International and Community Nutrition Commons^™

Examining Dietary Disparities And Associated Factors Among Young Children Across Diverse Racial, Ethnic And Immigrant Households In Nebraska, Naveta Bhatti

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Early childhood is a crucial stage for developing eating behaviors which in turn plays a major role in determining health outcomes. Assessing children’s diet plays a crucial role in tackling the obesity epidemic. One of the ways to assess children’s dietary intake is by evaluating their dietary quality. Dietary quality refers to the overall healthfulness and nutritional value of an individual's diet, considering the combination of foods consumed over time. Research has consistently demonstrated that a high-quality diet is associated with a reduced risk of several health issues, such as all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease incidence or mortality, cancer incidence or …

Predicting Sedentarism And Its Impact On Caloric Requirements, Jacob Michels, John C. Beghin

Yeutter Institute International Trade Policy Review

A recent study conducted by PhD candidate Jacob Michels and Agricultural economist John Beghin delves into the question of whether global estimates of food insecure populations need a reevaluation of their methodology to account for increasing sedentarism. This reevaluation is prompted by the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles worldwide, which calls for a redefinition of caloric thresholds indicating the onset of food insecurity. In this short article, we provide a nontechnical summary of their investigation recently published in Michels and Beghin (2024).

Descriptive Report On Dietary Remains From Aztec And Salmon Ruins Coprolites, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

This report focuses only on dietary results from the Aztec Ruins and Salmon Ruins coprolites. The parasitological analysis was completed in 2018 and was the focus of several papers that were summarized by Camacho and Reinhard (2020). This did not include DNA analysis. The coprolites from these sites are not appropriate sources of DNA testing.

The main conclusion of the analysis are:

1) Two very distinct plant spectra are represented in Aztec Ruins West (ARW) room 219 and room 225.

2) The three contexts of ARW room 219 show interesting variation in food selection, however these are small samples.

3) …

Market And Welfare Impacts Of A “Portion Size Reduction” Policy, Hanin Hosni, Konstantinos Giannakas

Cornhusker Economics

The portion size of common food items consumed at home, restaurants and fast-food establishments in the United States (US) has increased since the 1970s, with the portion size of meals and beverages in several restaurants exceeding the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration recommendations. Portion size has continued to grow in parallel with increasing body weights and food waste. According to USDA, 35% of the US population suffers from obesity while 40 million people are food insecure. At the same time, about 1/3 of the US food supply goes unconsumed, with 2/3 of food waste occurring …

Multilingual Zambia - Language Issues In Primary/Secondary Schools Of The Eastern/Southern Provinces, Kenzie Steiner

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

Introduction: Zambia is a multilingual country that uses 8 different languages for instruction including English and 7 other indigenous languages.

Methods: Survey research conducted between May-June 2022 on 6-7th graders within 9 Zambian schools. Classroom observations made and teachers interviewed.

Results: In Eastern and Southern Provinces, Zambian teachers speak an average of 5 languages while students speak an average of 2. Both teachers and students say English remains the most important language followed by first languages.

Conclusion: Continued research on language-in-education policies and impacts on student performance must be conducted if “One Zambia, One Nation” is meant to promote all …

Maize, Fish, And Leafy Greens: Agricultural Diversity In Rural Zambia, Claire Gillespie

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

In Zambia, where 40% of children are stunted, there is limited interest in farming among primary school children as they consider their future. As grocery stores replace open-air markets, access to indigenous foods will become more difficult. Although 73 different types of foods were found in open-air markets, Zambian diets tend to be monotonous. Maize is the staple food and maize-based foods such as nshima are consumed daily, perpetuating low nutritional intake. Increasing crop diversity can increase balanced diets in Zambian school children and better support a growing population.

Running From Malnutrition: Zambian Children And Growth In The Eastern And Southern Provinces, Cole Murphy

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

Although malnutrition rates remain high in Zambia, there are limited data for primary school children on factors that contribute to poor growth. This study was designed to examine one factor rarely considered in research about stunting, i.e., energy expenditure among primary school children and its contribution to short stature. § §Historically, stunting has been a major public health issue in much of sub-Saharan Africa and continues to yield severe consequences for physical and mental development throughout the lifespan (Iversen et al., 2022). §Both household food insecurity and dietary diversity are significantly associated with stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa (Gassara et al., …

Sew Zambia! Home Economics In Primary And Secondary Schools Of The Eastern And Southern Provinces, Clare Schinzel

UCARE: Research Products

Introduction: Home Economics (HE) is within the main curriculum for primary school students in Zambia, yet it remains unclear what is included.

Methods: Survey research conducted between May-June 2022 on 6-7th-grade students within 9 Zambian schools. Classroom observations were made, and teachers were interviewed in primary and secondary public schools.

Results: Most know how to cook and sew. Zambian women cook more than men and learn at an older age. Both males and females are trained to sew learning at a much younger age.

Discussion: HE remains critical to learning life skills in Zambia and the curriculum reflects skills related …

Don’T Forget To Wash! Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene Among Zambian Students, Katie Schmitz

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

Introduction: Water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, have not met the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and remain inadequate to improve the overall health and wellbeing of most populations.

Methods: Survey research, interviews, WASH observations, and anthropometric assessment were conducted between May-June 2022 on 6-7th grade students within 6 Zambian schools.

Results: While hygiene knowledge was prominent, and handwashing stations and pit latrines were available, schools rarely supplied soap or toilet paper. Diarrheal and respiratory diseases were common and water shortages remain problematic with some students traveling long distances to reach a water source.

Discussion: As in …

Dental Decay In Zambian School Children In Eastern And Southern Provinces, Elizabeth Graham

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

Introduction: Dental caries is the most prevalent and infectious disease worldwide. Zambia has a high rate of vitamin A deficiency, and this deficiency is associated with dental caries.

Methods: Visual dental checks, interviewing, and anthropometric assessments were done on 781 Zambian primary school children.

Results: Caries rates are 20% among sample populations, males have more decay than females, first molars are the most decayed, a majority use toothbrushes to clean their teeth, and children who eat vitamin A rich foods are less likely to have dental caries.

Discussion: Caries’ rates in the Southern and Eastern provinces are higher than in …

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 …

Food Sourcing And The Relationship To Height Of 6th To 7th Graders In Southern Ethiopia And Zambia, Fulxen Ignacio Bescansa Luers

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

Introduction: Zambia and Ethiopia are Sub-Saharan African countries experiencing high rates of malnutrition and stunting. This study examines food sourcing and its relationship to stunting.

Methods: Anthropometric assessment and food frequency-sourcing interviews were taken for 488 6th-7th graders in Livingstone, Zambia and Hawassa, Ethiopia. Data were analyzed using ANOVA.

Results: Most students sourced food from local markets and home gardens; however Zambian students used a greater variety of sources. Those sourcing from home gardens were significantly taller.

Discussion: Home gardening provides economic and health benefits, as well as food security. A focus on preservation and use …

Buy Fresh, Buy Local: Nebraska Working Together For Local Food, Margaret Milligan

Cornhusker Economics

Direct market farms in Nebraska are made up of people passionate about raising good food for their fellow Nebraskans. They grow vegetables, fruits, meat, grains, and value-added products to sell directly to consumers in their communities.

During the pandemic, these small farms have experienced restaurant sales vanishing, farmers’ market attendance de-creasing, and slots filling up at the small meat processors where they take their livestock. At the same time, there has been a renewed interest from consumers seeking reliable, transparent food produced close to home. It’s been a volatile year, and it has required quick pivoting, group coordination and action …

Availability And Consumption Of Vitamin A Foods Among Southern Ethiopian And Zambian Primary Students, Trang Vuong

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

Purpose: Understand vitamin A food availability in open-air markets (OAM’s), and consumption of those foods by primary school children in southern Ethiopia/Zambia.

Methods: Conducted inventories of all consumable/potable items and interviewed 6-7th grade students about consumption of items with vitamin A.

Results: Students consumed most of the 14 vitamin A foods/items sold in OAM’s. Zambian students ate more liver, pumpkin, squash, watermelon, and wild fruits, while Ethiopian students almost never consumed squash, watermelon or wild fruits.

Conclusions: The availability of Vitamin A foods in Ethiopian and Zambian OAMs are varied; however, Zambian children reportedly eat more vitamin A foods. Nutrition …

Grains, Grasses, And Tubers: Staple Carbohydrates In The Diets Of Middle School Children Of Southern Zambia And Ethiopia, Brianna Juma

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

Purpose: Survey staple carbohydrate availability in local markets, complete anthropometric assessment, and interview primary school children about carbohydrate consumption in Southern Zambia and Ethiopia

Methods: Market inventories, anthropometric assessments, and interviews of 6th and 7th grade students

Results: Ethiopians have a greater diversity of available carbohydrates, have better overall anthropometric values compared to Zambian children, and consume more nutritious and varied carbohydrate types.

Conclusions: Diversity in carbohydrate availability and consumption, as well as more nutritious options, are associated with healthier growth rates among primary school children in Southern regions of Zambia and Ethiopia.

Protein Availability And Consumption, And Stunting Rates, For Primary School Children In The Southern Regions Of Ethiopia And Zambia, Megan Wackel

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

•Stunting is common in Sub-Sahara Africa, with millions of children who are short in stature also experiencing poor overall health and development, as well as poor school performance (Semba 2016; Semba, et al., 2016). •As many as 39% of children under 5 years of age in Ethiopia’s Sidama Region (formerly SNNPR) can be classified as stunted (CSA & ICF 2016). By comparison, 29% of under 5’s in Zambia’s Southern Province have short height for age (CSA, MOH, & ICF 2018). •Low protein and essential amino acid intake, among populations of 116 countries, has been suggested as the primary cause of …

Stunting And Infectious Disease In Ethiopian And Zambian Children, Alyssa Arndt

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

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether children who are malnourished/stunted are more likely to have experienced infectious disease.

METHODS: 6th and 7th students (n=546) were interviewed about health history and assessed using anthropometry.

RESULTS: Children who are short for their age also have higher rates of stunting. Malaria is the most experienced infectious disease.

CONCLUSIONS: Given that malaria was the most common infectious disease experience listed among middle school children, and that those who have experienced disease are more likely to be stunted, increased malaria prevention methods may improve the long-term health of Ethiopian and Zambian schoolchildren.

Dental Health Factors Among Primary School Children In Southern Regions Of Ethiopia And Zambia, Gisselle Hernandez

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

Purpose: Assess oral health status, and factors affecting oral health, among primary schoolchildren in southern Ethiopia and Zambia. Methods: Visual dental assessments, anthropometric measurements, and questionnaires used to collect data among 6th and 7th grade students. Results: Although stunting rates were nearly equal, decay rates were not; 17.51% of Zambian students and 47.27% of Ethiopian students had one or more decayed teeth. Ethiopian students with dental fluorosis (74.55%) had higher rates of decay than those without the condition (p < .05). There were also significant differences between Ethiopians and Zambians regarding use of dental hygiene tools: Ethiopians were more likely to use dental sticks, while Zambians employed toothbrushes for cleaning. Conclusions: Dental health and hygiene education, focused on unique socioecological settings, could improve the oral health status of Ethiopian and Zambian children.

PowerPoint file attached below

Iron-Rich Foods, Anemia, And Malaria In Primary School Children In Southern Ethiopia And Zambia, Julianne Fay

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

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between iron-deficient anemia and malaria in primary school children in Southern Ethiopia and Zambia and assess the correlation between diet and health status.

METHODS: Market inventories, observations at health outposts, and interviews and anthropometric assessments of 6th and 7th grade students.

RESULTS: Both Ethiopia and Zambia had 20 iron-rich foods available in local markets. Only liver consumption was associated with malaria experience; those who consumed liver were significantly less likely to have had the disease (p

DISCUSSION: Given the high prevalence of malaria in Southern Ethiopia and Zambia, and the correlation between liver consumption and …

Nutrition And Attendance For Primary School Students In Ethiopia And Zambia, Lillie Tronnes

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

Introduction: Nutrition impacts attendance for primary school students in Southern Ethiopia and Zambia. Food insecurity causes school-age children to be undernourished, malnourished, and stunted. These health concerns greatly impact ability to attend and perform in school.

Methods: Between May and June of 2019 6th and 7th grade students were surveyed within 4 schools in Ethiopia and 5 schools in Zambia. Anthropometric data, health history, and nutritional habits were surveyed.

Results: 8% of Ethiopian students were stunted while 10% of Zambian students were stunted. Ethiopian students indicated school lunch was an incentive while Zambian students did not. Most …

Nutritional Strategies For Nurses In A Fast Paced Occupation, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The foundation of the medical system are the nurses and certified medical assistants. Their personal health condition affects how well diseases and other medical conditions are handled. This article will begin with an overview of the eating behavior of nurses. Three different interventions which have been shown effective in a fast paced workplace are presented in order to improve the health of nurses and certified medical assistants. The first intervention is organizational changes that would increase the amount of time nursing staff have to eat. The second is the use of a messenger bag delivery system to provide needed food, …

The Development And Implementation Of “Mission Nutrition”: An After-School Nutrition Education Program For Youth Grades Kindergarten Through Fifth, Rachel Maloy

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Childhood overweight, obesity, and food insecurity are serious problems that are especially prevalent in low-income areas. Belmont Elementary School serves many children from low-income households (classified as a Title I school with 82.6% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch) and, thus, was a perfect setting for the birth of an original nutrition curriculum.

A six-week after-school nutrition education program called “Mission Nutrition” was developed and implemented at Belmont Elementary School over the course of three and a half years. While originally designed for third through fifth grade students, the program was adapted for kindergarten, first, and second grade students …

The Relationship Of Male And Female Pastoralist Income With Household Food Security And Nutrition Status In Tanzania: Maasai, Sukuma, And Barabaig Ethnic Groups, Henriette Gitungwa

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Although previous work provides a significant baseline for understanding the impact of gender on household decision making and resource (i.e. income and food) allocation, there are gaps in evidence for important groups, including East African pastoralists. Previous authors have noted that pastoralists’ gender roles and relations appear to be resistant to change, potentially impeding household development. This paper attempts to assess the relationship between male and female pastoralists’ income control and household food security and nutritional status in Tanzania. We use three surveys: a household-level livestock health and economics survey, a household food security survey, and an individual woman-level survey …

The Relationship Among Fifth Grade Physical Education Students' Body Size Perception, Fitnessgram Scores, And Physical Activity Level, Ashley N. Cleveland

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Purpose: This study aims to explore the correlation between students’ self-perception of body image and FITNESSGRAM scores, the relationship between children’s body perceptions and their actual body mass index (BMI), and to see if body image in children affects their physical activity level.

Methods: FITNESSGRAM fitness testing protocol and a survey developed for the KidQuest nutrition intervention program by South Dakota State University (SDSU) was used to assess the correlation between students’ (n= 319) self-perception of body image and FITNESSGRAM scores. In addition accelerometers were used to assess the physical activity level of a subsample (n=57) of the …

Assessing The Sociocultural Impact Of Special Events In The Context Of Germanfest In Nebraska, Usa, Yanli Wang

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The present study examined the sociocultural impact of special events based on the cultural festival of GermanFest in Syracuse, Nebraska. A total of 143 (71.5%) local residents responded to the self-administered survey. The dimensions of the sociocultural impact, the important reasons for celebrating the festival, the relationship among festival stakeholders, the levels of community involvement, and the improvement of the quality of life in the community as impacts of the festival and demographic information were investigated separately.

The Festival Social Impact Attitude Scale (FSIAS) was utilized to identify the dimensions of the sociocultural impact of GermanFest. Three dimensions were identified …

Discovery Neighborhood Myplate Macy: A Pilot Study, Amanda M. Robine

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Background: Obesity prevalence in United States children ages 2-19 years has been consistently high since 2003.1 These children are at a greater risk for many chronic disease. Educating children on how to make healthful food choices, and using fun characters in a classroom setting may be one step to reducing the obesity rate.

Objective: Increase knowledge about MyPlate and heathy eating in children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Design: After the development of a nutrition lesson, an expert panel reviewed and suggested changes. Once changes were made the lesson was delivered to second and third graders at a summer camp. …

The Environmental And Health Costs Of Alternative Diets: A Comparative Study Of The U. S. Diet Relative To The French, Japanese, Mediterranean, And Nordic Diets, Sarah Rehkamp

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis contributes to the literature on sustainable consumption by using scenario analysis to evaluate the environmental and health costs of the U.S. diet relative to the French, Japanese, Mediterranean, and Nordic diets, identified in the literature as healthier diets. As a first step in estimating environmental costs, the energy efficiencies of each diet are calculated by decomposing each of the diets into their respective components. Then, the dietary efficiencies are translated into CO₂ emissions. As a first step in estimating health costs, a pooled cross-section time-series dataset is used to find the association between BMI and five countries, …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Nutrition And Physical Activity Self-Assessment For Child Care (Nap Sacc) For Changes In Physical Activity Behavior, Policy, And Environment In Nebraska Family Child Care Homes, Katie K. Bolte

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nebraska is the first state to utilize NAP SACC and to modify the evidence-based program for family child care homes (FCCHs). The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary data analysis to assess the effectiveness of a modified version of the NAP SACC approach in achieving changes in physical activity behavior, policy, and environment in Nebraska FCCHs caring for children ages 2-5 years. Results from this study will be used to improve the NAP SACC physical activity components for FCCHs and will help to inform trainers and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nutrition and Activity …

Eating Patterns And Physical Activity Characteristics Among Urban And Rural Students In Saudi Arabia, Omar I. Abuzaid

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Human obesity has become a global phenomenon. The main goal of this study was to investigate the differences in food consumption and physical activity among high school age youth in two diverse geographical locations (urban and rural areas) and the relationship of some of the factors that may lead to overweight and obesity in Saudi Arabia. There were 300 (150 males and 150 females) high school senior grade level students, recruited from the urban city of Riyadh and 300 high school students recruited from the rural areas of Dawadami (150 males and 150 females). Approval for this study was given …

Body Mass Index Trends And Nutrition Goals Of College Students Between 2007–2011, Alison L. Lynn

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The incidence of overweight and obesity has become a major public health concern in the United States. The college years are a time during which many dietary and physical activity habits are formed. Health professionals on college campuses have the ability to reach large numbers of people and provide nutrition education to help reduce the rising rates of obesity. The purpose of this study is to examine the body mass index (BMI) trends of college students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, between the years 2007-2011 and to determine the nutrition-related goals of these students. Data was previously collected from NUTR …