Nutrition Commons^™

The Association Between Rapid Growth In Children Under The Age Of Five And Adolescent Obesity, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Fadila Wirawan, Iche Andriyani Liberty, Nurul Husna Mohd Shukri, Siti Arifah Pujonarti, Edy Purwanto, Munaya Fauziah

Kesmas

Early-life nutrition is a critical predictor of long-term health, yet the association between rapid early-childhood growth and adolescent obesity, particularly in relation to the “double burden of malnutrition,” remains under-researched in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the association between rapid growth and adolescent obesity. Data were obtained from the 1997, 2000, and 2014 waves of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS). This study included 641 children (aged 0–23 months at baseline) with complete anthropometric measurements across all three waves. Rapid growth was defined as an increase in z-scores of >0.67 in weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), or weight-for-height (WHZ) between …

Exploring The Correlation Between Malnutrition And Food And Nutrition Insecurity In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Heather Burr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may increase the risk of malnutrition because of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and restrictive eating. In addition, patients with IBD may experience food and nutrition insecurity. Therefore, we conducted an online survey to assess risk of malnutrition and food and nutrition insecurity among adult patients with IBD in outpatient and community settings. Patients were recruited between July and December 2025, aiming to reach adults in the Rocky Mountain Region diagnosed with IBD. Data collected included demographics, health-related factors, risk of nutrition insecurity, risk of food insecurity, and barriers and facilitators to dietary management of IBD.

Fifty-seven patients …

Impact Of Tropical Cyclones On Food And Nutrition Security: A Global Scoping Review And Thematic Analysis, Patience M. Chiotha, Budi Haryanto

Jurnal Epidemiologi Kesehatan Indonesia

The increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones driven by climate change pose growing threats to food and nutrition security. Globally, an estimated 80–90 tropical cyclones occur annually, affecting approximately 119 million people. Evidence regarding their impact on food systems, dietary patterns, and nutritional status remains fragmented. This scoping review aimed to map global evidence on the impacts of tropical cyclones on food and nutrition security, identify key pathways of impact, and examine affected indicators at household and individual levels. The review followed Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and PRISMA-ScR. Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google …

The Cost Of Malnutrition In Older Adults In The Mountain West, 2020, Taylor Volk, Anirudh Polagani, Olivia K. Cheche, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents 2020 data on the annual costs of disease-associated malnutrition for adults aged 65 years and older across the five Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The data are sourced from “Advancing Policies for Quality Malnutrition Care in Older Adults: A Toolkit for State Legislators,” a report published by Defeat Malnutrition Today and Women in Government.

Nutrition Anthropology In Global Malnutrition In Children Under Five, Katherine Michelle Dennison Owens

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Food is essential to growth and development for people and nations. Too little or too much food can lead to undernutrition or overweight, both forms of malnutrition. While there have been improvements in undernutrition, overweight is increasing, causing the double burden of malnutrition globally, which is especially true in low-income and middle-income countries. Understanding nutrition anthropology's economic, environmental, and socio-cultural factors is critical to combat malnutrition's burden in different populations. Shaping policies and investments in malnutrition need to be strategic to have a measurable impact on malnutrition improvements. This study identified nutrition anthropology factors using six economic, environmental, and socio-cultural …

A Child With Severe Pneumonia Cannot Feed, Causing Malnutrition: Exploring Health Worker And Caregiver Perspectives And Practices For Mitigating Malnutrition Among Children With Severe Pneumonia, A Case Of Uganda, Damalie Nalwanga, Robert Opoka, Andrew Sentoogo Ssemata, Lawrence Kakooza, Andrew Kiggwe, Victor Musiime, Sarah Kiguli

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Severe pneumonia remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide. Severe pneumonia causes death during hospitalization, and survivors are prone to malnutrition after discharge from the hospital. The World Health Organization and United Nations International Children’s Fund recommend ‘continued’ feeding following a severe pneumonia illness without specific recommendations on nutritional support. This recommendation could influence health workers’ and caregivers’ nutritional practices. This study aimed to explore the perspectives and practices of health workers and caregivers for mitigating malnutrition among children with severe pneumonia.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study between June and November 2021 among …

Improving Nutrition Outcomes Through Enhanced Allocative Efficiency Of Investments In 24 High Risk Counties In Kenya: An Optima Nutrition Modelling Study, Morris Ogero, Nick Scott, Veronica Kirogo, Anthony Ngugi

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction ;Undernutrition remains a significant global challenge, severely impacting children’s development and growth. To address this, the Sustainable Development Goals target a substantial reduction in stunting and wasting by 2025. Achieving these goals requires scaling up evidence-based nutritional interventions; however, limited budgets pose challenges in funding all necessary programs. To assist policymakers in making informed decisions, the World Bank developed the Optima Nutrition Modelling tool, which optimizes the allocation of nutrition investments. Kenya, with its high prevalence of stunting, was the focus of this study. Using the Optima Nutrition model, we aimed to (1) assess the impact of scaling up …

Artificial Intelligence In Cancer-Related Malnutrition And Cachexia: A Transformative Tool In Clinical Nutrition, Salvatore Carbone

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

[Introduction] Malnutrition and cachexia are common complications in cancer patients, and they negatively influence prognosis, treatment efficacy, and tolerability as well as quality of life [[1], [2], [3]]. Accurately identifying and effectively managing malnutrition and cachexia in this population remains a clinical challenge. Conventional validated screening tools may lack the sensitivity and specificity required for early detection and personalized intervention in diverse cancer types and treatment settings [4,5]. Over the last decade, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) strategies, has shown promising results in clinical nutrition, with the potential to revolutionize nutritional …

Oral Nutritional Supplement Prescription And Adherence Perspectives, Kristyn Bordelon Hood

Master's Theses

Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) are nutrient-dense beverages that aid in meeting the nutrient needs of patients. Recent research has indicated that patient adherence to prescribed nutritional supplements may depend on palatability, tolerance, and taste fatigue. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are healthcare professionals who may prescribe these supplements directly or make recommendations to the patient’s physician for a prescription, thereby influencing patient adherence. Little research has been documented regarding taste fatigue and the influences of the RDN’s decisions on patient adherence to nutritional supplement adherence. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the perspectives of nutrition professionals …

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists’ Knowledge, Confidence, And Experiences With Treating Trafficked Individuals: A Call For Interprofessional Continuing Education, Christen C. Cooper, Lydia Mcroberts

Journal of Dietetic Education

Background: Victims of human trafficking (HT) frequently face malnutrition, dehydration, low food security, and infections. When identified, victims of HT are normally treated with interprofessional team (IPT) care that often excludes Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Although RDNs are trained to treat these conditions, they may lack knowledge, confidence, and skills, for working with this population, as well as the opportunities to work on such IPTs. To date, no study has explored RDNs’ knowledge of or work with individuals who are trafficked. Objective: To explore RDNs’: HT knowledge, confidence in the ability to work with victims of HT, and barriers to …

Assessing Health Implications Of Monarch Butterfly Populations And Behaviors, Kira Goldman, Kelsey E. Fisher Dr.

Honors Scholar Theses

Pollinator populations have seen massive declines over the past decade due to anthropogenic activity and climate change posing serious threats to the health of humans and ecosystems (Ulyshen & Horn, 2023). As agents responsible for the production of about 35% of micronutrient rich food crops necessary for adequate nutrition to lead healthful lives and prevent nutrition associated diseases, pollinator decline is a public health concern (Aizen et al., 2009). Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) serve as bio indicators for the health of pollinator populations because of their analogous habitat and food resources shared with many other pollinator species, including bees and …

What Is The Additive Value Of Nutritional Deficiency To Va-Fi In The Risk Assessment For Heart Failure Patients?, Seulgi Erica Kim, Mehrnaz Azarian, Aanand D Naik, Catherine Park, Molly J Horstman, Salim S Virani, Orna Intrator, Christopher I Amos, Ariela Orkaby, Javad Razjouyan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVES: to assess the impact of adding the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to the U.S. Veterans Health Administration frailty index (VA-FI) for the prediction of time-to-death and other clinical outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with Heart Failure.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for heart failure (HF) from October 2015 to October 2018. Veterans ≥50 years with albumin and lymphocyte counts, needed to calculate the PNI, in the year prior to hospitalization were included. We defined malnutrition as PNI ≤43.6, based on the Youden index. VA-FI was calculated from the year prior to the hospitalization and identified three groups: …

Improving Nutrition Screening Practice In The Hospitalized Heart Failure Patient Population, Amanda J. Bourgeois

DNP Projects

Background: Heart Failure is a disease known to affect nearly 6.5 million adults in the United States. Characterized by recurrent hospitalizations, heart failure significantly contributes to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs in the United States and worldwide. Because malnutrition is prevalent in the heart failure population, healthcare providers must perform nutritional assessments on admission to intervene in the case of malnutrition, prevent deterioration, and improve patient prognosis. Without intervention and early identification of malnutrition, heart failure hospitalizations will remain a significant problem.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of an evidence-based educational program for cardiac …

Kluyveromyces Marxianus Prepared As A Ready To Use Supplemental Food (Rusf), Zachary Christman

Applied Science Program: Theses

Ready to Use Supplemental Food (RUSF) is a nutrient dense paste or compressed bar used to supplement a person’s nutritional needs because of malnutrition or due to food shortages. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate some methods of how the dairy organism Kluyveromyces marxianus can be used to enrich the protein value of bread or ferment a substrate such as wheat bran into a more digestible form.

Health And Nutritional Status Among Internally Displaced Children Under Five Years, During The Civil War: Sri Lankan Experience, Madhuka Ambagahage

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Around the globe, 1 in 6 children become vulnerable to grave physical and mental violence, hunger, sexual assaults, and exploitation of human rights due to war. These adversities are multi-dimensional, synergistic, and often subtle. This study attempted to evaluate the health and nutritional status of children aged under five years and living in the war zone of Sri Lanka, in view of improving the health services delivered to them. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study sample, 400, was based on probability proportionate and then systematic sampling drawn from IDP camps located in the Vavuniya district. Validated instruments …

Senior Nutrition - Meeting An Essential Minnesota Need, Khunza Asma, David Beimers

The Chesley Center on Aging

Food insecurity and malnutrition are significant public health concerns among older adults. Over the past two decades, the number of older adults in the U.S. who are food insecure has more than doubled (Ziliak & Gunderson, 2022). During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, deaths among older adults due to malnutrition increased in Minnesota (Olson, 2023). Food insecurity among older adults is associated with numerous health issues, isolation, and increased health costs (ACL, 2021).

One prominent strategy to reduce food insecurity among older adults is to directly provide meals to those who may be food insecure. The State of …

Neurodevelopment And Recovery From Wasting, Harriet M. Babikako, Celine Bourdon, Emmie Mbale, Peace Aber, Annet Birabwa, Josephine Chimoyo, Wieger Voskuijl, Zaubina Kazi, John Mukisa, Ali Faisal Saleem

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background and objectives: Acute illness with malnutrition is a common indication for hospitalization among children in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the association between wasting recovery trajectories and neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children 6 months after hospitalization for an acute illness.
Methods: Children aged 2 to 23 months were enrolled in a prospective observational cohort of the Childhood Acute Illness & Nutrition Network, in Uganda, Malawi, and Pakistan between January 2017 and January 2019. We grouped children on the basis of their wasting recovery trajectories using change in mid-upper arm circumference for age z-score. Neurodevelopment was assessed with the …

Tackling Protein-Calorie Malnutrition During World Crises, Zahra Ali Padhani, Jai K. Das, Saeed Akhtar, Tariq Ismail, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Undernutrition is still highly prevalent in developing countries and leads to a multitude of problems as it weakens the immune system, which leads to increased risk of infections and diet-related diseases. COVID-19 has worsened the existing situation and has resulted in unprecedented health, social, and economic disruptions across the world. Before COVID-19, about 54% children under 5 years were moderately or seriously malnourished, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, early estimates suggest that an additional 2.6 million children were stunted; 9.3 million were wasted, with an addition of 2.1 million maternal anemia cases; 168,000 child deaths; and USD 29.7 billion in …

Optimizing Prevention And Community-Based Management Of Severe Malnutrition In Children, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Zulfiqar A. Bhutta discusses prevention and treatment strategies for optimization of community-based management of severe acute malnutrition in children

What Kigali’S Open‑Air Markets Reveal About Achieving Food And Nutrition Security: The Role Of African Indigenous Crops, Eugene Baraka, Mary S. Willis, Brice A. Ishimwe

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Household dietary diversity in Rwanda remains low and significantly contributes to the double burden of malnutrition. Rwanda has one of the highest under five stunting rates globally, and malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health issues; therefore, factors that shape food and nutrition security are of utmost concern. Globally, the variety of foods available in open-air markets has been shown to affect dietary diversity. Furthermore, the consumption of indigenous foods can contribute to a diverse diet and improve nutrition status. At present, there are limited data on foods available for purchase in open-air markets in Africa. …

Nutritional Status And Dietary Intake Of School-Age Children And Early Adolescents: Systematic Review In A Developing Country And Lessons For The Global Perspective, Durray Shahwar Abid Khan, Jai K. Das, Shagufta Zareen, Zohra S. Lassi, Afsah Salman, Muhammad Raashid, Aftab A. Dero, Aijaz Khanzada, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Background: The prevalence of double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Data on malnutrition trends is present for children age, however the data for school-going children and adolescents aged 5-15 years is scarce.
Objective: This systematic review presents the pooled prevalence of nutritional status and dietary intake among school-going children and adolescents (5-15 years of age) in an LMIC of Pakistan and the perspective for broader global nutrition in this age group.
Methods: An electronic search of databases was run on Pubmed and Medline (via Ovid) along with gray literature and archives of local …

Invited Perspective - Nutritional Needs And Implications For Children In Subsistence Marketplaces, Nagendra Rangavajla

Subsistence Marketplaces

Today, while the number of stunted children is decreasing in all geographies, the progress is not consistent. Moreover, there is an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescent. Globally, about half of all children under five do not receive essential nutrients, often unnoticed until too late. On the other end of the spectrum, the incidence of overweight and obesity in 5-19 year old has increased from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016 ¹. These trends reflect a ‘triple burden of malnutrition’, a burden that impacts the survival, growth, and development of children, and in turn, …

One-Carbon Metabolism In Children With Marasmus And Kwashiorkor, Thaddaeus May, Bethany De La Haye, Gabrielle Nord, Kevin Klatt, Kevin Stephenson, Sara Adams, Lucy Bollinger, Neil Hanchard, Erland Arning, Teodoro Bottiglieri, Kenneth Maleta, Mark Manary, Farook Jahoor

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

BACKGROUND: Kwashiorkor is a childhood syndrome of edematous malnutrition. Its precise nutritional precipitants remain uncertain despite nine decades of study. Remarkably, kwashiorkor's disturbances resemble the effects of experimental diets that are deficient in one-carbon nutrients. This similarity suggests that kwashiorkor may represent a nutritionally mediated syndrome of acute one-carbon metabolism dysfunction. Here we report findings from a cross-sectional exploration of serum one-carbon metabolites in Malawian children.

METHODS: Blood was collected from children aged 12-60 months before nutritional rehabilitation: kwashiorkor (N = 94), marasmic-kwashiorkor (N = 43) marasmus (N = 118), moderate acute malnutrition (N = 56) and controls (N = …

Body Composition Changes In Children During Treatment For Moderate Acute Malnutrition: Findings From A 4-Arm Cluster-Randomized Trial In Sierra Leone, Devika J Suri, Isabel Potani, Akriti Singh, Stacy Griswold, William W Wong, Breanne Langlois, Ye Shen, Kwan Ho Kenneth Chui, Irwin H Rosenberg, Patrick Webb, Beatrice L Rogers

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Measures that better describe "healthy" and sustainable recovery during nutritional treatment of children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) are needed.

Objectives: We compared changes to body composition among children receiving 1 of 4 specialized nutritious food (SNFs) during treatment of MAM and by recovery and relapse outcomes.

Methods: The study was nested within a prospective, cluster-randomized, community-based, cost-effectiveness trial assessing 4 SNFs to treat children aged 6-59 mo with MAM [midupper arm circumference (MUAC) ≥11.5 cm and <12.5 cm without bipedal edema] in Sierra Leone. Biweekly SNF rations (1 of 3 fortified-blended foods or a lipid-based nutrient supplement) were given until children recovered (MUAC ≥12.5 cm), or up to 7 rations (∼12 wk). Deuterium dilution was used to estimate fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) at enrollment and after 4 wk of treatment to ensure similar treatment exposure among the participants. Another MUAC measurement was performed among recovered children 4 wk after program exit to determine whether recovery was sustained. ANOVA, paired t tests, and linear regression models were used to determine significant differences in changes from baseline to 4 wk.

Results: Among 312 analyzed participants, mean baseline weight comprised ∼80% FFM; mean weight gained after 4 wk comprised ∼82% FFM. Changes in …

Sarcopenia Screening By Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Rdns) In The United States (U.S.), Madison Marcom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sarcopenia is a disease of muscle wasting primarily seen in older adults. Although this term was first coined over three decades ago, there is a lack of consensus on a definition, screening criteria, and treatment protocol for sarcopenia. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the United States (U.S.) screen for sarcopenia. Study participants were recruited through a randomized email list and included RDNs throughout the U.S. Respondents completed a survey questioning knowledge of sarcopenia, screening tools and company protocols in place, and the need and desire for sarcopenia education. Data revealed …

Rejection Of African Indigenous Food: The Case Of Rwanda, Eugene Baraka

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Rwanda has one of the highest stunting rates among children globally, and malnutrition remains one of the most pressing public health issues. Lack of diversified diets, due to colonialization and nutrition transition, is the leading cause of the double burden of malnutrition in the country where the progress to reduce undernutrition is slow and obesity rates are rapidly rising. Consumption of indigenous foods has proven to diversify diets, but very few studies have been conducted to assess which ones are available for consumption in Rwanda. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and use of indigenous foods …

The Importance Of Nutrition And Preventing Malnutrition In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Booklet, Sophie Johnson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Over years of studying nutrition science and gerontology, there was very little information in classes that combined these two important topics. Older adults are often classified as those above the age of 65 years old. There is a growing number of older adults in the United States, which increases the need for information on how nutrition and aging are interlaced. As humans age, multiple factors can impact nutrition. Nutrition involves consuming the proper amount of nutrients to maintain body function. There are physiological, physical, socioeconomic and medication factors that can all influence nutrition status. It is important to be aware …

Translating Evidence-Based Guidelines Into Practice—Are We Getting It Right? A Multi-Centre Prospective International Audit Of Nutrition Care In Patients With Foregut Tumors (Inform), Merran Findlay, Judith D. Bauer, Rupinder Dhaliwal, Marian De Van Der Schueren, Alessandro Laviano, Adrianne Widaman, Lisa Martin, Andrew G. Day, Leah M. Gramlich

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in patients with foregut tumors comprising head and neck (HNC) and esophageal (EC) cancers, negatively impacting outcomes. International evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for nutrition care exist; however, translation of research evidence into practice commonly presents considerable challenges and consequently lags. This study aimed to describe and evaluate current international nutrition care practices compared with the best-available evidence for patients with foregut tumors who are at high risk of malnutrition. A multi-centre prospective cohort study enrolled 170 patients commencing treatment of curative intent for HNC (n = 119) or EC (n = 51) in 11 cancer …

Screening For Iron-Deficiency Anemia In The Pediatric Population (Ages 1-17) In Gonaïves, Haiti, Cara Rose Fratianni

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot project is to screen for iron-deficiency anemia in pediatric patients (ages 1-17) in a primary school in Gonaïves, Haiti. Patients with anemia will be treated with oral supplemental iron for a period of four weeks according to WHO guidelines (WHO, 2011). All students will be treated empirically for helminths per WHO guidelines, unless treated elsewhere in the last six months (WHO, 2017). Nutritional status will also be assessed using MUAC according to WHO guidelines (2017).

Background Summary: Malnutrition contributes significantly to the problem of iron-deficiency anemia, with one in four children exhibiting stunting …

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 …