP participants with marginal food security had lower BMI (1.83 kg/m2; P < .01) and lower probability of obesity (9 percentage points; P < .05). SNAP participants with marginal (3.46 points; P < .01), low (1.98 points; P < .05), and very low (3.84 points; P < .01) food security had better diets, as illustrated by the Healthy Eating Index. Associations between SNAP participation and improved diet and weight were stronger among Whites than Blacks and Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS Our research highlights the role of SNAP in helping individuals who are at risk for food insecurity to obtain a healthier diet and better weight status.

Women, Infants, and Children Cash Value Voucher (CVV) Use in Arizona: A Qualitative Exploration of Barriers and Strategies Related to Fruit and Vegetable Purchases

OBJECTIVE Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) cash value vouchers (CVV) have been inconsistently redeemed in Arizona. The objective of this study was to explore perceived barriers to use of CVV as well as strategies participants use to overcome them. DESIGN Eight focus groups were conducted to explore attitudes and behaviors related to CVV use. SETTING Focus groups were conducted at 2 WIC clinics in metro-Phoenix, AZ. PARTICIPANTS Participants in WIC who were at least 18 years of age and primarily responsible for buying and preparing food for their households. PHENOMENON OF INTEREST Perceived barriers to CVV use and strategies used to maximize their purchasing value. ANALYSIS Transcripts were analyzed using a general inductive approach to identify emergent themes. RESULTS Among 41 participants, multiple perceived barriers emerged, such as negative interactions in stores or confusion over WIC rules. Among experienced shoppers, WIC strategies also emerged to deal with barriers and maximize CVV value, including strategic choice of times and locations at which to shop and use of price-matching, rewards points, and other ways to increase purchasing power. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Arizona WIC participants perceived barriers that limit easy redemption of CVV. Useful strategies were also identified that could be important to explore further to improve WIC CVV purchasing experiences.

The role of food insecurity in developmental psychopathology

Food security is a condition achieved when all members of a household have access to adequate food at all times for a healthy, active lifestyle. As of 2014, 14% of households in the United States were food insecure. Previous research has suggested that household food insecurity is associated with numerous adverse medical and psychosocial outcomes across the lifespan. In this narrative review, we examine current research on food insecurity, specifically as it relates to child psychopathology and risk factors thereof: namely, parental mental illness and poor diet and metabolic health. Moreover, we begin to speculate about behavioral and physiological mechanisms by which these conditions may influence one another, and discuss possible interventions through enhanced screening and treatment, parent training, and provision of high quality foods to vulnerable households. Further research is needed to the effects of child and parental mental health on metabolic outcomes in families with food insecurity.

Predictors of fat mass changes in response to aerobic exercise training in women

Abstract Sawyer, BJ, Bhammar, DM, Angadi, SS, Ryan, DM, Ryder, JR, Sussman, EJ, Bertmann, FMW, and Gaesser, GA. Predictors of fat mass changes in response to aerobic exercise training in women. J Strength Cond Res 29(2): 297–304, 2015—Aerobic exercise training in women typically results in minimal fat loss, with considerable individual variability. We hypothesized that women with higher baseline body fat would lose more body fat in response to exercise training and that early fat loss would predict final fat loss. Eighty-one sedentary premenopausal women (age: 30.7 ± 7.8 years; height: 164.5 ± 7.4 cm; weight: 68.2 ± 16.4 kg; fat percent: 38.1 ± 8.8) underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry before and after 12 weeks of supervised treadmill walking 3 days per week for 30 minutes at 70% of . Overall, women did not lose body weight or fat mass. However, considerable individual variability was observed for changes in body weight (−11.7 to +4.8 kg) and fat mass (−11.8 to +3.7 kg). Fifty-five women were classified as compensators and, as a group, gained fat mass (25.6 ± 11.1 kg to 26.1 ± 11.3 kg; p < 0.001). The strongest correlates of change in body fat at 12 weeks were change in body weight (r = 0.52) and fat mass (r = 0.48) at 4 weeks. Stepwise regression analysis that included change in body weight and body fat at 4 weeks and submaximal exercise energy expenditure yielded a prediction model that explained 37% of the variance in fat mass change (R 2 = 0.37, p < 0.001). Change in body weight and fat mass at 4 weeks were moderate predictors of fat loss and may potentially be useful for identification of individuals who achieve less than expected weight loss or experience unintended fat gain in response to exercise training.

Auxiliary measures to assess factors related to food insecurity: Preliminary testing and baseline characteristics of newly designed hunger-coping scales.

The objective of this paper is to describe the development and preliminary testing of new scales to assess hunger-coping behaviors in a very low-income population. Very low-income adults (≥ 19 years), caregivers to at least one child (n = 306) completed a survey in a community setting (e.g., libraries). The survey included novel items assessing hunger-coping behaviors (e.g., trade-offs to purchase food, strategies to stretch and obtain food), food insecurity status, and physiological hunger. Internal consistency of hunger-coping scales, one-way ANOVAs, post-hoc analyses, Spearmans correlations among variables. Respondents were 75% female, 51% African American, 34% White, and 15% Hispanic, and 73% earned <

An Examination of Organizational and Statewide Needs to Increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation

20,000/year. Four scales emerged: hunger-coping trade-offs, financial coping strategies, rationing coping strategies, and physiological adult hunger symptoms. All scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α/KR-20 = 0.70–0.90). Predictive, construct, and content validity were demonstrated by correlations between hunger-coping scales and food insecurity (FI), measured with the USDA 6-item HFSSM (rs = 0.42–0.68, ps < 0.001). Higher levels of hunger-coping trade-offs (F(2,297) = 42.54, p < 0.001), financial coping strategies (F(2,287) = 70.77, p < 0.001), and rationing coping strategies (F(2,284) = 69.19, p < 0.001), corresponded with increasing levels of FI. These preliminary results support use of newly developed hunger-coping scales in a very low-income population and can compliment traditional food security measures to inform hunger prevention policy and programming.

Factors Associated With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Among the Working Poor: Findings From 2012 American Community Survey

This study examined Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach efforts among representatives of community organizations, as well as local and statewide needs for increasing SNAP participation. We conducted qualitative interviews with 34 SNAP outreach workers across 27 states; participants reported working at food banks, social services agencies, antihunger nonprofits, legal aid agencies, faith-based nonprofits, and health clinics. Four major needs emerged as themes for community-level organizations: increased personnel, increased funding, improved application process, and increased community awareness. For broader, statewide needs, 3 themes emerged: increased staffing of state caseworkers, decreased stigma and negative perceptions, and improved application processing capacity and infrastructure. The findings of this qualitative study suggest that community organizations and state SNAP-administering offices should work together more closely to share best practices, improve SNAP application-related technology, and develop tailored outreach plans.

What Factors Influence SNAP Participation? Literature Reflecting Enrollment in Food Assistance Programs From a Social and Behavioral Science Perspective

ABSTRACT The goal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is to assist food insecure households by providing federally allocated funds to increase purchasing power and ultimately achieve a more nutritious diet; however, working poor households tend to be underserved by SNAP. This study identified factors associated with SNAP participation in a nationally representative sample of the working poor (adults with household incomes ≤ 130% of the poverty level who worked 27 or more weeks during the year). Data were from the 2012 American Community Survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine independent factors associated with SNAP participation. Adjusting for all other factors and state of residence, those more likely to participate in SNAP included those who were women; younger; non-Hispanic black or Hispanic; separated/divorced; less educated; U.S. citizens; English-speaking; disabled; with no health insurance; on government health plan; moved within the past year; lived in household with no access to a vehicle; paid more for electricity; multigenerational; and those who had at least one child member or one or more elderly members (P < .05, for each). SNAP outreach and policy may be more effective by targeting the working poor, specifically segments of the population who are less likely to participate in SNAP.

A workplace farmstand pilot programme in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

ABSTRACT Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation has been demonstrated to improve household food insecurity, yet not all those who are eligible for the program participate. This article describes findings from both peer-reviewed and grey literature pertaining to factors that influence SNAP participation. SNAP participation has demonstrated benefits for low-income individuals and families for improving dietary intake, reducing food insecurity, and ultimately providing one strategy to alleviate poverty. The findings are described with a social science and behavioral lens in order to glean public health implications and recommendations from a broad array of literature. Factors influencing SNAP participation across the social–ecological model are discussed. Macro- and microlevel recommendations are made and actions applicable in targeted outreach, program, and organizational strategies are recommended.

Role of Breast Milk and Breastfeeding within the Context of a Sustainable, Resilient Food System

OBJECTIVE To explore the feasibility of a workplace farmstand programme through the utilization of an online ordering system to build awareness for local food systems, encourage community participation, and increase local fruit and vegetable availability. DESIGN A 4-week pilot to explore feasibility of workplace farmstand programmes through a variety of outcome measures, including survey, mode of sale, weekly sales totals and intercept interviews. SETTING A large private company in Sarpy County, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. SUBJECTS Employees of the company hosting the farmstand programme. RESULTS Pre-programme, a majority of employees indicated that quality (95·4 %), variety (94·6 %) and cost of fruits and vegetables (86·4 %) were driving factors in their fruit and vegetable selection when shopping. The availability of locally or regionally produced fruits and vegetables was highly important (78·1 %). Participants varied in their definition of local food, with nearly half (49·2 %) reporting within 80·5 km (50 miles), followed by 160·9 km (100 miles; 29·5 %) and 321·9 km (200 miles; 12·1 %). Weekly farmstand purchases (both walk-ups and online orders) ranged from twenty-eight to thirty-nine employees, with weekly sales ranging from