Changes in a middle school food environment affect food behavior and food choices.

Increasing rates of obesity among children ages 12 to 19 years have led to recommendations to alter the school food environment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are associations between an altered school food environment and food choices of middle school students both in and outside of school. In a midsized western city, two of six middle schools allowed only bottled water in vending machines, only milk and fruit on à la carte menus, and offered a seasonal fruit and vegetable bar.

The process of curriculum development and implementation for an adolescent health project in middle schools.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries and is showing no signs of abating. The causes of obesity in adolescence are extremely complex, and therefore approaches to prevention and treatments must be multifaceted. Early adolescence is a developmental period when youth are becoming more independent, are influenced by peers, and are making more decisions related to their own health and lifestyles.

Goal setting education and counseling practices of diabetes educators.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify goal setting education practices used by diabetes educators working with type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods: Data were collected by a mail questionnaire with 179 diabetes educators purposively selected from the 2008 American Association of Diabetes Educators membership listing.

Results: Many diabetes educators (52%) reported that more than 75% of their patients set goals for diabetes control.

A logic model framework for community nutrition education.

Logic models are a practical method for systematically collecting impact data for community nutrition efforts, such as the Food Stamp Nutrition Education program. This report describes the process used to develop and test the Community Nutrition Education Logic Model and the results of a pilot study to determine whether national evaluation data could be captured without losing flexibility of programming and evaluation at the state level. The objectives were to develop an evaluation framework based on the Logic Model to include dietary quality, food safety, food security, and shopping behavior/food resource management and to develop a training mechanism for use.

Coping strategies and nutrition education needs among food pantry users.

In response to unexpectedly high rates of household food insecurity in Washington State, focus groups were conducted with food pantry users in nine locations across the state to explore access and barriers to food, strategies for coping with food insecurity, and nutrition education needs. All respondents had children and spoke English. Participants reported household food insecurity and concerns about feeding children and getting through the month.