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Prof. Meg Bruening
College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA

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0 Food Policy
0 Health Promotion
0 School Nutrition
0 Social Determinants Of Health
0 Social Epidemiology

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Eating behaviors
food insecurity
Ecological momentary assessments
School Nutrition
Friendship networks
Health Promotion
Community-based participatory research
Maternal child health

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Journal article
Published: 19 April 2021 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
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Background Given policy regulations restricting bisphenol A (BPA) in food-related products, and consumer concerns about adverse health effects, newer bisphenols such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) have been developed. Exposure to BPA has been linked to dietary behaviors and poor health outcomes. Objectives We sought to examine how the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and its 13 subgroups, the healthy American diet, the Mediterranean diet, the vegetarian diet, and other dietary quality behaviors are related to BPA and the newer substitutes in a representative sample of US adults. Methods Dietary intakes from the NHANES were used to determine dietary scores. Osmolality-adjusted urinary BPA (n = 6418) and BPF and BPS (n = 2520) concentrations were tested for their association with dietary intake in models that adjusted for sociodemographics. Results Compared with low scores, high scores for total HEI and the American, Mediterranean, and vegetarian diets were associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.65, 0.60, 0.59, and 0.60, respectively). Of the HEI subgroups, lower BPA concentration was associated with high total fruit (OR: 0.61; 99.95% CI: 0.42, 0.89), whole fruit (OR: 0.59; 99.95% CI: 0.41, 0.86), and whole grain (OR: 0.68; 99.95% CI: 0.40, 0.94) intake, when compared with low intakes. Compared with low intakes, high intakes of plain and tap water were associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.65; 99.95% CI: 0.47, 0.91 and OR: 0.70; 99.95% CI: 0.50, 0.99, respectively). A perception of high, compared with low, dietary quality was also associated with lower odds of high BPA concentration (OR: 0.72; 99.95% CI: 0.53, 0.98). Conclusions Healthier dietary quality and several HEI subgroups were related to lower urinary BPA concentrations; no significant (P ≤ 0.0005) findings were observed for BPF and BPS. The association between bisphenol substitutes and dietary quality should continue to be monitored as bisphenol substitutes continue to increase in the food system.

ACS Style

Irene van Woerden; DeVon C Payne-Sturges; Corrie M Whisner; Meg Bruening. Dietary quality and bisphenols: trends in bisphenol A, F, and S exposure in relation to the Healthy Eating Index using representative data from the NHANES 2007–2016. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Irene van Woerden, DeVon C Payne-Sturges, Corrie M Whisner, Meg Bruening. Dietary quality and bisphenols: trends in bisphenol A, F, and S exposure in relation to the Healthy Eating Index using representative data from the NHANES 2007–2016. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene van Woerden; DeVon C Payne-Sturges; Corrie M Whisner; Meg Bruening. 2021. "Dietary quality and bisphenols: trends in bisphenol A, F, and S exposure in relation to the Healthy Eating Index using representative data from the NHANES 2007–2016." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 09 April 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Street food stands (SFS) are an understudied element of the food environment. Previous SFS studies have not used a rigorous approach to document the availability, density, and distribution of SFS across neighborhood income levels and points of access in Mexico City. A random sample (n = 761) of street segments representing 20 low-, middle-, and high-income neighborhoods were assessed using geographic information system (GIS) and ground-truthing methods. All three income levels contained SFS. However, SFS availability and density were higher in middle-income neighborhoods. The distribution of SFS showed that SFS were most often found near homes, transportation centers, and worksites. SFS availability near schools may have been limited by local school policies. Additional studies are needed to further document relationships between SFS availability, density, and distribution, and current structures and processes.

ACS Style

Jose Rosales Chavez; Meg Bruening; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Rebecca Lee; Megan Jehn. Street Food Stand Availability, Density, and Distribution Across Income Levels in Mexico City. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 3953 .

AMA Style

Jose Rosales Chavez, Meg Bruening, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Rebecca Lee, Megan Jehn. Street Food Stand Availability, Density, and Distribution Across Income Levels in Mexico City. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (8):3953.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jose Rosales Chavez; Meg Bruening; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Rebecca Lee; Megan Jehn. 2021. "Street Food Stand Availability, Density, and Distribution Across Income Levels in Mexico City." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 8: 3953.

Journal article
Published: 20 January 2021 in Food Policy
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A growing body of research among college students has estimated remarkably high levels of food insecurity when compared to food insecurity estimates from the general population over the past decade, with recent literature reviews reporting average prevalence rates of 33–51% compared to 9.8% among U.S. adults. Given these high rates of food insecurity, policymakers at the state- and federal-levels are considering legislation to better understand and ultimately alleviate food insecurity in the college student population. Further, the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study will soon collect national surveillance data on college student food insecurity. However, emerging research suggests that existing food insecurity measurement tools may not perform as expected when used with college students. Indeed, there is no food insecurity measure that has been validated for use with college students. The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the current state of food insecurity measurement among college students and set a course for more meaningful measurement in the college-student population that produces consistent and comparable estimates of food insecurity.

ACS Style

Brenna Ellison; Meg Bruening; Daniel J. Hruschka; Cassandra J. Nikolaus; Irene van Woerden; Matthew P. Rabbitt; Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson. Viewpoint: Food insecurity among college students: A case for consistent and comparable measurement. Food Policy 2021, 101, 102031 .

AMA Style

Brenna Ellison, Meg Bruening, Daniel J. Hruschka, Cassandra J. Nikolaus, Irene van Woerden, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson. Viewpoint: Food insecurity among college students: A case for consistent and comparable measurement. Food Policy. 2021; 101 ():102031.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Brenna Ellison; Meg Bruening; Daniel J. Hruschka; Cassandra J. Nikolaus; Irene van Woerden; Matthew P. Rabbitt; Sharon M. Nickols-Richardson. 2021. "Viewpoint: Food insecurity among college students: A case for consistent and comparable measurement." Food Policy 101, no. : 102031.

Journal article
Published: 11 November 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a pilot community-based behavioral intervention on the home food environment in U.S. households. Parents (21 females, 2 males; age = 36 ± 5.5 years; 78% Hispanic) of elementary school-aged children attended a 10-week dietary improvement behavioral intervention targeting an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a reduction in sugar intake. Home food availability of fruit, vegetables, and sugar-laden foods and beverages were assessed before and after the intervention using a modified version of the Home Food Inventory. Relative to baseline, the intervention resulted in significant increases in fruit availability (7.7 ± 3.2 items vs. 9.4 ± 3.1 items; p = 0.004) and low sugar cereal (2.3 ± 1.4 types vs. 2.7 ± 1.4 types; p = 0.033). There was a significant reduction in sugar-sweetened beverage availability (3.2 ± 1.9 types vs. 1.7 ± 1.3 types; p = 0.004). There was a significant increase in the number of households with accessible ready-to-eat vegetables and fruit, and a significant reduction in available prepared desserts, and candy (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in the availability of vegetables and sugar-laden cereals. The current intervention resulted in positive changes in the home food environment. Further research to confirm these results in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.

ACS Style

Rachel A. Cassinat; Meg Bruening; Noe C. Crespo; Mónica Gutiérrez; Adrian Chavez; Frank Ray; Sonia Vega-López. Effects of a Community-Based Pilot Intervention on Home Food Availability among U.S. Households. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 8327 .

AMA Style

Rachel A. Cassinat, Meg Bruening, Noe C. Crespo, Mónica Gutiérrez, Adrian Chavez, Frank Ray, Sonia Vega-López. Effects of a Community-Based Pilot Intervention on Home Food Availability among U.S. Households. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (22):8327.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rachel A. Cassinat; Meg Bruening; Noe C. Crespo; Mónica Gutiérrez; Adrian Chavez; Frank Ray; Sonia Vega-López. 2020. "Effects of a Community-Based Pilot Intervention on Home Food Availability among U.S. Households." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 22: 8327.

Chapter
Published: 22 September 2020 in Adolescent Nutrition
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Food insecurity has been shown to adversely affect all populations, but the experience for adolescents and emerging adults is somewhat different from other groups through the life course. This chapter outlines the definition of food insecurity, how food insecurity is measured, the prevalence of food insecurity, and the effects of food insecurity on young people, and interventions to address food insecurity. The chapter discusses differences in how food insecurity impacts adolescents and emerging adults.

ACS Style

Meg Bruening; Alexandra Brewis; Amber Wutich. Food Insecurity Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults. Adolescent Nutrition 2020, 269 -285.

AMA Style

Meg Bruening, Alexandra Brewis, Amber Wutich. Food Insecurity Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults. Adolescent Nutrition. 2020; ():269-285.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meg Bruening; Alexandra Brewis; Amber Wutich. 2020. "Food Insecurity Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults." Adolescent Nutrition , no. : 269-285.

From the academy
Published: 01 September 2020 in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
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Current systems of food production and consumption are challenged by factors such as natural resource constraints, relative unaffordability of nutrient-dense foods, persistent social inequities, and high rates of diet-related disease. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) play a critical role in protecting the health of current and future populations by advancing sustainable, resilient, and healthy food and water systems. By definition, such systems can meet current dietary needs without jeopardizing the ability to meet the needs of future generations; can withstand or adapt to disturbances over time; and can equitably facilitate disease prevention and well-being for all individuals. This area of practice within nutrition and dietetics requires recognition of the complex interrelationships among indiviudal health and economic, environmental, and social domains of food and nutrition, and allows RDNs to bring unique expertise to diverse interprofessional teams. The Revised 2020 Standards of Professional Performance for RDNs (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems update the 2014 standards and cover the following 6 standards of professional performance: Quality in Practice, Competence and Accountability, Provision of Services, Application of Research, Communication and Application of Knowledge, and Utilization and Management of Resources. Within each standard, specific indicators provide measurable action statements that illustrate how the RDN can apply the principles of sustainable food systems to a variety of practice settings. The indicators describe 3 skill levels (ie, competent, proficient, and expert) for RDNs in this focus area.

ACS Style

Marie Spiker; Sarah Reinhardt; Meg Bruening. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2020 Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2020, 120, 1568 -1585.e28.

AMA Style

Marie Spiker, Sarah Reinhardt, Meg Bruening. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2020 Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020; 120 (9):1568-1585.e28.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marie Spiker; Sarah Reinhardt; Meg Bruening. 2020. "Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Revised 2020 Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Competent, Proficient, and Expert) in Sustainable, Resilient, and Healthy Food and Water Systems." Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 120, no. 9: 1568-1585.e28.

Research article
Published: 26 March 2020 in PLOS ONE
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Identify how higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight discrimination are associated with romantic relationship formation and termination in young adults, and if the association was consistent for males and females. First-year students (N = 1096) at entry to university (Time 1) provided BMI and self-reports of weight discrimination and romantic relationship status (in a relationship vs single); 550 were successfully resampled four months later (Time 2). Logistic generalized estimating equations (GEEs) examined if Time 1 relationship status was predicted by BMI and weight discrimination. Logistic GEEs were used to determine if Time 1 BMI and weight discrimination predicted Time 2 relationship status for the strata of students in, and out, of a relationship at Time 1. At baseline, students were less likely to be in a relationship if they had a higher BMI (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.92, 0.96) or reported weight discrimination (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53, 0.90). When stratified by gender, the association between higher BMI and weight discrimination with relationship status was only observed for females. Longitudinally, a BMI-based selection effect was observed for romantic relationship formation, but not termination. Of the students who were single at Time 1, each one unit higher baseline BMI decreased the odds of the student transitioning to a relationship by 9% at Time 2 (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85, 0.96). When stratified by gender the association of higher BMI decreased odds of relationship formation was only significant for females. No weight discrimination differences for selection in or out of a romantic relationship were observed. These findings suggest a weight-related selection effect for romantic relationship initiation, but not termination, in young female adults with lower BMIs. Weight discrimination was not associated with romantic relationship initiation or termination in this sample.

ACS Style

Irene Van Woerden; Alexandra Brewis; Daniel Hruschka; Genevieve Dunton; Marc A. Adams; Meg Bruening. Young adults’ BMI and changes in romantic relationship status during the first semester of college. PLOS ONE 2020, 15, e0230806 .

AMA Style

Irene Van Woerden, Alexandra Brewis, Daniel Hruschka, Genevieve Dunton, Marc A. Adams, Meg Bruening. Young adults’ BMI and changes in romantic relationship status during the first semester of college. PLOS ONE. 2020; 15 (3):e0230806.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Van Woerden; Alexandra Brewis; Daniel Hruschka; Genevieve Dunton; Marc A. Adams; Meg Bruening. 2020. "Young adults’ BMI and changes in romantic relationship status during the first semester of college." PLOS ONE 15, no. 3: e0230806.

Journal article
Published: 05 October 2019 in Appetite
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To examine if first-year roommates made similar meal plan decisions. Residence information for 1186 first-year students (N = 593 roommate pairs) and 559 floormates was obtained for the 2015–2016 academic year. Linear generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to examine if the number of meals students used over the semester was higher if their roommate used their meal plan more frequently. A logistic GEE examined joint meal plan usage between students and roommates for each month of the semester. To determine if residence, rather than roommate, explained the results, a simulation was conducted by randomly assigning the floormates to a same-sex roommate. The number of meals students used in spring was higher if the students’ roommate had used more meals in spring, even after controlling for the number of meals students used in fall (Female: β = 0.07, 99% CI = 0.00, 0.13; Male: β = 0.10, 99% CI = 0.02, 0.18). Students were more likely to use a meal with their roommate if they were on the same meal plan (Female: OR = 1.61, 99% CI = 1.27, 2.04; Male: OR = 1.57, 99% CI = 1.09, 2.25), and less likely after the first month of being roommates (Female: OR = 0.57–0.25; Male: OR = 0.50–0.22; p < 0.001). The simulation analysis indicated these findings were not due to shared residence. Students' meal plan choices were associated with their roommates' meal plan choices. Roommates' joint meal plan usage was highest at the start of the year. Strategic roommate pairings may result in students using their meal plan more. Further research should determine the extent of roommate influence on students’ diet.

ACS Style

Irene van Woerden; David R. Schaefer; Daniel Hruschka; Sonia Vega-Lopez; Marc Adams; Meg Bruening. Similarity in meal plan use among first-year roommates. Appetite 2019, 144, 104482 -104482.

AMA Style

Irene van Woerden, David R. Schaefer, Daniel Hruschka, Sonia Vega-Lopez, Marc Adams, Meg Bruening. Similarity in meal plan use among first-year roommates. Appetite. 2019; 144 ():104482-104482.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene van Woerden; David R. Schaefer; Daniel Hruschka; Sonia Vega-Lopez; Marc Adams; Meg Bruening. 2019. "Similarity in meal plan use among first-year roommates." Appetite 144, no. : 104482-104482.

Journal article
Published: 30 August 2019 in Journal of Adolescent Health
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Purpose The transition to college is a vulnerable period for weight gain and the onset of obesity. Gut microbes differ in obese compared with lean individuals, but gut microbiota in adolescent-aged college freshmen during a known period of weight gain have never been studied. This pre–post observational pilot study assessed associations between intestinal microbiota changes and weight-related outcomes in healthy adolescent college freshmen living in on-campus dormitories at Arizona State University (n = 39). Methods We measured anthropometrics (waist circumference [WC], height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]) and collected fecal samples at the beginning and end of the 2015–2016 academic year. Fold changes in species-level microbes across time were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and used in correlation and multivariate regression analyses. Results A total of 24 female and 15 male adolescents (aged 18.54 ± .67 years) participated in this study. Over the academic year, BMI and WC increased by .97±1.28 kg/m2 and 2.64±4.90 cm, respectively. Correlation analyses indicated a significant negative association between Akkermansia muciniphila and both percentage WC change and percentage BMI change (r = −.66, p < .01; and r = −.33, p = .04, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis controlling for sociodemographics showed a significant association between A. muciniphila and percentage WC change, but not percentage BMI change (R2 = .53, p < .01; and R2 = .24, p = .15, respectively). Conclusions As this was the first study in a university-based adolescent population to show a relationship between A. muciniphila and weight-related outcomes, further research is needed to explore these findings.

ACS Style

Elizabeth K. Journey; Carmen P. Ortega-Santos; Meg Bruening; Corrie M. Whisner. Changes in Weight Status and the Intestinal Microbiota Among College Freshman, Aged 18 Years. Journal of Adolescent Health 2019, 66, 166 -171.

AMA Style

Elizabeth K. Journey, Carmen P. Ortega-Santos, Meg Bruening, Corrie M. Whisner. Changes in Weight Status and the Intestinal Microbiota Among College Freshman, Aged 18 Years. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2019; 66 (2):166-171.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Elizabeth K. Journey; Carmen P. Ortega-Santos; Meg Bruening; Corrie M. Whisner. 2019. "Changes in Weight Status and the Intestinal Microbiota Among College Freshman, Aged 18 Years." Journal of Adolescent Health 66, no. 2: 166-171.

Journal article
Published: 23 August 2019 in Nutrients
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College students and their friends become more similar in weight status over time. However, it is unclear which mediators explain this relationship. Using validated survey measures of diet, physical activity, alcohol intake, sleep behaviors, mental health, and food security status, we take a comprehensive look at possible factors associated with excess weight gain that may explain friends’ convergence on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and waist to height ratio over time. We use linear mixed models applied to a longitudinal dataset of first-year college students to examine whether these variables satisfy two criteria for potential candidate mediators of friends’ influence on anthropometrics—cross-sectional similarity among friends (n = 509) and longitudinal associations with increasing anthropometrics (n = 428). While friends were similar on some survey measures (such as dining hall use, home cooked meal consumption, fruit intake, alcohol intake, hours of sleep, and stress). Only dining hall use and stress emerged as potential explanations for why friends’ BMI and anthropometric change may be similar. Given that only a few variables satisfied the two criteria as potential mediators, future research may need to consider alternative measurement approaches, including real-time assessments, objective measurements, and alternative factors causing the convergence of friends’ and college students’ body size over time.

ACS Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; David R. Schaefer; Kimberly L. Fine; Meg Bruening. Evaluating Potential Behavioral Mediators for Increasing Similarity in Friends’ Body Size among College Students. Nutrients 2019, 11, 1996 .

AMA Style

Irene Van Woerden, Daniel Hruschka, David R. Schaefer, Kimberly L. Fine, Meg Bruening. Evaluating Potential Behavioral Mediators for Increasing Similarity in Friends’ Body Size among College Students. Nutrients. 2019; 11 (9):1996.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; David R. Schaefer; Kimberly L. Fine; Meg Bruening. 2019. "Evaluating Potential Behavioral Mediators for Increasing Similarity in Friends’ Body Size among College Students." Nutrients 11, no. 9: 1996.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2019 in Current Developments in Nutrition
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Objectives It's not well understood how youth perceive existing fruit and vegetable (FV) marketing materials available in schools. This ancillary study sought to assess the acceptability of FV marketing materials freely available to schools among adolescents in grades 6–12. Methods Middle and high school students (n = 40; 50% female; 52.5% Hispanic) in the Phoenix, AZ area were asked to rank marketing materials (n = 35) from favorite to least favorite in four categories: table tents, medium posters, large posters and announcements. Favorites were determined by showing participants two items at a time and having them choose which they preferred. Marketing items were initially selected randomly from all items available from various nutrition campaigns and represented a subset of the top-rated items screened by school nutrition professionals. Students participated in a 20–30 minute interview and judged items based on acceptance/attractiveness, comprehension, relevance, motivation and uniqueness of the materials. A content analysis was performed on the items. Results A content analysis determined 84% of participants chose advertisements that had more than 4 color groups. Participant preference of advertisement length and word count was varied. A total of 5 themes and 20 subthemes emerged when participants discussed their preferences of the FV materials. Themes included: Likes (e.g., colors, length, FV shown), dislikes (e.g., length, FV shown), health information (e.g., vitamin shown), comprehension (e.g., doesn't recognize FV), and social aspects (e.g., peer opinion). Peer opinion often influenced participant opinion on marketing materials. Participants often said peers wouldn't like the advertisements shown: “…kids my age think that vegetables are not good, and they like food more than vegetables.” Conclusions Participants expressed they liked the marketing materials shown. Students preferred advertisements with more color. Word count had minimal influence on their opinions of the marketing materials. Further research needs to be done to determine if there is a link between adolescent preferences on FV marketing materials and FV consumption habits. Funding Sources This study was supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of NIH.

ACS Style

Sydney Pisano; Marc Adams; Kassandra Koester; Meg Bruening. Acceptability of Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Materials for Schools Among Adolescents (P16-043-19). Current Developments in Nutrition 2019, 3, 1 .

AMA Style

Sydney Pisano, Marc Adams, Kassandra Koester, Meg Bruening. Acceptability of Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Materials for Schools Among Adolescents (P16-043-19). Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019; 3 (Supplement):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sydney Pisano; Marc Adams; Kassandra Koester; Meg Bruening. 2019. "Acceptability of Fruit and Vegetable Marketing Materials for Schools Among Adolescents (P16-043-19)." Current Developments in Nutrition 3, no. Supplement: 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2019 in Current Developments in Nutrition
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Objectives To examine the relationship between acculturation and diet quality of preschoolers in the Phoenix area. There is little research on how the dietary intake of preschoolers outside of the home is impacted by parental acculturation in food secure and insecure households. Methods This study was a cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the SAGE (Sustainability via Active Garden Education) research project. SAGE provides education on gardening, physical activity, and nutrition to preschoolers in Phoenix, AZ. Preschoolers (Mean age 53.1 + 3.5 mos; n = 154) were recruited from early care and education centers (ECEC). Acculturation was evaluated using a parent-report validated survey on a scale of 1–5 (1 = low acculturation). Parents also reported sociodemographic variables (child sex, age, ethnicity, and family income) and household food security status (dichotomized as food secure or insecure). Meals were observed by trained research staff at the ECEC for one full day (breakfast, lunch, snack) and recorded using the Nutrition Data System for Research. Linear regressions examined the relationship between acculturation and diet quality (total kcal, fruits, vegetables, saturated fat, added sugar intake) adjusting for sociodemographics and household food security status. Results A total of 78.6% of preschoolers in this study were Hispanic. Of the 154 children, 52.6% and 47.4% were male and female, respectively. The mean acculturation score was 3.0 + 1.3 with 41.8% of the sample being food insecure. Higher acculturation was significantly associated with increased vegetable (β = 0.095, P = 0.028) and saturated fat intake (β = 1.001, P = 0.018). Acculturation trended an association with increased kcal intake (β = 47.475, P = 0.053). Conclusions Results suggest parent acculturation is associated with healthy and unhealthy eating habits in preschoolers outside of the home regardless of food security status. When evaluating diet quality of preschoolers, acculturation needs to be assessed to promote improved health behaviors, especially in relation to saturated fat and vegetable intake. Funding Sources This study was funded by the Maternal Child Health Bureau and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health.

ACS Style

Marisa Gutierrez; Kimberly Fine; Meg Bruening; Corrie Whisner; Rebecca Lee. Acculturation Is Related to Diet Quality in Phoenix Preschoolers, Controlling for Food Insecurity (P04-048-19). Current Developments in Nutrition 2019, 3, 1 .

AMA Style

Marisa Gutierrez, Kimberly Fine, Meg Bruening, Corrie Whisner, Rebecca Lee. Acculturation Is Related to Diet Quality in Phoenix Preschoolers, Controlling for Food Insecurity (P04-048-19). Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019; 3 (Supplement):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marisa Gutierrez; Kimberly Fine; Meg Bruening; Corrie Whisner; Rebecca Lee. 2019. "Acculturation Is Related to Diet Quality in Phoenix Preschoolers, Controlling for Food Insecurity (P04-048-19)." Current Developments in Nutrition 3, no. Supplement: 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 June 2019 in Current Developments in Nutrition
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Objectives To better understand how Latinx middle school youth perceive the family- and environment-related factors that influence their diet and eating behaviors. Methods Five gender-stratified focus groups (3 with females, 2 with males) with 37 Latinx seventh grade students (54% female) were conducted. The guided discussion included questions about participants’ food choices, the role of their parents in their diet, the way diet and food are discussed at home, and healthy body-related concerns among their peers. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded in NVivo on the basis of specificity, extensiveness, frequency, and emotionality. Themes emerged from group dialogue; detailed conversations and predominant topics of discussion were noted. Results Youth identified several home- and family-level factors influencing their eating behaviors and food preferences, including parental/caregiver modeling, home food availability, and household budgetary constraints. Within the home, youth described a limited ability to participate in decisions regarding food choices, meal planning, meal preparation, and communicating with their caregivers about food preferences. Some youth expressed frustration due to perceiving that other family members were given alternative food options during meals. Youth were interested in eating healthier foods, but those options were not always available at home. Healthy foods at school were described as poorly prepared, and not always available. Youth reported experiencing peer pressure regarding healthy or unhealthy food selection, body image, and fitness level, and reported awareness of the use of unhealthful eating behaviors (e.g., restrictive eating, dieting, purging) as coping strategies. Conclusions Family- and household-related factors emerged as important factors that influence youth dietary behaviors. Youth expressed they would eat more nutritious foods if they had more options, if the food was well prepared, and they were given more autonomy over their food and meal choices. Future diet interventions should incorporate strategies to address family-level and environmental factors that influence dietary intake in this vulnerable population. Funding Sources Funded by NIMHD.

ACS Style

Emily Masek; Lela Wiliams; Elizabeth Lorenzo; Beatriz Vega-Luna; Hector Valdez; Leopoldo Hartmann; Meg Bruening; Mary Harthun; Flavio Marsiglia; Anaid Gonzalvez; Sonia Vega-Lopez. Perceptions of Factors Influencing Diet and Eating Behaviors Among Latinx Middle School Students (P04-113-19). Current Developments in Nutrition 2019, 3, 1 .

AMA Style

Emily Masek, Lela Wiliams, Elizabeth Lorenzo, Beatriz Vega-Luna, Hector Valdez, Leopoldo Hartmann, Meg Bruening, Mary Harthun, Flavio Marsiglia, Anaid Gonzalvez, Sonia Vega-Lopez. Perceptions of Factors Influencing Diet and Eating Behaviors Among Latinx Middle School Students (P04-113-19). Current Developments in Nutrition. 2019; 3 (Supplement):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Emily Masek; Lela Wiliams; Elizabeth Lorenzo; Beatriz Vega-Luna; Hector Valdez; Leopoldo Hartmann; Meg Bruening; Mary Harthun; Flavio Marsiglia; Anaid Gonzalvez; Sonia Vega-Lopez. 2019. "Perceptions of Factors Influencing Diet and Eating Behaviors Among Latinx Middle School Students (P04-113-19)." Current Developments in Nutrition 3, no. Supplement: 1.

Journal article
Published: 30 May 2019 in Environmental Research
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Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25 years) is a key turning point in the life course characterized by particularly poor eating behaviors (e.g., low in fruits and vegetables, and high in fast food) and weight gain. Emerging adults are also prime consumers of personal care and other consumer products that may result in differential exposures to environmental contaminants, such as Bisphenol A (BPA), compared to adults aged 26+ years. This is of concern given BPA has been associated with adverse health outcomes such as obesity, metabolic disorders, miscarriage, infertility and breast cancer. However, no research has examined exposure to BPA among emerging adults. To assess trends of exposure to urinary BPA among a representative sample of emerging adults compared to adults aged 26+ years. Secondarily, we aimed to identify differential associations between BPA concentrations and sociodemographic characteristics and BMI by age group. This study uses National Health and Examination Surveys (NHANES) over 2003–2014 to test differences in BPA concentrations comparing emerging adults to adults aged 26+ years. Generalized linear models predicting log BPA by age group and sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and food security status, and generalized linear models predicting BMI by log BPA, both age group and age as a continuous variable, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and food security status were conducted. Interactions with age group (i.e., age group x sex) were examined for the mutually adjusted models. All models controlled for survey year, month, and time of day, and were run with, and without, an adjustment for urinary creatinine. In models adjusted, and not adjusted, for urinary creatinine, emerging adults had a higher log BPA concentration than adults aged 26+ years (β=0.153, p=0.004; β=0.544, p<0.001), and a significantly steeper decline in BPA concentration between 2003-2004 and 2013–2014 than adults aged 26+ years (ß=−0.051, p=0.002; ß=−0.071, p=0.001). Males’ log BPA concentration were lower than that for females when urinary creatinine was included in the model, and higher when urinary creatinine was excluded from the model (ß=−0.188, p<0.001; β=0.203, p<0.001). Higher income was significantly associated with lower log BPA concentration (ß=−0.220, p<0.001; ß=−0.166, p<0.001). A significant interaction between emerging adult age group and food security status was observed, which was associated with higher BPA exposures. Log BPA concentration was associated with BMI only when urinary creatinine was excluded from the models (urinary creatinine included: β=0.031, p=0.747; β=0.022, p=0.815, urinary creatinine excluded: β=0.528, p<0.001; β=0.552, p<0.001). Findings indicate that emerging adults had higher BPA exposures than adults aged 26+ years in 2003–2004, and that emerging adults’ exposure level has decreased faster than that of adults aged 26+ years. There were suggestions that the BPA concentration of emerging adults in 2013–2014 was lower than that for adults aged 26+ years, and that BPA exposure is associated with higher BMI. Our results highlight the need for additional research to identify the sources and routes of exposure to BPA and BPA replacements among emerging adults and to better characterize the variability in exposure. Intervention studies are needed to assist emerging adults in limiting their exposure to BPA, and potentially also the BPA alternatives.

ACS Style

Irene van Woerden; Meg Bruening; Jessica Montresor-López; Devon C. Payne-Sturges. Trends and disparities in urinary BPA concentrations among U.S. emerging adults. Environmental Research 2019, 176, 108515 .

AMA Style

Irene van Woerden, Meg Bruening, Jessica Montresor-López, Devon C. Payne-Sturges. Trends and disparities in urinary BPA concentrations among U.S. emerging adults. Environmental Research. 2019; 176 ():108515.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene van Woerden; Meg Bruening; Jessica Montresor-López; Devon C. Payne-Sturges. 2019. "Trends and disparities in urinary BPA concentrations among U.S. emerging adults." Environmental Research 176, no. : 108515.

Journal article
Published: 23 April 2019 in Nutrients
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Some researchers have proposed the prevalence of food insecurity among college students is high due to students' meal plans providing insufficient meals. The association between college students' food security status and their meal plans have not yet been examined. In this study, United States (US) first year college students (N = 534) self-reported their food security status in the Fall 2015 and/or Spring 2016 semester(s). Objective measures of students' meal plans were obtained from the university. Logistic generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to determine if students' meal plan, and meal plan use, predicted food insecurity. Linear GEEs were used to examine several potential reasons for lower meal plan use. We found that students did not use all of their available meals. Compared to students on the most expensive (unlimited) meal plan, students on the cheapest (8 meals/week) meal plan were the most likely to report food insecurity (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2, 4.1). However, in the Fall semester, 26% of students on unlimited meal plans also reported food insecurity. For students on the 180 meals/semester meal plan, food insecurity was associated with using fewer meals (OR = 0.9, 95% CI = 0.8, 1.0). Students who worked tended to use their meal plan less (β = -1.3, 95% CI = -2.3, -0.3). Students are reporting food insecurity while having meals left in their meal plan.

ACS Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; Sonia Vega-Lόpez; David R. Schaefer; Marc Adams; Meg Bruening. Food Insecure College Students and Objective Measurements of Their Unused Meal Plans. Nutrients 2019, 11, 904 .

AMA Style

Irene Van Woerden, Daniel Hruschka, Sonia Vega-Lόpez, David R. Schaefer, Marc Adams, Meg Bruening. Food Insecure College Students and Objective Measurements of Their Unused Meal Plans. Nutrients. 2019; 11 (4):904.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; Sonia Vega-Lόpez; David R. Schaefer; Marc Adams; Meg Bruening. 2019. "Food Insecure College Students and Objective Measurements of Their Unused Meal Plans." Nutrients 11, no. 4: 904.

Clinical trial protocol
Published: 01 February 2019 in Contemporary Clinical Trials
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Strategies are needed to help early care and education centers (ECEC) comply with policies to meet daily physical activity and fruit and vegetable guidelines for young children. This manuscript describes the design and methodology of Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE), a 12-session cluster-randomized controlled crossover design trial using community-based participatory research (CBPR) to test a garden-based ECEC physical activity and fruit and vegetables promotion intervention for young children aged 3-5 years in 20 sites. The SAGE curriculum uses the plant lifecycle as a metaphor for human development. Children learn how to plant, water, weed, harvest, and do simple food preparation involving washing, cleaning, and sampling fruit and vegetables along with active learning songs, games, science experiments, mindful eating exercises, and interactive discussions to reinforce various healthy lifestyle topics. Parents will receive newsletters and text messages linked to the curriculum, describing local resources and events, and to remind them about activities and assessments. Children will be measured on physical activity, height, and weight and observed during meal and snack times to document dietary habits. Parents will complete measures about dietary habits outside of the ECEC, parenting practices, home physical activity resources, and home fruit and vegetable availability. SAGE fills an important void in the policy literature by employing a participatory strategy to produce a carefully crafted and engaging curriculum with the goal of meeting health policy guidelines and educational accreditation standards. If successful, SAGE may inform and inspire widespread dissemination and implementation to reduce health disparities and improve health equity.

ACS Style

Rebecca E. Lee; Elizabeth Lorenzo; Jacob Szeszulski; Anel Arriola; Meg Bruening; Paul A. Estabrooks; Jennie Hill; Flavio F. Marsiglia; Teresia O'connor; Kim Sellers Pollins; Gabriel Q. Shaibi; Erica Soltero; Michael Todd. Design and methodology of a cluster-randomized trial in early care and education centers to meet physical activity guidelines: Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE). Contemporary Clinical Trials 2019, 77, 8 -18.

AMA Style

Rebecca E. Lee, Elizabeth Lorenzo, Jacob Szeszulski, Anel Arriola, Meg Bruening, Paul A. Estabrooks, Jennie Hill, Flavio F. Marsiglia, Teresia O'connor, Kim Sellers Pollins, Gabriel Q. Shaibi, Erica Soltero, Michael Todd. Design and methodology of a cluster-randomized trial in early care and education centers to meet physical activity guidelines: Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE). Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2019; 77 ():8-18.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rebecca E. Lee; Elizabeth Lorenzo; Jacob Szeszulski; Anel Arriola; Meg Bruening; Paul A. Estabrooks; Jennie Hill; Flavio F. Marsiglia; Teresia O'connor; Kim Sellers Pollins; Gabriel Q. Shaibi; Erica Soltero; Michael Todd. 2019. "Design and methodology of a cluster-randomized trial in early care and education centers to meet physical activity guidelines: Sustainability via Active Garden Education (SAGE)." Contemporary Clinical Trials 77, no. : 8-18.

Clinical trial
Published: 18 December 2018 in PLOS ONE
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Social relationships have been proposed as a significant factor shaping obesity risk. The first year of college, a period of major social, behavioral, and weight changes, provides a context well-suited to tracking longitudinally the impact of shifting friendships on weight outcomes. This study sought to identify social mechanisms impacting BMI change among emerging adults. An analytic sample of 276 college students (71.0% female, 52.2% non-White) provided repeated reports of relationships and BMI was measured up to four times during 2015–2016. Stochastic actor-oriented models were used to examine change in BMI through social influence and change in friendships over time, controlling for sex and race/ethnicity. At baseline, mean BMI was 24.2±4.5 kg/m2. Overall, mean BMI increased over time; individual decreases in BMI were uncommon. There was a selection effect of BMI: participants with BMIs between 22 and 26 kg/m2 were most likely to be nominated as a friend. While participants did not select friends based on BMI similarity, participants who were reported as friends were more likely to experience convergence in BMI over time relative to the BMIs of non-friends (p = 0.015). An increase in BMI (versus stability or a decrease) was more likely for those whose friends had a higher BMI on average compared to participants whose friends had the same or lower BMI (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.22, 6.71). Analyses indicated BMI affected friend selection, not through students selecting friends with similar BMI, but rather, by students avoiding friends with more extreme BMI levels.

ACS Style

Meg Bruening; Irene Van Woerden; David R. Schaefer; Daniel Hruschka; Alexandra Brewis; Corrie Whisner; Genevieve F. Dunton; Michael Todd; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Melissa N. Laska. Friendship as a social mechanism influencing body mass index (BMI) among emerging adults. PLOS ONE 2018, 13, e0208894 .

AMA Style

Meg Bruening, Irene Van Woerden, David R. Schaefer, Daniel Hruschka, Alexandra Brewis, Corrie Whisner, Genevieve F. Dunton, Michael Todd, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Melissa N. Laska. Friendship as a social mechanism influencing body mass index (BMI) among emerging adults. PLOS ONE. 2018; 13 (12):e0208894.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Meg Bruening; Irene Van Woerden; David R. Schaefer; Daniel Hruschka; Alexandra Brewis; Corrie Whisner; Genevieve F. Dunton; Michael Todd; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Melissa N. Laska. 2018. "Friendship as a social mechanism influencing body mass index (BMI) among emerging adults." PLOS ONE 13, no. 12: e0208894.

Journal article
Published: 17 December 2018 in Contemporary Clinical Trials
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Building healthy fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption habits early in life is critical for primary prevention. However, U.S. youth do not come close to meeting national recommendations for FV intake. School-lunch salad bars are one of the most heavily promoted ways to meet FV guidelines. Contrary to popular belief, no rigorous randomized trials have examined whether salad bars increase students' FV consumption. This paper describes the design and rationale of a federally funded trial to evaluate whether introducing salad bars in elementary, middle, and high schools affects students' FV consumption and waste during lunch. A cluster factorial randomized trial will test new salad bars against waitlist controls, with and without an additional marketing intervention (N = 36 schools, N = 6804 students: n = 12 elementary, n = 12 middle and n = 12 high schools). Objective plate waste measurements of individual student's selection of FVs, consumption, and waste will be conducted using digital scales. Primary aim includes comparing FV consumption in schools without salad bars to those with new salad bars by grade level. Secondary aims include: a) whether FV marketing impacts the success of salad bars for FV consumption; b) whether salad bars differentially result in more FV waste compared to traditional serving methods; c) cost-benefit of using salad bars for consumption over traditional serving methods. When complete, this study stands to be one of the most definitive on the effectiveness of salad bars and contextual factors impacting their success. Findings will provide evidence for how to best spend limited federal dollars to improve FV intake in schools. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03283033 (date of registration: 9/14/2017).

ACS Style

Marc A. Adams; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Timothy J. Richards; Michael Todd; Meg Bruening. Design and rationale for evaluating salad bars and students' fruit and vegetable consumption: A cluster randomized factorial trial with objective assessments. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2018, 77, 37 -45.

AMA Style

Marc A. Adams, Punam Ohri-Vachaspati, Timothy J. Richards, Michael Todd, Meg Bruening. Design and rationale for evaluating salad bars and students' fruit and vegetable consumption: A cluster randomized factorial trial with objective assessments. Contemporary Clinical Trials. 2018; 77 ():37-45.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Marc A. Adams; Punam Ohri-Vachaspati; Timothy J. Richards; Michael Todd; Meg Bruening. 2018. "Design and rationale for evaluating salad bars and students' fruit and vegetable consumption: A cluster randomized factorial trial with objective assessments." Contemporary Clinical Trials 77, no. : 37-45.

Journal article
Published: 12 December 2018 in BMC Microbiology
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Modifiable lifestyle factors (e.g. dietary intake and physical activity) are important contributors to weight gain during college. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether associations exist between body mass index, physical activity, screen time, dietary consumption (fat, protein, carbohydrates, and fiber), and gut microbial diversity during the first year of college. Racially/ethnically diverse college students (n = 82; 61.0% non-white) at a large Southwestern university completed self-reported physical activity and 24-h recall dietary assessments, height and weight measurements, and provided one fecal sample for gut microbiome analysis. Fecal microbial community composition was assessed with Illumina MiSeq next-generation sequencing of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes. Post-hoc analyses compared microbial diversity by groups of high and low physical activity and fiber intake using QIIME and LEfSe bioinformatics software. No statistically significant differences were observed between body mass index and gut microbiome abundance and diversity. Median daily consumption of dietary fiber was 11.2 (7.6, 14.9) g/d, while the median self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was 55.7 (27.9, 79.3) min/d and screen time 195.0 (195.0, 315.0) min/d. Microbial analysis by LEfSe identified Paraprevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Lachnospira as important phylotypes in college students reporting greater MVPA, while Enterobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriales were more enriched among students reporting less MVPA (p < 0.05). Barnesiellaceae, Alphaproteobacteria, and Ruminococcus were more abundant taxa among those consuming less than the median fiber intake (p < 0.05). Post-hoc analyses comparing weighted UniFrac distance metrics based on combined categories of high and low MVPA and fiber revealed that clustering distances between members of the high MVPA-low fiber group were significantly smaller when compared to distances between members of all other MVPA-fiber groups (p < 0.0001). Habitual fiber consumption and MVPA behaviors help explain the differential abundance of specific microbial taxa and overall gut microbial diversity differences in first-year college students.

ACS Style

Corrie M. Whisner; Juan Maldonado; Brandon Dente; Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown; Meg Bruening. Diet, physical activity and screen time but not body mass index are associated with the gut microbiome of a diverse cohort of college students living in university housing: a cross-sectional study. BMC Microbiology 2018, 18, 210 .

AMA Style

Corrie M. Whisner, Juan Maldonado, Brandon Dente, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Meg Bruening. Diet, physical activity and screen time but not body mass index are associated with the gut microbiome of a diverse cohort of college students living in university housing: a cross-sectional study. BMC Microbiology. 2018; 18 (1):210.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Corrie M. Whisner; Juan Maldonado; Brandon Dente; Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown; Meg Bruening. 2018. "Diet, physical activity and screen time but not body mass index are associated with the gut microbiome of a diverse cohort of college students living in university housing: a cross-sectional study." BMC Microbiology 18, no. 1: 210.

Academic paper
Published: 26 November 2018 in Journal of Public Affairs
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Recent research has documented high rates of food insecurity among university students, particularly students in their first year. Food insecurity among university students has been linked to poorer self‐reported health and academic outcomes. However, few studies have linked reports of food insecurity to objective student outcomes. In this study, we examine how food insecurity is associated with first‐year university students' (n = 591) academic performance, adjusting for objective measures of high school academic performance and self‐reported indicators of socioeconomic background. Zero‐ and one‐inflated beta regression was used to examine if food insecurity predicted grade point average (GPA) in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters. Logistic regression was used to determine if food insecurity at the end of the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters was a predictor of retention to fall 2016. Food‐insecure students had a significantly lower GPA than food‐secure students. In fall 2015, 59% of food‐insecure students obtained at least a “B” grade (GPA = 3.00); our models suggest this percentage would increase to 72% if these same students were food secure. Food‐insecure students were less likely to be enrolled in fall 2016 than food‐secure students (OR = 0.72, 95% CI [0.41, 1.27]), though this difference was not statistically significant. These results indicate that food insecurity negatively impacts first‐year university students' academic performance, even after adjusting for high school academic performance and socioeconomic background. Students GPA, and potentially university retention rates, may increase if food insecurity on campus is minimized.

ACS Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; Meg Bruening. Food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance. Journal of Public Affairs 2018, 19, e1864 .

AMA Style

Irene Van Woerden, Daniel Hruschka, Meg Bruening. Food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance. Journal of Public Affairs. 2018; 19 (3):e1864.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Irene Van Woerden; Daniel Hruschka; Meg Bruening. 2018. "Food insecurity negatively impacts academic performance." Journal of Public Affairs 19, no. 3: e1864.