This study was designed to determine if providing wheat, corn, and rice as whole (WG) or refined grains (RG) under free-living conditions will change parameters of health over a six-week intervention in healthy, habitual non-WG consumers. Measurements of body composition, fecal microbiota, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides were made at baseline and post intervention. Subjects were given adequate servings of either WG or RG products based on their caloric need and asked to keep records of grain consumption, bowel movements, and GI symptoms weekly. After six weeks, subjects repeated baseline testing. Significant decreases in total, LDL, and non-HDL cholesterol were seen after the WG treatments but were not observed in the RG treatment. During Week 6, bowel movement frequency increased with increased WG consumption. No significant differences in microbiota were seen between baseline and post intervention, although, abundance of order Erysipelotrichales increased in RG subjects who ate more than 50% of the RG market basket products. Increasing consumption of WGs can alter parameters of health, but more research is needed to better elucidate the relationship between the amount consumed and the health-related outcome.

Background: At any given time, a majority of women are engaged in some type of weight loss diet; however, these efforts are difficult to sustain for long-term weight control. Because women are more likely to develop obesity and suffer a greater severity of obesity-related health and economic consequences, we sought to identify the key factors that make adhering to a weight loss diet difficult for overweight/obese women. Methods: Ten nominal group technique (NGT) sessions aimed at identifying perceived barriers to adherence to a weight loss diet were conducted as part of a weight loss study for overweight/obese women (n = 33) during the controlled feeding weight loss phase. Results: Individual-level barriers to emerge from the sessions included knowing when to stop eating, being able to control cravings and emotional eating, and sustaining healthier dietary habits. Environmental-level barriers included family/social events that bring people together, especially those centered around food and drink, eating out, cost, and busy schedules. Conclusions: These findings offer a deeper understanding of barriers women find most salient to adhering to a weight loss diet, providing direction for the clinical application of weight loss programs.

It is well-established that nutrient adequacy in childhood and adolescence impacts physical growth, development, and academic performance, as well as long-term health. Yet, research within the school-age child and adolescent life stage is limited, and dietary guidance lacks specificity for these unique needs. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans noted that the nutrient gaps among adolescents are significant, stating that this "constellation of potential nutritional risk factors" is a public health challenge. To illuminate and raise awareness for opportunities aimed at addressing these gaps, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, partnered with the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center (ACNC), one of six USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) national human nutrition research centers, to convene 50 leading nutrition scientists, physicians, registered dietitians, and public health experts for a science dialogue on the topic of improving adolescent health through nutrition. The Proceedings highlights this convening of experts who presented at Nourish Now: A Science Dialogue for Improving Adolescent Health Through Nutrition on May 2, 2024.

High-protein, energy-restricted diets support weight loss and maintenance; however, it is not known whether consuming a moderate amount of protein in a balanced distribution throughout the day reduces the reinforcing value (RV) and energy intake of energy-dense snack foods. This study aimed to assess the effect of two patterns of protein distribution during weight loss on (1) the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of energy-dense snack foods compared with the RV of a nonfood alternative; (2) energy intake when presented with snack foods; and (3) potential moderators of adherence to a weight-loss diet, including food-related motivations, attitudes, and behaviors. This was a 16-week randomized parallel study testing 2 patterns of daily protein intake: even distribution across three meals (EVEN) vs. a skewed distribution with most protein consumed at dinner (SKEWED). Healthy community-based women aged 20-44 y with a BMI of 28-45 kg/m² were recruited from the greater Grand Forks, ND area between October 2017-April 2023; study activities were suspended March 2020-May 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed an 8-week weight loss phase (20% energy restriction, all foods provided), followed by an 8-week self-choice phase with instruction to maintain their assigned protein distribution pattern and energy intake. RRV was assessed at baseline, week 8, and week 16 using an operant responding computer task 2 hours after a lunch consistent with the assigned protein distribution (EVEN 30g; SKEWED 15g). Data from 44 participants who completed the study were analyzed using a linear mixed model ANOVA. The RRV of energy-dense snack foods was lower (p=0.0476) in the EVEN group (0.44±0.04) than in the SKEWED group (0.55±0.04). In this study, an RRV score >0.5 signified a greater reinforcing value for energy-dense snack foods than for the preferred sedentary activity. Although the amount of snacks earned did not differ between groups (p=0.2338), the EVEN group consumed less than the SKEWED group (44.3±5.2 g vs 62.0±5.1 g; p=0.0197). Lower RRV and consumption of energy-dense snack foods in the EVEN group are consistent with differences in food-related motivation and satiety associated with protein distribution across meals. These findings may help refine dietary strategies aimed at supporting weight loss efforts among women.