Food Insecurity Is Associated with Increased Risk of Obesity in US College Students.

Background: Food insecurity affects millions of Americans and college students are especially vulnerable. Little is known about the relation of food insecurity with weight status and dietary intake during this critical phase of emerging adulthood.

Objectives: We aimed to examine the sex-specific associations of food insecurity with obesity and dietary intake among college students.

eB4CAST Approach Improves Science Communication With Stakeholders in a College-Based Health Program.

Communicating scientific results with community partners is often lacking in intervention programs, thus eB4CAST was developed to facilitate impact sharing. This article investigated using the eB4CAST dissemination tool to communicate impact from a campus-based obesity prevention program. Data from Get Fruved RCT university sites collected at baseline were used to generate eB4CAST reports.

Life of a vegetarian college student: Health, lifestyle, and environmental perceptions.

To examine health behavior and environmental perception differences among vegetarian and nonvegetarian students. First-year university students (n = 1078) from eight United States universities. : Data were obtained from base 2015 and followup 2016 assessments.

Learn first, practice second approach to increase health professionals' nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy.

Health professionals generally have positive attitudes towards the role of nutrition in medicine, but limited knowledge and low self-efficacy for incorporating it into routine care. To assess the effectiveness of a "learn first, practice second" intervention on the nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of multidisciplinary health professionals, the present approach consisted of 16 weeks of online education and 2 weeks of cultural immersion in Tuscany, Italy. Data was captured via online surveys at Baseline, Post-education, Post-immersion, and Follow Up.

A Multi-Year Examination of Gardening Experience and Fruit and Vegetable Intake During College.

Gardening has been positively associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption based on short-term studies among children, but long-term data among adolescents and young adults are lacking. This investigation sought to elucidate the association between gardening experience and FV intake among college students over a two-year period. Students ( = 593) from eight universities were assessed at the end of their freshman (Y1) and sophomore (Y2) years during the springs of 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Cooking and Meal Planning as Predictors of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and BMI in First-Year College Students.

The objective was to determine if cooking skills and meal planning behaviors are associated with greater fruit and vegetable intake and lower body mass index (BMI) in first-year college students who are at risk for excessive weight gain. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from a multi-state research project aimed at preventing weight gain in first-year college students. Cooking type, frequency and confidence, self-instruction for healthful mealtime behavior intention, self-regulation of healthful mealtime behavior, and cup equivalents of fruits and vegetables (FV) were measured using validated surveys.

Redesign, Field-Testing, and Validation of the Physical Activity Campus Environmental Supports (PACES) Audit.

This paper describes the redesign, field-testing, and convergent validity of a practical tool-Physical Activity Campus Environmental Supports (PACES) audit. The audit includes two parts: (1) PACES-Programs, which is comprised of questions regarding populations served, fees, programs (recreation/fitness classes and intramurals), proximity, adequacy of facilities, and marketing, and (2) PACES-Facilities, which is comprised of questions regarding built environment (aesthetics, bike racks, stairs, and universal design), recreation equipment, staff, amenities, and access. Each item criterion is specifically scored using a five-point, semantic-differential scale ranging from limited to extensive environmental support.

Development and Validation of the Policies, Opportunities, Initiatives and Notable Topics (POINTS) Audit for Campuses and Worksites.

Workplace or campus wellness/obesity-prevention policies and initiatives can improve health. Research tools to assess worksite or campus policies/initiatives are scarce. Thus, the aim of this research is to develop and validate the policies, opportunities, initiatives, and notable topics (POINTS) audit.

Development and Validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing Audit.

This paper describes the development and validation of the Vending Evaluation for Nutrient-Density (VEND)ing audit to comprehensively evaluate vended products based upon healthfulness, price and promotion, and machine accessibility. A novel vending nutrient-density score was created to determine the healthfulness of vended snack/beverage products. Field tested in United States colleges, VENDing audit (∑nutrient-density + 10 × % healthy products) and Support sub-scores (price + promotion + accessibility) were calculated for snack/beverage machines.

Development and Validation of a Simple Convenience Store SHELF Audit.

This paper describes the development, reliability, and convergent validity of a practical tool-the Convenience Store Supportive Healthy Environment for Life-Promoting Food (SHELF) Audit. Audit items included: a variety of fresh, processed, and frozen fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy products; healthy staples and frozen meals; healthy food incentive programs; items sold in check-out areas; portion/cup sizes; and pricing. Each audit item was scored using a five-point semantic-differential scale (1 = provides little or no support for healthful foods to 5 = provides high support for healthful foods).

Survey Development to Assess College Students' Perceptions of the Campus Environment.

Objective: We developed and tested a College Environmental Perceptions Survey (CEPS) to assess college students' perceptions of the healthfulness of their campus.

Methods: CEPS was developed in 3 stages: questionnaire development, validity testing, and reliability testing. Questionnaire development was based on an extensive literature review and input from an expert panel to establish content validity.

College Students' Health Behavior Clusters: Differences by Sex.

Objective: The study purpose was to identify clusters of weight-related behaviors by sex in a college student populations.

Methods: We conducted secondary data analysis from online surveys and physical assessments collected in Project Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) with a convenience sample of students on 13 college campuses in the United States. We performed 2-step cluster analysis by sex to identify subgroups with homogeneous characteristics and behaviors.

Path Analysis of Campus Walkability/Bikeability and College Students' Physical Activity Attitudes, Behaviors, and Body Mass Index.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the walkability/bikeability of college campuses and students' body mass index (BMI) with student physical activity (PA) attitudes and behaviors as potential mediators.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Thirteen university campuses.

Vending machine assessment methodology. A systematic review.

The nutritional quality of food and beverage products sold in vending machines has been implicated as a contributing factor to the development of an obesogenic food environment. How comprehensive, reliable, and valid are the current assessment tools for vending machines to support or refute these claims? A systematic review was conducted to summarize, compare, and evaluate the current methodologies and available tools for vending machine assessment. A total of 24 relevant research studies published between 1981 and 2013 met inclusion criteria for this review.

The effects of Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH): a theory-based Web-delivered intervention.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a tailored theory-based, Web-delivered intervention (Young Adults Eating and Active for Health) developed using community-based participatory research process.

Design: A 15-month (10-week intensive intervention with a 12-month follow-up) randomized, controlled trial delivered via Internet and e-mail.

Setting: Thirteen college campuses.

Development of Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) internet-based intervention via a community-based participatory research model.

Objective: To develop a tailored, theory-based, Web-delivered intervention to prevent excessive weight gain in young adults using a Community-Based Participatory Research model.

Design: Investigators from 14 universities developed the intervention and supporting administrative portal using the 4 phases of the PRECEDE model. Steering committees were composed of the target audience (aged 19-24 years) and key health/wellness personnel were formed at each institution and provided information during each phase that was used to guide development of the intervention, Project YEAH (Young Adults Eating and Active for Health).

PACES: a Physical Activity Campus Environmental Supports Audit on university campuses.

Purpose: This study evaluated the policy and built and recreation environmental supports for physical activity on 13 university campuses.

Design: Environmental audit survey.

Setting: Thirteen U.

Evaluation of the food store environment on and near the campus of 15 postsecondary institutions.

Purpose: This study evaluated the food stores on and near postsecondary campuses varying in institutional size.

Design: The design of the study is an environmental audit survey.

Setting: Fifteen U.

Process evaluation of Project WebHealth: a nondieting Web-based intervention for obesity prevention in college students.

Objective: To evaluate the motivational effect of the Project WebHealth study procedures and intervention components on weight-related health behavior changes in male and female college students.

Design: Process evaluation.

Setting: Eight universities in the United States.

Assessment of the dining environment on and near the campuses of fifteen post-secondary institutions.

Objective: The present study evaluated the restaurant and dining venues on and near post-secondary campuses varying in institution size.

Design: The Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Restaurants (NEMS-R) was modified to evaluate restaurants as fast food, sit down and fast casual; and campus dining venues as dining halls, student unions and snack bar/cafe´s. ANOVA with post hoc Tukey’s B and T tests were used to distinguish differences between dining venues and associated institutions by size.

Sneakers and spokes: an assessment of the walkability and bikeability of U.S. postsecondary institutions.

The purpose of the study described in this article was to assess the walkability and bikeability of 15 U.S. postsecondary education campuses.

Sweet and salty. An assessment of the snacks and beverages sold in vending machines on US post-secondary institution campuses.

This study assessed the nutritional quality of snacks and beverages sold in vending machines. The contents of snack and beverage vending machines in 78 buildings on 11 US post-secondary education campuses were surveyed. Of the 2607 snack machine slots surveyed, the most common snacks vended were salty snacks (e.

Evaluation of dietetic students' and interns' application of a lifestyle-oriented nutrition-counseling model.

Objective: To assess dietetic students' and interns' skills to effectively apply a lifestyle-oriented nutrition-counseling model.

Methods: Between 1999 and 2004, 121 dietetics students and interns (82% retained) were trained to provide nutrition counseling and certified using a standardized patient evaluation format. Supervising registered dietitians and students evaluated transcripts of their counseling sessions using a modified version of the Dietitian's Interviewing Rating Scale (DIRS).

Self-efficacy, perceived benefits, and weight satisfaction discriminate among stages of change for fruit and vegetable intakes for young men and women.

This study determined whether psychosocial, weight satisfaction, and dietary pattern variables discriminate between the Stages of Change for fruit and vegetable intakes among young men and women. A random sample of 18 to 24 year-olds, from 10 states returned 1438 surveys. Discriminant analyses for fruit intake conveyed that between precontemplation and contemplation/preparation, pro-scores and self-efficacy predicted the men's but not women's stages.