Healthy eating in schools: Evidence-based interventions to help kids thrive.

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine P. Cook-Cottone ◽  
Evelyn Tribole ◽  
Tracy L. Tylka
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Evidence Based

Abstract W P153: HEALS Hypertension Control Program for Stroke Prevention in African American Communities

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunita Dodani ◽  
Sahel Arora ◽  
Dale Kraemer
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Complete Information ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Church Members ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability in US. African Americans (AAs) are at an elevated risk for cerebrovascular diseases. An approach of proven efficacy is to target a major modifiable risk factor for stroke, hypertension (HTN), and to do so using lifestyle changes (i.e., diet and exercise). The objective of this study was to implement and assess the efficacy of an evidence-based, socio-culturally tailored, lifestyle intervention called HEALS (Healthy Eating And Living Spiritually) adopted and modified from PREMIER and DASH studies in AA churches in Northeast Florida. Methods: 3- months HEALS program was delivered by trained church members to the high risk church members who were; a) church parishioners 25-75 years; and b) newly or known diagnosed with HTN/pre-HTN as per JNC-7 criteria. The outcomes were analyzed using ANOVA and Wilcoxon rank tests. Results: Of the 36 eligible, 32 (90%) provided complete information on outcomes and were included in the analysis. At baseline, 15 (42%) participants were pre-HTN, 9 (25%) had Stage 1 HTN, and 12 (33%) had Stage 2 HTN. Retention of 89% was observed at the end of 3- month HEALs intervention. After the completion of the 3-months intervention, the mean reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were 6.72mmHg (p=.0425) and 4.00 mmHg (p=.0073), respectively. A mean weight reduction of 1.7 kg was also significant (p=0.0023). Further, positive trends in healthy eating occurred for the majority of the participants (60%), more than half consumed dark green or other vegetables frequently, while 75% consumed at least one fruit daily or weekly. Lower percentages (44%) reported consumption of 100% fruit juices or cooked beans regularly. Conclusion: The study provided much-needed information on the translation and sustainability of evidence-based lifestyle modification in community-based settings, particularly within churches, which represent the most influential institution in the community lives of AA. HEALS program can serve as a cost-effective model for stroke prevention. Future longitudinal randomized controlled studies on HEALS effectiveness are needed.

scholarly journals “We understand our community”: implementation of the Healthy Eating Healthy Aging program among community-based organizations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judy Leong ◽  
Sou Hyun Jang ◽  
Sonia K Bishop ◽  
Emily V R Brown ◽  
Eun Jeong Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Organizations ◽  
Outer Setting ◽  
Inner Setting

Abstract Cardiovascular disease is the second leading cause of death in the USA among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) over the age of 65. Healthy Eating Healthy Aging (HEHA), an evidence-based heart health program, can provide culturally appropriate nutrition education to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Community-based organizations (CBOs) are optimal settings to implement community-based programs. However, there is inadequate research on how evidence-based interventions like HEHA are implemented in CBOs. This study examined processes that facilitated the implementation of HEHA among CBOs serving older AAPIs. Twelve representatives from CBOs that implemented the HEHA program were recruited to participate in a semistructured interview. All the participants were CBO directors or senior managers. A semistructured interview guide was created and informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to capture how HEHA played into the five domains of CFIR: (a) intervention characteristics, (b) outer setting, (c) inner setting, (d) characteristics of the individuals, and (e) process. Data analysis captured themes under the CFIR domains. All five CFIR domains emerged from the interviews. Under intervention characteristics, three constructs emerged as facilitating the implementation of HEHA: (a) the participant’s beliefs around the quality of the HEHA program and its ability to promote healthy eating, (b) HEHA’s adaptability to different AAPI subgroups, and (c) perceptions of how successfully HEHA was bundled and assembled. Under outer setting, the participants described the community’s need for healthy eating programs and how the HEHA program meets that need. Four constructs emerged under inner setting: (a) the CBO’s structural characteristics and social standing in the community; (b) resources dedicated to the implementation and ongoing operations, including funding, training, education, physical space, and time; (c) the culture of the CBO; and (d) the participant’s commitment and involvement in marketing, promotion, and implementation of HEHA. Under characteristics of individuals, participants’ described their desire to learn the content of HEHA and deliver them successfully. Under process, participants described strategies to engage relevant individuals to facilitate HEHA implementation. The interviews with CBO representatives provided insights into CFIR domain constructs that facilitated the implementation of HEHA. CBOs are key settings for community health education. Understanding processes that lead to the successful implementation of evidence-based interventions among CBOs is critical for accelerating the dissemination and implementation of best practices.

scholarly journals Assessing general public and policy influencer support for healthy public policies to promote healthy eating at the population level in two Canadian provinces

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1492-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krystyna Kongats ◽  
Jennifer Ann McGetrick ◽  
Kim D Raine ◽  
Corinne Voyer ◽  
Candace IJ Nykiforuk
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
General Public ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Policy Option ◽  
Individual Autonomy ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
Levels Of Support

AbstractObjectiveTo assess and compare the favourability of healthy public policy options to promote healthy eating from the perspective of members of the general public and policy influencers in two Canadian provinces.DesignThe Chronic Disease Prevention Survey, administered in 2016, required participants to rank their level of support for different evidence-based policy options to promote healthy eating at the population level. Pearson’s χ2 significance testing was used to compare support between groups for each policy option and results were interpreted using the Nuffield Council on Bioethics’ intervention ladder framework.SettingAlberta and Québec, Canada.ParticipantsMembers of the general public (n 2400) and policy influencers (n 302) in Alberta and Québec.ResultsGeneral public and policy influencer survey respondents were more supportive of healthy eating policies if they were less intrusive on individual autonomy. However, in comparing levels of support between groups, we found policy influencers indicated significantly stronger support overall for healthy eating policy options. We also found that policy influencers in Québec tended to show more support for more restrictive policy options than their counterparts from Alberta.ConclusionsThese results suggest that additional knowledge brokering may be required to increase support for more intrusive yet impactful evidence-based policy interventions; and that the overall lower levels of support among members of the public may impede policy influencers from taking action on policies to promote healthy eating.

scholarly journals From Cafeteria to Community: Amending the National School Lunch Act to Promote Healthy Eating in Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Pluta ◽  
Kimberly R. More ◽  
Abigail Boyd ◽  
Scott Le ◽  
Chinwendu Ozoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Eating Patterns ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
National School

Childhood obesity is a serious health problem in the United States that affects millions of children and adolescents. Obese children are more prone to chronic illnesses, and these risks persist into adulthood. The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) sought to promote better nutrition among children, especially those who may otherwise not have access to healthy meals, by providing lunches that meet defined nutritional standards. Despite this effort, obesity rates continue to rise and there is little evidence favoring the effectiveness of the National School Lunch Act in reducing obesity incidence among children. Recently, policymakers proposed expanding nutrition education efforts to the classroom to address the current limitations of the National School Lunch Act (i.e., H.R.5892 and S.3293). However, education efforts alone are insufficient to foster long-lasting healthy eating patterns among children. Therefore, we propose that Congress amend the National School Lunch Act to include three evidence-based approaches: a 50-hour education program (H.R.5892), equitable partnerships between schools, local businesses and nonprofit organizations (S.3293), and a community engagement program designed to impact dietary behavior beyond the classroom.

Integrating Healthy Eating into Evidence-Based Home Visiting Models: An Analysis of Programs and Opportunities for Dietetic Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 119 (9) ◽  
pp. 1423-1436
Author(s):  
Emily B. Welker ◽  
Megan M. Lott ◽  
Julie L. Sundermann ◽  
Jamie B. Bussel ◽  
Mary T. Story
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Home Visiting ◽  
Evidence Based

scholarly journals Exploring Views of Healthcare Professionals, Researchers, and People Living with and beyond Colorectal Cancer on a Healthy-Eating and Active Lifestyle Resource

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana Sremanakova ◽  
Debra Jones ◽  
Richard Cooke ◽  
Sorrel Burden
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Bowel Cancer ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Active Lifestyle ◽  
Research Guidelines ◽  
Risk Of Cancer

Background: People after bowel cancer are at high risk of cancer recurrences and co-morbidities, and therefore strategies are needed to reduce these risks. One promising strategy targets modifiable lifestyle factors including diet and physical activity. However, effective, evidence-based resources in adopting new lifestyle habits are currently lacking. Methods: The Healthy-Eating and Active Lifestyle After Bowel Cancer (HEAL ABC) resource was developed incorporating behavior change theory and World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute of Cancer Research guidelines. Focus groups and telephone interviews were conducted with professionals and survivors (age ≥18 years) to obtain feedback on the resource layout, structure, and content. Recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using framework analysis. Results: Thirty participants evaluated the resource—19 cancer survivors and 11 professionals. Survivors’ mean age was 62 years (SD 11.5), 11 (58%) were females and 8 (42%) were male. Professionals were all females and mean age was 40 years (SD 6.06). Both survivors and professionals evaluated the resource as useful and provided suggestions for improvements. Conclusions: HEAL ABC is an evidence-based resource designed to aid cancer survivors in translating their motivation into action. It was valued positively by both survivors and healthcare professionals and viewed as filling a gap in post-treatment advice.

scholarly journals Optimizing Child Nutrition Education With the Foodbot Factory Mobile Health App: Formative Evaluation and Analysis

10.2196/15534 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. e15534
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Marie Brown ◽  
Robert Savaglio ◽  
Graham Watson ◽  
Allison Kaplansky ◽  
Ann LeSage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Interdisciplinary Team ◽  
Learning Objectives ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Testing Session ◽  
User Testing ◽  
Environmental Scan ◽  
Iterative Development

Background Early nutrition interventions to improve food knowledge and skills are critical in enhancing the diet quality of children and reducing the lifelong risk of chronic disease. Despite the rise of mobile health (mHealth) apps and their known effectiveness for improving health behaviors, few evidence-based apps exist to help engage children in learning about nutrition and healthy eating. Objective This study aimed to describe the iterative development and user testing of Foodbot Factory, a novel nutrition education gamified app for children to use at home or in the classroom and to present data from user testing experiments conducted to evaluate the app. Methods An interdisciplinary team of experts in nutrition, education (pedagogy), and game design led to the creation of Foodbot Factory. First, a literature review and an environmental scan of the app marketplace were conducted, and stakeholders were consulted to define the key objectives and content of Foodbot Factory. Dietitian and teacher stakeholders identified priority age groups and learning objectives. Using a quasi-experimental mixed method design guided by the Iterative Convergent Design for Mobile Health Usability Testing approach, five app user testing sessions were conducted among students (ages 9-12 years). During gameplay, engagement and usability were assessed via direct observations with a semistructured form. After gameplay, qualitative interviews and questionnaires were used to assess user satisfaction, engagement, usability, and knowledge gained. Results The environmental scan data revealed that few evidence-based nutrition education apps existed for children. A literature search identified key nutrients of concern for Canadian children and techniques that could be incorporated into the app to engage users in learning. Foodbot Factory included characters (2 scientists and Foodbots) who initiate fun and engaging dialogue and challenges (minigames), with storylines incorporating healthy eating messages that align with the established learning objectives. A total of five modules were developed: drinks, vegetables and fruit, grain foods, animal protein foods, and plant protein foods. Seven behavior change techniques and three unique gamified components were integrated into the app. Data from each user testing session were used to inform and optimize the next app iteration. The final user testing session demonstrated that participants agreed that they wanted to play Foodbot Factory again (12/17, 71%), that the app is easy to use (12/17, 71%) and fun (14/17, 88%), and that the app goals were clearly presented (15/17, 94%). Conclusions Foodbot Factory is an engaging and educational mHealth intervention for the Canadian public that is grounded in evidence and developed by an interdisciplinary team of experts. The use of an iterative development approach is a demonstrated method to improve engagement, satisfaction, and usability with each iteration. Children find Foodbot Factory to be fun and easy to use, and can engage children in learning about nutrition.

General remarks

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pantaleo Giannuzzi
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Cardiovascular Prevention ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Risk Factor Management ◽  
Preventive Cardiology ◽  
Clinical Benefits

Cardiac patients should be advised about and have the opportunity to access a comprehensive cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programme, addressing all aspects of lifestyle—smoking cessation, healthy eating, and being physically active—together with more effective management of blood pressure, lipids, and glucose. To achieve the clinical benefits of a multidisciplinary and multifactorial prevention programme we need to integrate professional lifestyle interventions with effective risk factor management and evidence-based drug therapies, appropriately adapted to the medical, cultural, and economic setting of a country. The challenge is to engage and motivate cardiologists, physicians, and health professionals to routinely practise high-quality preventive cardiology and promote a healthcare system which invests in prevention.

scholarly journals An Exercise Training and Healthy Eating Group Program (ATHENA) for Overweight and Obese Women with Urinary Incontinence: An Intervention Description

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 575
Author(s):  
Zara Howard ◽  
Lynda Ross ◽  
Leanne Smith ◽  
Nadine Baker ◽  
Jennifer Nucifora ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urinary Incontinence ◽  
Exercise Training ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Pelvic Floor Muscle ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Group Program ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
General Exercise ◽  
Intervention Description

Background: Despite strong evidence for supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) for women with urinary incontinence (UI), and weight loss and exercise for overweight and obese women with UI, implementation literature on these combined interventions is limited. This paper aimed to describe the rigorous and systematic processes involved in the collaborative development, implementation, refinement and evaluation of a novel, holistic 12 week exercise training and healthy eating group program (ATHENA) for overweight and obese women with UI. Methods/Design: This intervention description paper is part of a larger mixed-methods feasibility study of implementing the ATHENA intervention within a physiotherapy service at a public hospital in Australia. The collaborative intervention design had input from clinicians, researchers and a consumer representative. Results: The intervention involved four evidence-based components—(1) supervised PFMT; (2) general exercise training; (3) pelvic health education; and (4) healthy eating education—delivered face to face over a 12 week period. Supporting resources developed included a Facilitator’s Guide and Participant Workbook. Conclusion: ATHENA is an evidence-based, multifaceted, group-based intervention targeting exercise training and healthy eating for management of UI for overweight and obese women. The structured development process and transparency of intervention content and resources aims to enhance practical application and success in future studies.

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