Mary Cluskey

College Weight Gain and Behavior Transitions: Male and Female Differences

College-student weight gain has been well-documented. However, little is known about the sex differences in weight gain and related behaviors during the transition to college. A repeated-measure study design was used to reveal measured weight changes from October to December 2005 among male and female college students. Three-hundred seventy-nine college students (60% males) participated in both weight assessments and revealed weight gains occurring early in college. Weight gains were found to be of greater incidence and magnitude among college males in the study. More than 25% of both college males and females gained >2.3 kg body weight in an 8-week period. Females starting the study with overweight and obese body mass index (calculated as kg/m(2)) scores were less likely to gain than either obese or overweight body mass index males or low to healthy body mass index students of both sexes. A life-course perspective was used to analyze focus group discussions conducted among students who participated in the weight assessments and explored their perceptions of the transition in eating and exercise behaviors when coming to college. Students described struggles in adapting healthful eating and exercise behaviors to college life. Comments indicated that while college student activity levels differed from the past, there was consistent agreement that eating healthful diets was perceived to be a greater challenge in the transition to college. Male students were less concerned about weight and used fewer strategies to control weight gain than females. More work is needed to understand the transition of behaviors and in developing healthful lifestyles during college.

Influence of Parenting Practices on Eating Behaviors of Early Adolescents during Independent Eating Occasions: Implications for Obesity Prevention

Among early adolescents (10–14 years), poor diet quality along with physical inactivity can contribute to an increased risk of obesity and associated biomarkers for chronic disease. Approximately one-third of United States (USA) children in this age group are overweight or obese. Therefore, attention to factors affecting dietary intake as one of the primary contributors to obesity is important. Early adolescents consume foods and beverages during eating occasions that occur with and without parental supervision. Parents may influence eating behaviors of early adolescents during eating occasions when they are present or during independent eating occasions by engaging in practices that affect availability of foods and beverages, and through perceived normative beliefs and expectations for intake. Therefore, the purpose of this article was to describe the influence of parenting practices on eating behaviors in general and when specifically applied to independent eating occasions of early adolescents. This information may be helpful to inform parenting interventions targeting obesity prevention among early adolescents focusing on independent eating occasions.

A Preliminary Investigation of the Food Intake Patterns and Beliefs Among Independent Living Elderly Residents in a Continuing Care Retirement Center

Abstract A study investigating the food intake patterns and beliefs among independent living residents in one continuing care retirement community in the Pacific Northwest, in which resident meals are provided. Three hundred and fifty-five participants were surveyed using a food frequency instrument and a series of questions about meal patterns and beliefs. Data gathered represented an 85% response rate and indicates that food intakes among the residents are good when compared to other studies of older Americans. The results suggest similar or better intakes among the very old (85+) in this community.

Image-Based Dietary Assessment Ability of Dietetics Students and Interns

Image-based dietary assessment (IBDA) may improve the accuracy of dietary assessments, but no formalized training currently exists for skills relating to IBDA. This study investigated nutrition and dietetics students’ and interns’ IBDA abilities, the training and experience factors that may contribute to food identification and quantification accuracy, and the perceived challenges to performing IBDA. An online survey containing images of known foods and serving sizes representing common American foods was used to assess the ability to identify foods and serving sizes. Nutrition and dietetics students and interns from the United States and Australia (n = 114) accurately identified foods 79.5% of the time. Quantification accuracy was lower, with only 38% of estimates within ±10% of the actual weight. Foods of amorphous shape or higher energy density had the highest percent error. Students expressed general difficulty with perceiving serving sizes, making IBDA food quantification more difficult. Experience cooking at home from a recipe, frequent measuring of portions, and having a food preparation or cooking laboratory class were associated with enhanced accuracy in IBDA. Future training of dietetics students should incorporate more food-based serving size training to improve quantification accuracy while performing IBDA, while advances in IBDA technology are also needed.

Field testing a questionnaire assessing parental psychosocial factors related to consumption of calcium-rich foods by Hispanic, Asian, and Non-Hispanic white young adolescent children.

ABSTRACT Intervention strategies to increase calcium intake of parents and young adolescent children could be improved by identifying psychosocial factors influencing intake. The objective was to develop a tool to assess factors related to calcium intake among parents and Hispanic, Asian, and non-Hispanic white young adolescent children (10–13 years) meeting acceptable standards for psychometric properties. A parent questionnaire was constructed from interviews conducted to identify factors. Parents (n = 166) in the United States completed the questionnaire, with seventy-one completing it twice. Two constructs (Attitudes/Preferences and Social/Environmental) were identified and described by eighteen subscales with Cronbach’s alpha levels from .50 to .79. Test-retest coefficients ranged from .68 to .85 (p < .001). Several subscales were statistically significantly associated with parent characteristics consistent with theory and published literature. This tool shows promise as a valid and reliable measure of factors associated with calcium-rich food intake among parents and young adolescent children.

Evaluation of emotion-based messages designed to motivate Hispanic and Asian parents of early adolescents to engage in calcium-rich food and beverage parenting practices.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Setting healthful beverage expectations, making calcium-rich foods and beverages (CRF/B) available, and role modeling are parenting practices promoting calcium intake among early adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate emotion-based messages designed to motivate parents of early adolescents to perform these practices. SUBJECTS/METHODS Emotion-based messages were developed for each parenting practice and tested in 35 parents from 5 states. Findings were used to modify messages and develop a survey administered via Amazon MechanicalTurk to a convenience sample of Asian (n = 166) and Hispanic (n = 184) parents of children 10-13 years. Main outcome measures were message comprehension, motivation, relevance, acceptability, and novelty. Engagement in the parenting practices was also assessed. RESULTS Message comprehension was acceptable for the majority of parents. Most also agreed that messages were motivational (setting healthful beverage expectations (69.0%), making CRF/B available (67.4%), and role modeling (80.0%)), relevant and acceptable. About 30-50% indicated they had not seen the information before. Many parents indicated they were already engaging in the practices (> 70%). No racial/ethnic differences were observed for responses to messages or engaging in parenting practices. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that emotion-based messages designed to motivate parents to engage in parenting practices that promote calcium intake among early adolescents were motivating, relevant, and acceptable.

Sensory Acceptance and Satiation Potential of Barley Flakes as a Breakfast Cereal Replacement for Oatmeal

Barley flakes contain higher levels of soluble fiber than oatmeal and can be prepared in a similar manner, giving barley greater satiating and disease reduction potential than oatmeal. However, barley is not commonly consumed as a breakfast cereal, and it is unknown if consumers would accept barley as an oatmeal substitute or how much satiating potential barley offers versus oatmeal. To examine these questions, subjects were enrolled in a crossover study, consuming two meals at least one week apart that were identical except for being served either barley or oatmeal as a breakfast cereal. Subjects came in during breakfast hours after an overnight fast and rated the sensory characteristics of the cereals, both plain and with preferred toppings added. Subjects rated satiety on a visual analog scale before and after consuming the cereal and every half hour during the 4 hr fast that followed and then recorded their next meal. We found no evidence of a difference in preference for sensory characteristics betwe...

Strategies for Enhancing Food Intake Among the Eldelry in Long-Term Care Facilities

Abstract The extent of use and perceived effectiveness of food intake enhancement strategies were studied using a mailed survey instrument. Operational obstacles to the use of strategies and training used to prepare staff in using feeding strategies were also studied. A total of 311 questionnaires listing seventeen strategies for enhancing food intake among the elderly were mailed to two target populations: (I) Directors of Nursing Service (DONs) and (2) Consultant Registered Dietitians (RDs) in the Pacific region. DONs most frequently use improving the dining room environment, optimal positioning of resident and providing liquid supplements to enhance intake among the elderly in long-term care. Registered Dietitians more frequently use offering snacks, adding nutrients to food and the use of liquid supplements for enhancing intake and less often focus on strategies related to actual feeding. The results revealed that the frequency of use of feeding strategies does not necessarily mean that they are perceived to be effective DONs and RDs frequently use or recommend most strategies, but doubt the effectiveness of many. Significant differences in the use and perceived effectiveness of strategies between DONs and RDs were also found. DONs more frequently use liquid supplements, specialized feeding utensils, and simple verbal prompts to eat (p