There is a growing number of students on college campuses with mental health problems and college counseling services are reporting significant increases in student demand for counseling. Depression, a mental illness consisting of profound sadness, fatigue, and irritability, as well as low motivation, poor academic performance, and suicidal…

Dietary acculturation (adopting the eating patterns/practices of the host environment) of individuals who relocate to another country could be a risk factor for diet-related chronic diseases. A reliable and validated measure for the assessment of dietary acculturation may facilitate understanding of the relationship between dietary acculturation…

This intervention sought to bring about a dietary behavior change among individuals who are vulnerable to negative health outcomes and behaviors. Using a randomized controlled trial, we examined the efficacy of a six-week Education + "Self-Regulation" intervention against an Education Only condition in reducing saturated fat intake among…

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The purpose of this study is to examine breakfast-eating behaviors of Historically Black College and University (HBCU) students in conjunction with their breakfast awareness and eating habit satisfaction. A self-administered survey was distributed in fall semester 2016 (N 289 students). Results show…

The weaning period, in which complementary foods are introduced into the infant's diet, can be challenging, with dislike of novel foods known to be common. However, even though at six months (the current recommended age for the introduction of complementary foods) most infants are able to feed themselves with graspable pieces of food, the majority…

Many Americans do not meet the recommendations for diet and physical activity. A blender bike can be an effective tool when coupled with hands-on activities that reinforce health recommendations. We created "Blending Nutrition and Physical Activity: An Activity Guide for Use with Blender Bikes" to use when incorporating a blender bike…

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an association between dietary patterns and children's academic performance. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 315 children aged 9-11 years from 26 schools in Australia. Academic performance was measured in 4 domains (reading, writing, numeracy, and…

Background: There is little research on how affective reactions (e.g., stress) to "perceptions" of nutritious food accessibility contribute to dietary behaviors. Aims: This study explores whether stress associated with limited access to nutritious foods--termed "nutrition resource stress" (NRS)--contributes to diet outcomes,…

Background: In this study, we applied behavioral economics to optimize elementary school lunch choices via parent-driven decisions. Specifically, this experiment tested an optimal defaults paradigm, examining whether strategically manipulating the health value of a default menu could be co-opted to improve school-based lunch selections. Methods:…

Background: College students report high levels of stress, which may be exacerbated by the psychoactive ingredients in energy drinks. Little is understood about the relationship between daily hassles and energy drink consumption. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between energy drink consumption patterns and daily…

Few studies of the ways in which consistency modification might affect dimensions of wellness exist. The aim of this study is to furnish preliminary findings on the effects that consistency modification has on a range of aspects of living. The authors (five speech-language pathologists [SLPs]) restricted our oral intake to thickened liquids and…

Aims and objectives: This article presents findings from a dietary intervention designed to improve the nutritional knowledge, attitudes, intentions and dietary intake of socially disadvantaged children. Design: Quasi-experimental design. Methods: A total of 201 (treatment group n = 106, control n = 95) children completed the questionnaire at pre-…

Background: An adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FVI) has shown benefits for reduced risk of manifesting chronic diseases. Thus, development of effective interventions to promote FVI is paramount. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of eHealth interventions for FVI targeted to healthy population, in comparison with control groups, and…

Preventive behaviors established during adolescence can reduce cancer throughout the life span. Understanding the combinations of multiple behaviors, and how these behaviors vary across states, is important for identifying where additional interventions are needed. Using data on 2011-2015 vaccination, energy balance, and substance use from…

Purpose/Objective: Historically, school administrators schedule recess immediately after lunch. Recent research, however, suggests a plethora of benefits if recess is scheduled before lunch, including decreased plate waste, increased consumption of nutrients, and decreased discipline problems on the playground and in the lunchroom. The purpose of…