Health and Medical Administration Commons^™

The Impact Of Stress During Adolescence And The Prevalence Of Pediatric Obesity, Olatunbosun Olakunri, Venkat Venkataraman

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Obesity is a chronic condition that can be attributed to myriad factors including socioeconomic status, biological risk factors, and various environmental factors. These factors can be considered stress factors, and exposure to various levels of stress can impact the development of stress within the pediatric patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the association between the environmental, mental, social, physical, and psychological stress adolescents are exposed to and how they contribute to the prevalence of pediatric obesity throughout the United States. Understanding these risk factors can help us as a community and most importantly as clinicians develop better …

A Brief Overview Of Food Insecurity In Southern New Jersey, Lisa Ting Huang, Krisha Darji, Jariatou Diallo, Amin Abdul Khan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Atlantic County, located off the Jersey Shore, faces the highest level of food insecurity in New Jersey, with a rate of 11.2% as of 2021, surpassing the state's overall rate of 8.8%. This situation contributes to health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

The objective of this research is to understand and address the persistence of food insecurity in Atlantic County. Community stakeholders and local physicians were interviewed to identify barriers and disparities contributing to food insecurity.

Methods included a literature review using keywords like "food insecurity" and "southern New Jersey". Proposed interventions suggest collaboration with health centers …

Dietary Habits Of Patients With Chronic Medical Conditions During Covid-19, Sahil Patel, Adarsh Gupta

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced drastic changes in various aspects of normal life for millions world-wide.

As of April 2022, there have been over reported 80.8 million cases and 989,000 reported deaths.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were numerous societal changes occurred such as social distancing protocols, mask recommendations and restrictions in public spaces.

With such drastic changes to normal life, investigators began examining how dietary habits in the general population could have been affected, but not investigated the impacts on patients with chronic medical conditions (CMC).

Prior to major vaccination efforts, …

Food Deserts: Hungry For Answers, Lawren Cumberbatch

Symposium of Student Scholars

In 2010, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 23.5 million people in the United States live in food deserts. As defined by the USDA, a “food desert” is a neighborhood that lacks healthy food sources. This can be measured by distance to a store, number of stores in an area, individual-level resources such as family income or vehicle availability, and neighborhood-level resources such as availability of public transportation. Past research provides evidence that food deserts are especially likely to occur in communities heavily populated by minorities. As a Black Indian pre-med student aiming to join the world …

Lighten Up, Brittany G. Burress

Scholars Week

Looking at the effects of fast food restaurant convenience as well as physical activity opportunities and how the two contrast in the community of Murray, Kentucky.