A systematic review of existing observational tools to measure the food and physical activity environment in schools.

Objective measures of schools' wellness-promoting environments are commonly used in obesity prevention studies; however, the extent to which findings from these measures translate to policy and practice is unknown. This systematic review describes the comprehensiveness and usability (practicality, quality, and applicability) of existing objective measures to assess schools' food and physical activity environments. A structured keyword search and standard protocol in electronic databases yielded 30 publications reporting on 23 measures that were deemed eligible to include in this review.

Expenditure, Coping, and Academic Behaviors among Food-Insecure College Students at 10 Higher Education Institutes in the Appalachian and Southeastern Regions.

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 students at 10 public universities.

Dietary Practices Among Stroke-survivors-Racial/Ethnic Differences.

Background: Healthy lifestyle choices, particularly optimal nutrition, are crucial to stroke prevention and reducing risk of recurrent stroke. Racial differences exist in poststroke outcomes; however, few studies have examined the influence of race on poststroke diet or nutrition practices, despite nutrition being critical to stroke recovery. The objective of this analyzes was therefore to examine racial/ ethnic differences in nutrition activities among stroke survivors using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

Osteoporosis Knowledge and Health Beliefs Among Men in Midlife Years.

Objective: To examine the role of socioeconomic variables on middle-aged adult men's knowledge and health beliefs about osteoporosis.

Methods: An anonymous survey used validated scales to assess osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs in a sample of 262 men aged 36-55 years. Descriptive and group-differences statistics (MANOVA and ANOVA) were used.

Importance of Self-Efficacy and Knowledge to Physical Activity Behavior in Older African Americans.

Background: Regular physical activity is an important lifestyle behavior for preventing or reducing the burden of osteoporosis, and for promoting optimal bone health. This report evaluates the effect of an osteoporosis education program on knowledge, self-efficacy, and initiation and/maintenance of physical activity (PA) in older African Americans.

Methods: African American adults 50 years and older (n=130) were randomly assigned to either experimental (EG) or control (CG) groups.

Case-based learning facilitates critical thinking in undergraduate nutrition education: students describe the big picture.

Background: The vision of dietetics professions is based on interdependent education, credentialing, and practice. Case-based learning is a method of problem-based learning that is designed to heighten higher-order thinking. Case-based learning can assist students to connect education and specialized practice while developing professional skills for entry-level practice in nutrition and dietetics.

Theory-driven intervention improves calcium intake, osteoporosis knowledge, and self-efficacy in community-dwelling older Black adults.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an osteoporosis education program to improve calcium intake, knowledge, and self-efficacy in community-dwelling older Black adults.

Design: Randomized repeated measures experimental design.

Setting: Churches and community-based organizations.