Purpose: Research shows peer health education programs on university campuses can support students in pursuing sustainable health-related behavior changes. However, few programs deliver peer health education through a nondiet, weight-inclusive framework. Research shows that health educators who challenge the status quo of diet culture and…

America's diet-related illness crisis intersects with a lack of nutrition literacy, nutrition security, and systemic inequities. The Cooperative Extension Service's (CES) national infrastructure could potentially provide equitable access to quality nutrition education in the US utilizing a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) model. This research brief…

Context: Since the consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) was released in 2014, little research has been done to increase awareness to expand prevention and early detection efforts. Collegiate athletes have a high risk for the health and performance consequences of REDs due to busy schedules and social pressures, yet…

Background: Health literacy (HL) and health numeracy (HN), the ability to interpret and act on quantitative health information, are important for hypertension self-management such as limiting sodium intake. We examined associations of HL, HN, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet accordance. Participants: Among 1,073 hypertensive…

Background: Oral health is fundamental to overall well-being. As teens are at high risk for tooth decay, we require a unique approach to motivate them to maintain oral health. Methods: Sixty-four adolescents (10-13 years) were recruited from 2 schools. Oral health education was based on cooperative learning guided by the social determination…

This research investigated how the multirepresentation-based creative problem-solving (MBCPS) learning model could enhance students' critical thinking skills in relation to the Nutritional Quality of Diet. The research subjects were 72 students of the Culinary Education study program in Nutrition Science, consisting of an experimental group of 36…

Limited research on diabetes education and support implementation in Appalachia, which is a critical knowledge gap considering barriers to care, and high prevalence rates. The aim was to understand what each facility is providing regarding diabetes education and services within West Virginia. This study reports cognitive interview qualitative…

Background: We sought to determine the impact of school gardens and nutrition education on student fruit and vegetable consumption from limited-income communities in Alabama. Methods: Third grade students at 99 Alabama schools with and without gardens on-site were randomized to receive either nutrition education or to a wait-list control group.…

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a large source of added sugar in teenagers' diets, comprising 20-25% of daily calories. Despite efforts, teens in rural and southern states continue to have the high SSB consumption rates. Using Teen Advisory Councils (TAC), students designed and delivered school-specific interventions at five Tennessee…

Reflective practice (RP) is a widely accepted approach for facilitating experiential learning within the professional development of service delivery practitioners. However, a dearth of empirical evidence exists to support the potential efficacy of RP for improving applied practice effectiveness. This study examined whether improving…

Background: The consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (FVWG) has been associated with decreased risk of chronic disease, yet over 80% of U.S. adults do not meet dietary recommendations for FVWG. Purpose: This study explored the effectiveness of a teaching kitchen intervention upon consumption of FVWG and overall dietary patterns.…

Background: In health education, there is a risk of giving overly prescriptive recommendations, potentially activating conflicting in-group norms that reduce message receptiveness. For example, the notion of 'unhealthy youth' is a stereotype which suggests that young people are expected to make unhealthy choices. If such in-group norms are…

This paper describes the application of the methodology developed in research on learning progressions to a health-related topic. More specifically, we present a human nutrition learning progression as a hypothesis that now requires empirical validation. The study involved three phases. In the first phase, we analysed the existing literature in…

This study examined the contribution of metacognitive guidance to the development of drinking-related nutritional literacy(DNL). Metacognitive awareness promotes meaningful learning. Active involvement of students in metacognitive activities develops deep conceptual understanding. Childhood food and beverage consumption affects growth and can be a…

Objective: Health apps for smartphones have largely overlooked one means of expanding effectiveness--namely, inviting access by secondary app users who can contribute positively to primary users' lives. We report on outcomes from field testing a cooking app where dissemination included both mothers who were household cooks (primary users) and…