scholarly journals The Implications of Food Insecurity at a HBCU (P04-086-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Thompson ◽  
Chimene Castor ◽  
Rajae Gayle ◽  
Allan Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Black College ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Housing Status ◽  
Food Security Status

Abstract Objectives The objectives of the study were: 1) to determine whether there is food insecurity among matriculating students attending a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), 2) to investigate the associations between food security status and the demographic characteristics (gender, classification, housing status) of students, 3) to examine the relationship of food security status to the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV), 4) to investigate the association of student food security status with overweight/obesity, and 5) to assess fast food consumption among food insecure students. Methods Five hundred Seventy undergrad and graduate students were recruited to participate in an online survey. The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Data were collected via a 20-item survey using Qualtrics, an online software program that allows its users to create and distribute survey instruments. The main survey questions were derived the Six-item United States Department of Agriculture-Adult Food Security Survey Module (USDA-AFSSM). The survey also included questions which measured: height and weight, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, fast food purchases and potential food pantry utilization. The remaining questions in the survey determined demographic characteristics which included gender, class, meal plan, and housing status. Results Data indicated 77.7% (405) of the sample had experienced some level of food insecurity over the last 12 months, whereas 116 (22.2%) were determined to be food secure. The prevalence of the four categories of food security status is shown in Figure 1. Food insecure students were significantly more likely to purchase fast foods two or more times a week and had significantly lower mean fruit and vegetable intakes than food secure students. Sophomores were least likely to be food secure (11.1%), while graduate/professional students were most likely to be food secure (37.6%). Students living on campus were found to be more likely to be food insecure. Conclusions The present study provides evidence of significant food insecurity. More fast food and decreased fruit and vegetable consumption was found among the food insecure vs food secure. Food security on college campuses bears further investigation. Funding Sources Howard University. Supporting Tables, Images and/or Graphs

scholarly journals Impact of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on Health Outcomes and Behaviors in Young Navajo Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandra J Jones ◽  
Joan VanWassenhove-Paetzold ◽  
Kymie Thomas ◽  
Carolyn Bancroft ◽  
E Quinn Ziatyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Program Completion ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
And Behaviors

ABSTRACT Background Rates of childhood obesity are higher in American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and food insecurity plays a major role in diet-related disparities. To address this need, local healthcare providers and a local nonprofit launched the Navajo Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program in 2015. Children up to 6 y of age and their caregivers are enrolled in the 6-mo program by healthcare providers. Families attend monthly health coaching sessions where they receive vouchers redeemable for fruits, vegetables, and healthy traditional foods at retailers participating in the FVRx program. Objectives We assessed the impact of a fruit and vegetable prescription program on the health outcomes and behaviors of participating children. Methods Caregivers completed voluntary surveys to assess food security, fruit and vegetable consumption, hours of sleep, and minutes of physical activity; healthcare providers also measured children's body mass index [BMI (kg/m2)] z score at initiation and completion of the program. We calculated changes in health behaviors, BMI, and food security at the end of the program, compared with baseline values. Results A total of 243 Navajo children enrolled in Navajo FVRx between May 2015 and September 2018. Fruit and vegetable consumption significantly increased from 5.2 to 6.8 servings per day between initiation and program completion (P < 0.001). The proportion of participant households reporting food insecurity significantly decreased from 82% to 65% (P < 0.001). Among children classified as overweight or obese at baseline, 38% achieved a healthy BMI z score at program completion (P < 0.001). Sixty-five percent of children were retained in the program. Conclusions The Navajo FVRx program improves fruit and vegetable consumption among young children. Children who are obese or overweight may benefit most from the program.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity Prevalence and Correlates in a Diverse Urban College Student Population (P04-054-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunitha Jasti ◽  
Melissa Owens
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Security Level ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Commuter College

Abstract Objectives To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity and to examine its correlates among students at an urban commuter-college. Methods Cross-sectional survey of 450 students enrolled at an urban commuter-college. Chi-square test was used to assess differences in socio-demographics characteristics, overweight/obesity status, fruit and vegetable consumption and perceived stress by food security level. Results Among students surveyed, 25.6% were food insecure with 12.2% having low food security and 13.3% having very low food security. The rate of food insecurity was significantly higher in black (55.6%) and Hispanic (52.7%) students compared to white (17.7%) and Asian (28.2%) students (P < 0.01). Older students (25–40 y) were also more likely to be food insecure than younger (≤ 25 y) students (42.5% vs. 28.1%; P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in fruit and vegetable consumption, overweight/obese status or perceived stress among food secure and food insecure students. Conclusions Food insecurity was found to be a prevalent problem in this sample, particularly in older, Black and Hispanic students. Colleges and universities must provide options and resources for low-income students to help increase access to and affordability of nutritious foods. Funding Sources “This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number ____________. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”

scholarly journals Food security status, BMI, and fruit and vegetable consumption amongst Producemobile Users.

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy C Tangney ◽  
Kristin R Redfearn ◽  
Jessica C Allender ◽  
Kathryn S Keim
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Food Security Status

scholarly journals Rams Have Heart, a Mobile App Tracking Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption to Support the Cardiovascular Health of College Students: Development and Usability Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C Krzyzanowski ◽  
Paul N Kizakevich ◽  
Vanessa Duren-Winfield ◽  
Randall Eckhoff ◽  
Joel Hampton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Query Language ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Black College ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable

BACKGROUND With the increasing use of mobile devices to access the internet and as the main computing system of apps, there is a growing market for mobile health apps to provide self-care advice. Their effectiveness with regard to diet and fitness tracking, for example, needs to be examined. The majority of American adults fail to meet daily recommendations for healthy behavior. Testing user engagement with an app in a controlled environment can provide insight into what is effective and not effective in an app focused on improving diet and exercise. OBJECTIVE We developed Rams Have Heart, a mobile app, to support a cardiovascular disease (CVD) intervention course. The app tracks healthy behaviors, including fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity, throughout the day. This paper aimed to present its functionality and evaluated adherence among the African American college student population. METHODS We developed the app using the Personal Health Informatics and Intervention Toolkit, a software framework. Rams Have Heart integrates self-reported health screening with health education, diary tracking, and user feedback modules to acquire data and assess progress. The parent study, conducted at a historically black college and university-designated institution in southeastern United States, consisted of a semester-long intervention administered as an academic course in the fall, for 3 consecutive years. Changes were made after the cohort 1 pilot study, so results only include cohorts 2 and 3, comprising a total of 115 students (n=55 intervention participants and n=54 control participants) aged from 17 to 24 years. Data collected over the study period were transferred using the secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure protocol and stored in a secure Structured Query Language server database accessible only to authorized persons. SAS software was used to analyze the overall app usage and the specific results collected. RESULTS Of the 55 students in the intervention group, 27 (49%) students in cohort 2 and 25 (45%) in cohort 3 used the Rams Have Heart app at least once. Over the course of the fall semester, app participation dropped off gradually until exam week when most students no longer participated. The average fruit and vegetable intake increased slightly, and activity levels decreased over the study period. CONCLUSIONS Rams Have Heart was developed to allow daily tracking of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity to support a CVD risk intervention for a student demographic susceptible to obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. We conducted an analysis of app usage, function, and user results. Although a mobile app provides privacy and flexibility for user participation in a research study, Rams Have Heart did not improve compliance or user outcomes. Health-oriented research studies relying on apps in support of user goals need further evaluation.

scholarly journals Beyond clinical food prescriptions and mobile markets: parent views on the role of a healthcare institution in increasing healthy eating in food insecure families

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. DeWit ◽  
Emily M. Meissen-Sebelius ◽  
Robin P. Shook ◽  
Kimberly Ann Pina ◽  
Evelyn Donis De Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Pediatric Healthcare

Abstract Background Children in food-insecure families face increased barriers to meeting recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption. Hospitals and pediatric healthcare institutions have attempted to alleviate food-insecurity through various internal programs like food prescriptions, yet little evidence for these programs exist. Consistent with a patient-centered perspective, we sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption and a parent-driven agenda for healthcare system action. Methods We conducted six qualitative focus group discussions (four in English, two in Spanish) with 29 parents and caregivers of patients who had screened positive for food-insecurity during visits to a large pediatric healthcare system in a midwestern U.S. city. Out iterative analysis process consisted of audio-recording, transcribing and coding discussions, aiming to produce a) a conceptual framework of barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption and b) a synthesis of participant programmatic suggestions for their healthcare system. Results Participants were 90% female, 41% Black/African American and 41% Hispanic/Latino. Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption in their families fell into three intersecting themes: affordability, accessibility and desirability. Participant-generated intervention recommendations were multilevel, suggesting healthcare systems focus not only on clinic and community-based action, but also advocacy for broader policies that alleviate barriers to acquiring healthy foods. Conclusion Parents envision an expanded role for healthcare systems in ensuring their children benefit from a healthy diet. Finding offers critical insight on why clinic-driven programs aimed to address healthy eating may have failed and healthcare organizations may more effectively intervene by adopting a multilevel strategy.

scholarly journals Beyond clinical food prescriptions and mobile markets: parent views on the role of a healthcare institution in increasing healthy eating in food insecure families

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily L. DeWit ◽  
Emily M. Meissen-Sebelius ◽  
Robin P. Shook ◽  
Kimberly Ann Pina ◽  
Evelyn Donis De Miranda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Pediatric Healthcare

Abstract Background: Children in food-insecure families face increased barriers to meeting recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption. Hospitals and pediatric healthcare institutions have attempted to alleviate food-insecurity through various internal programs like food prescriptions, yet little evidence for these programs exist. Consistent with a patient-centered perspective, we sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption and a parent-driven agenda for healthcare system action. Methods: We conducted six qualitative focus group discussions (four in English, two in Spanish) with 29 parents and caregivers of patients who had screened positive for food-insecurity during visits to a large pediatric healthcare system in a midwestern U.S. city. Our iterative analysis process consisted of audio-recording, transcribing and coding discussions, aiming to produce a) a conceptual framework of barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption and b) a synthesis of participant programmatic suggestions for their healthcare system.Results: Participants were 90% female, 38% Black/African American and 41% Hispanic/Latino. Barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption in their families fell into three intersecting themes: affordability, accessibility and desirability. Participant-generated intervention recommendations were multilevel, suggesting healthcare systems focus not only on clinic and community-based action, but also advocacy for broader policies that alleviate barriers to acquiring healthy foods. Conclusion: Parents envision an expanded role for healthcare systems in ensuring their children benefit from a healthy diet. Findings offer critical insight on why clinic-driven programs aimed to address healthy eating may have failed and healthcare organizations may more effectively intervene by adopting a multilevel strategy.

scholarly journals Measurement of Fruit and Vegetable Intake Using Skin Carotenoid Measures Among Individuals Receiving Aid from Food Pantries (P04-087-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Valentine ◽  
Rebecca Mount ◽  
Kathryn Wolff ◽  
Lisa Ousley ◽  
Emily Worm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Kansas City ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Food Pantries

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand food security and fruit/vegetable consumption among individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies. Methods Across the US, 12.9% of people are affected by food insecurity1 and 5.5% of households report obtaining food from a food pantry2. Similarly, food insecurity affects 12.9% of the population in Kansas and 14.7% in Missouri1. After the Harvest is a nonprofit organization that helps address food insecurity by rescuing fruits and vegetables from going to waste and donating them to agencies that serve hungry people in the Kansas City metropolitan area. As part of a larger evaluation of the After the Harvest program, intercept surveys with individuals receiving aid from food pantries and other food assistance agencies were conducted at selected locations in the Kansas City area. In each survey, a demographic questionnaire and a Dietary Screener Questionnaire were administered. Food insecurity was screened using two items derived from the USDA's Food Security Survey Module. Additionally, skin carotenoids were measured using the Veggie Meter™ as a biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. Results A total of 57 food agency clients participated in the study. About 67% of the clients indicated that within the past 12 months, they had worried about their food running out before having money to buy more. Additionally, 74% reported that the food they bought didn't last and they didn't have money to buy more. On average, the food agency clients reported eating 1 cup of fruit per day and 1.4 cups of vegetables per day, which fell far below recommendations set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Similarly, they had a Veggie Meter™ score of 175 ± 77, indicating a very low level of fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions Food agency clients were food insecure and had very low fruit and vegetable intakes. Efforts to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetable donations at food assistance agencies may represent an opportunity to improve the diets among clientele. Funding Sources The Hall Family Foundation.

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