Nutrition Commons^™

Food Insecurity And Depression Among Us Adults: The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Nicole Reeder

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity has long been a global challenge associated with negative health outcomes. The spectrum of food insecurity corresponds to a spectrum of negative health outcomes that range from kwashiorkor and marasmus to obesity and chronic disease. The burden of food insecurity is a stressor that additionally negatively effects mental health. In this study, the relationship between food insecurity and mental health was examined using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Food insecurity was assessed with the 18-item United States Food Security Survey Module, and participants were classified into one of four categories based on their …

Food Insecurity And Dietary Intake In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes In Southern Nevada, Elizabeth Torres

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background Type 2 diabetes is a major public health issue and food insecurity can affect diabetes management. Food insecurity can contribute to disrupted dietary eating patterns and decreased consumptions of a variety of foods. The aim of this observational study was to determine the difference in dietary intake between food insecure and food secure individuals with type 2 diabetes, as well as by glycemic control. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 55 participants were recruited from an academic endocrinology clinic. Participants completed a 7-day food diary, a household food security questionnaire, and assessment of blood biomarkers (HbA1c). To determine the differences …

Eat Well, Be Well: Basic Needs Initiative's Online Hub For Nutrition Education, Misha Moseley

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Basic Needs Initiative at California State University, Monterey Bay is a department that provides students with food, housing, and wellness resources. Over half of the university's students experience food insecurity, and over 85% use non-academic resources to learn about nutrition. This project adds a dietary health section to the department’s website to increase students’ access to nutrition education. It addresses the micro-level agency problem that too few students eat a healthy, balanced diet. Unhealthy eating is a risk factor for food insecurity, so the project indirectly addresses the macro-level health problem that too many college students in California experience food …

Food Assistance Use Among Food Bank Clients Affected By Type 2 Diabetes, Eliza Short, Jayati Sharma, Debbe I Thompson, Douglas Taren, Rhonda Gonzalez, Melanie Hingle

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: To understand the perspectives of food bank clients affected by type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Design: Semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with food bank clients.

Setting: Arizona regional food bank.

Participants: Twenty English- and Spanish-speaking food bank clients with T2DM or living with a person with T2DM, aged 45-83 years, majority female, Hispanic, and food insecure.

Phenomenon of interest: Food bank use and preferences, and how these related to T2DM management.

Analysis: A hybrid thematic analysis combining inductive and deductive reasoning.

Results: Three organizing themes emerged from the analysis. First, food assistance was influenced by food preferences and the ability to …

Senior Hunger In The Mountain West, 2019, Ally M. Beckwith, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet highlights data on senior hunger in the Mountain West region in 2019 as originally reported in Feeding America’s The State of Senior Hunger annual series. This report focuses on the extent of food insecurity among seniors in the United States. Seniors are defined as those who are 60 years of age or older.

Comparing The Effectiveness And Appeal Of Delivering A Pilot Text Message And An In-Person Whole Body Approach (Wba) Program To Northern Illinois Food Bank Clients., Ashley Rae Werner

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: The Whole-Body Approach (WBA) is a program created by Northern Illinois Food Bank in partnership with Northern Illinois University (NIU) Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate students and faculty. This program has been delivered over the course of six years to various food pantries around the Northern Illinois area and modified in response to participants’ feedback. The topics that are discussed throughout the program include stress management, relationship with food, mindful eating, healthy body image, and enjoyable movement. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was adapted to a delivered via text messages for Northern Illinois Food Bank My Pantry …

Using Poultry To Enhance Food Security In Stann Creek, Belize, Emily Spatz, Lisa S. Wood

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Food insecurity is a growing issue in developing and developed countries alike, and in countries like Belize, the prevalence of hunger has soared in recent years. Not having access to diets with sufficient calories and nutrients leads to a host of developmental issues, including stunting and cognitive delays. The purpose of this work was to create an all-encompassing manual for small-scale poultry production in order to provide nourishment for the students and staff of a school in Belize. After determining that the best way to meet the school’s needs was through dual-purpose birds, background research was conducted to determine small-scale …

Leveraging Community Health Workers’ Expertise In The Community To Address Food Insecurity In Appalachia, Alexis Kimbro Scott

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Residents of the Appalachian region of Kentucky are disproportionately affected by poor social determinants of health that contribute to the persistence of food insecurity and diet related diseases in this region. Poverty levels persist in rural areas of the Appalachian region while they improve throughout the rest of the United States. As this further perpetuates food insecurity in rural Appalachia, it is critical to identify culturally sensitive solutions to food insecurity. Utilizing Community Health Workers (CHWs), lay members of the community who have deep understanding of the communities they live in and serve, may be the answer to this problem. …

The Effect On Incorporating Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Into An Emergency Food Box Program In Rural Appalachia Kentucky, Zixuan Li

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

About 1 in 8 Kentuckians experiencing food insecurity. Low-income Appalachian Kentuckians often utilize food assistance programs and community resources to obtain food and they have lack regular access to fresh food, especially fruits and vegetables. Of concern is nutrition quality and the ability to use food items. The study aimed to explore if and how low-income Appalachian Kentuckians living in a food desert utilized their standard food pantry box as well as a supplemental box of free fresh produce. The study was done through distribution of supplemental fruit and vegetable boxes along with their emergency food box seven different times …

Intuitive Eating Behaviors Among A Sample Of Food Secure And Food Insecure College Students, Morgan Stocker, Christin Seher Phd, Rdn, Ld

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Intuitive Eating (IE) is a food mindset focusing on honoring hunger and fullness, while rejecting the diet mentality. Research demonstrates a clear link between IE and health outcomes across many populations, including college students. Despite a growing body of literature, we still know very little about what complexities food insecurity may present for individuals trying to adopt IE behaviors. This study builds off prior research to investigate IE behaviors in food insecure and food secure students through a Qualtrics survey utilizing the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Six-Item Short Form to determine food …

Policy Implications Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Food Security In Rural America: Evidence From Appalachia, Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Emily M. Dewitt, Rachel Gillespie, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Janet T. Mullins

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Rural communities are disproportionally affected by food insecurity, making them vulnerable to the consequences of supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While access to food was initially diminished due to food supply disruptions, little is known about the mechanisms through which federal emergency assistance programs impacted food access in rural populations. Through a series of five focus groups in spring 2021, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in a rural Appalachian community in Kentucky. Data were analyzed using a Grounded Theory Approach. Findings revealed the following four primary themes: food scarcity in grocery stores; …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Food Distribution At Emergency Food Assistance Organizations In The Southwestern United States: A Qualitative Investigation, Alexandra N Castro, Mamie A White, Ariun Ishdorj, Debbe Thompson, Jayna M Dave

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

This study aimed to identify changes in food distribution operations at emergency food assistance organizations (EFAOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. EFAOs across the Houston metro area, TX (human service centers and food pantries) as well as the Houston Food Bank (HFB) participated in the qualitative study. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews and focus group (December 2020–February 2021), and coded using semi-structured thematic analysis. Categories were pre-identified based on the interview questions. Direct quotes supported subcategories. Directors from 18 EFAOs were interviewed; 8 HFB leadership staff participated in a focus group. Four major categories of change due to COVID-19 …

College Student Sleep Quality And Mental And Physical Health Are Associated With Food Insecurity In A Multi-Campus Study, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Melissa D. Olfert, Lillian Macnell, Bailey Houghtaling, Lanae B. Hood, Mateja R. Savoie Roskos, Jeannine R. Goetz, Valerie Kern-Lyons, Linda L. Knol, Georgianna R. Mann, Monica K. Esquivel, Adam Hege, Jennifer Walsh, Keith Pearson, Maureen Berner, Jessica Soldavini, Elizabeth T. Anderson-Steeves, Marsha Spence, Christopher Paul

Faculty and Student Publications

Objective: To assess the relationship between food insecurity, sleep quality, and days with mental and physical health issues among college students. Design: An online survey was administered. Food insecurity was assessed using the ten-item Adult Food Security Survey Module. Sleep was measured using the nineteen-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Mental health and physical health were measured using three items from the Healthy Days Core Module. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess the relationship between food insecurity, sleep quality, and days with poor mental and physical health. Setting: Twenty-two higher education institutions. Participants: College students (n 17 686) enrolled …

The Correlation Between Dietary Intake, Stress, Food Insecurity, Physical Activity, Sleep, And Screen Time In College Students During Covid-19, Mariana Alves Olguin

Theses & Dissertations

College students with high stress levels are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors, which may negatively impact their health. During COVID-19, college student’s lives were disrupted on multiple levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary intake, perceived stress, food insecurity, sleep, screen time, and physical activity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. College students at the University of the Incarnate Word (N=154) completed an online survey to assess dietary choices (Dietary Screener Questionnaires (DSQ) in the NHANES 2009-10: DSQ), food insecurity (6-item Short Form of the US Household Food Security Survey), stress …

Food Availability And Cost Patterns In Mississippi Retail Stores Participating In The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Virginia B. Gray, Sylvia H. Byrd, Laura Downey

Journal of Extension

Research has suggested that availability of healthful food varies according to rurality/urbanicity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and sociodemographic variables. We investigated differences in variety and cost of fruits and vegetables in convenience stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets across Mississippi. We collected data using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey–Corner Store. Among stores surveyed (n = 453), fruit and vegetable variety was greater in nonmetro versus metro areas for convenience and grocery stores but not supermarkets. Elucidation of food availability in retail establishments serving SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) clients is valuable for planning outreach efforts; smaller retailers may be important …

Perceived Adult/Child Health And Diet By Snap Usage And Food Security In A Rural, Appalachian Mississippi Community, Georgia Inglis

Honors Theses

This study examined if there were differences in perceived adult health score, perceived adult diet score, parent-perceived child health score, and parent-perceived child diet score by SNAP usage and food security in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi community. Adults (n=1084) with elementary school- aged children were surveyed in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi school district. Demographic, household adult food security (USDA 10-item measure), and perceived health and dietary data were collected. Using IBM SPSS version 24, demographic statistics were calculated to summarize data. Independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was utilized to assess for differences between groups. P.05) …

The Role Of Prenatal Food Insecurity On Breastfeeding Behaviors: Findings From The United States Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, Lauren Dinour, Elizabeth I. Rivera Rodas, Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Laurén A. Doamekpor

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background

In addition to its health and nutritional benefits, breastfeeding can save low-income, food insecure mothers the cost of infant formula so that money can be spent on food and other necessities. Yet breastfeeding may exacerbate food insecurity by negatively affecting maternal employment. The relationship between food insecurity and breastfeeding has been explored previously, with varying results. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between prenatal food insecurity and breastfeeding initiation and early cessation (< 10 weeks) among U.S. mothers.

Methods

Data were pooled from 2012 to 2013 (Phase 7) of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a population-based cross-sectional survey of …

A Nutritional And Environmental Analysis Of Local Food Pantries Accessible To College Students In Rural North Carolina, Emily E. Frymark, Jonathon Stickford, Alisha Farris

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Food insecurity is a growing concern among college students and is especially prevalent in rural areas. Food pantries often serve as a resource to food insecure individuals yet, their policies, standards, and nutritional quality vary due to the unpredictability of food donations.

Purpose: To examine the nutritional quality of food items and adherence of best practices at local food pantries accessible to college students near a university in rural Appalachia.

Methods: Three food pantries in North Carolina were selected due to their proximity to a local, rural university. Food items were analyzed for nutrient and food …

A Qualitative Study Of The Genesis Of A Community Food Pantry For Students Of Higher Education, Elizabeth Fast

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to understand the development of a food pantry for students of higher education at a Midwestern university.

Methods: The researchers recruited 11 individuals on the food pantry’s board using a snowball sampling method to participate in a 30-minute interview about the food pantry’s development from conception to implementation. The interviews were transcribed and then qualitatively analyzed by two researchers. The researchers coded interviews separately to identify frequent commonalities between participant responses. The researchers then organized the codes into themes, which were then summarized in the results of this study.

Results: The first …

Healthy Pregnancies And Essential Fats: Focus Group Discussions With Zambian Women On Dietary Need And Acceptability Of A Novel Rusf Containing Fish Oil Dha, Catherine Chunda-Liyoka, Mwansa Ketty Lubeya, Mercy Imakando, Sophia Kisling, Sonoor Majid, Mary Willis, Charles Wood, Chipepo Kankasa, Concetta C. Dirusso

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Nut butter-based Ready to Use Supplemental Foods (RUSF) are an effective way to add nutrients and calories to diets of malnourished and food insecure populations. The RUSF formulations have been further modified to add micronutrients including iron and folic acid needed during pregnancy and lactation. Because docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3) enhances fetal development and birth outcomes, it has been suggested that perhaps RUSF formulations for pregnancy should also include this Omega 3 fatty acid. The goal of the present study was to gain an understanding of Zambian women’s knowledge of nutritional needs in pregnancy through structured focus group …

Food Accessibility Related To The Double Your Dollar Program, Julia Carlson, Heather Friedrich, Mechelle Bailey, Curt Rom

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The Double Your Dollar (DYD) Program is a program that gives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) participants match dollars to spend at local farmers markets. The DYD’s goal is to incentivize healthy eating among individuals of low income and promote spending at farmers markets. Food insecurity affects over 60,000 individuals in Washington and Benton counties in Arkansas. The aim of this study was to assess how the DYD program impacted users’ food accessibility and how the program could be improved for the future. A survey was used to address basic demographics, type, …

Breakfast Consumption Is Positively Associated With Usual Nutrient Intakes Among Food Pantry Clients Living In Rural Communities, Yibin Liu, Janet A. Tooze, Yumin Zhang, Heather J. Leidy, Regan L. Bailey, Breanne Wright, Mengran Ma, Suzanne Stluka, Dan T. Remley, Lacey A. Mccormack, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Rebecca Henne, Donna Mehrle, Heather A. Eicher-Miller

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Breakfast consumption has declined over the past 40 y and is inversely associated with obesity-related diet and health outcomes. The breakfast pattern of food pantry clients and its association with diet is unknown.

Objective: The objective is to investigate the association of breakfast consumption with diet quality and usual nutrient intakes among food pantry clients (n = 472) living in rural communities.

Methods: This was an observational study using cross-sectional analyses. English-speaking participants ≥18 y (or ≥19 y in Nebraska) were recruited from 24 food pantries in rural high-poverty counties in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, …

Expenditure, Coping, And Academic Behaviors Among Food-Insecure College Students At 10 Higher Education Institutes In The Appalachian And Southeastern Regions, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Laura H. Mcarthur, Lanae B. Hood, Maureen Berner, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves, Carol L. Connell, Elizabeth Wall-Bassett, Marsha Spence, Oyinlola Toyin Babatunde, E. Brooke Kelly, Julia F. Waity, J. Porter Lillis, Melissa D. Olfert

Faculty Publications

Background

A number of studies have measured college student food insecurity prevalence higher than the national average; however, no multicampus regional study among students at 4-y institutions has been undertaken in the Appalachian and Southeast regions of the United States. Objectives

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among college students in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, and to determine the association between food-insecurity status and money expenditures, coping strategies, and academic performance among a regional sample of college students. Methods

This regional, cross-sectional, online survey study included 13,642 college …

Health Disparities Among South Asians: Is Food Insecurity The Missing Link?, Valentina Chawdhury

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Objective: Food insecurity among South Asians in the US is a public health issue. Food insecure adults face a plethora of adverse outcomes and research shows that individuals with ancestral origins from South Asia have a higher susceptibility rate for cardiovascular disease after migrating to urban environments. As such, the goal of this study was to research possible barriers South Asians face when creating cultural dishes in the US.

Methods: This was a convergent parallel mixed-methods analysis to understand how South Asians feel about food insecurity. Pricing and availability of cultural food items were obtained from South Asian and Western …

Increasing Food Security: Developing And Testing A Nutrition Education Curriculum For A Mobile Food Pantry, Alexandra Lepecha, Kathleen M. Kraft

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

Background: The Neighborhood Produce Market (NPM) is a food distribution model similar to a mobile food pantry. NPM stakeholders observed a lack of community engagement and familiarity with produce offered.

Project Description: The objective was to develop a nutrition education curriculum for NPM volunteers to better engage families and community members by providing food samples, recipes, and nutrition education. A stakeholder steering committee guided the needs assessment, curriculum development, volunteer training, and pilot test. The curriculum consisted of food safety, cultural considerations, and nutritional information for nine produce items and food tasting procedures and recipes. Seven student volunteers were trained …

Increasing Low-Income Residents’ Access To Fresh Produce Through A Local Mobile Pantry, Laura Wasson

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Seeds that Feed (STF) is a mobile food pantry located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. STF receives produce from local farmers to distribute to residents in low-income housing sites throughout Northwest Arkansas. According to Feeding America, food insecurity affected 14.3% Washington County, Arkansas’ population in 2016. The purpose of this study was to determine if STF’s model is an effective way to increase individuals’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables and increase their potential to meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Patterns (USDA-FP) for to fruit and vegetable consumption. Twenty-three participants from three sites completed the study. A survey was …

The Effects Of Highlighting Healthy Options On Consumer Food Choices In A Food Bank Setting, Kaitlin Nicole Grabow

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of highlighting healthy food options on consumer food choices in a food bank setting.

Methods: Two community food banks participated in this study. One food bank served as the control, while a second food bank was rearranged so that fresh produce and other healthy products were the first options that shoppers encountered upon entering. After shopping, carts were inventoried for healthy vs non-healthy products. Composition of the carts from the control food bank were then compared to the contents of the carts from the intervention food bank.

Results: A …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Food Insecurity Among U.S. College Students: A Multi-Institutional Study, Aseel El Zein, Karla P. Shelnutt, Sarah Colby, Melissa J. Vilaro, Wenjun Zhou, Geoffrey Greene, Melissa D. Olfert, Kristin Riggsbee, Jesse Stabile Morrell, Anne E. Mathews

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: College students may be vulnerable to food insecurity due to limited financial resources, decreased buying power of federal aid, and rising costs of tuition, housing, and food. This study assessed the prevalence of food insecurity and its sociodemographic, health, academic, and food pantry correlates among first-year college students in the United States. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year students (n = 855) across eight U.S. universities. Food security status was assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Eating Attitudes Test-26 were used to …

Food Insecurity And Produce Behaviors Of Adults With Children In Rural, Appalachian Mississippi, Tiffany Shirley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adults living in food insecure households consume fewer fruits and vegetables than adults living in food secure households (Hanson & Connor, 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine differences in fruit and vegetable behaviors (intakes; perceptions) of parents of elementary school children by food security status (food secure compared to food insecure; fully food secure compared to not fully food secure) in rural, Appalachian Mississippi. A cross-sectional survey of parents (n=1144) recruited from three elementary schools in rural, Appalachian Mississippi utilized validated measures of produce behaviors: 1) fruit, vegetable, and total produce intakes; 2) perceived benefits of barriers …

Food-Insecure Household’S Self-Reported Perceptions Of Food Labels, Product Attributes And Consumption Behaviours, Lucy M. Butcher, Maria M. Ryan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Dietary compromises related to food insecurity profoundly undermine health and constitute a serious public health issue, even in developed nations. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of food labelling and product attributes on the purchasing choices of food-insecure households in Australia. An online survey containing 19 food choice and 28 purchasing behaviours questions was completed by 1056 adults responsible for household grocery shopping. The short form of the US Household Food Security Survey Module was used as the food security indicator. Multinomial logistic regression modelling was employed to analyse the survey data. Respondents were classified as …