Tag: Nutrition / Diet

Nutrition Navigation on-Line Edge (NnoLEDGE)

Title:Nutrition Navigation on-Line Edge (NnoLEDGE)
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet
Funding Source:VioCare Technologies, Inc through funding from NIH / NIDDK
Funding Period:2005-2008
Study Design:N/A
Purpose:To demonstrate the feasibility of creating and running an incentive-based community website portal designed to convey information about diabetes prevention and control. While efficacy has been established for some diabetes prevention and control strategies, as epitomized by the Diabetes Prevention Program, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of strategies suitable for application under real-world conditions for the most part has not.
Further Study Details:This web-based health promotion system has been designed as a virtual “navigator” through and around the obstacles to improve lifestyle for each user. The system helps users identify their personal barriers to lifestyle change, provides them with strategies for addressing each barrier, and identifies community resources pertinent to each. Project activities included the recruitment of local community organizations to participate as a community health consortium; the development of a comprehensive community health web portal consisting of a navigation core, impediment profiler, community toolbox and rewards system; and final evaluation of the system to determine feasibility. The Princeton, NJ metropolitan area served as the pilot community. The PRC’s contribution to this project included the development of an inventory of impediments (barriers) to making healthful lifestyle changes, based on focus groups and review by an expert panel; creating a set of strategies to overcome each impediment; and evaluation.
Findings:During the three-year funding period, Viocareassembled a project advisory panel;developed an extensive community wellness portal, www.princetonlivingwell.com, with a wellness navigation core, an impediment profiler, a community toolbox, and a wellness loyalty rewards program;enrolled more than 70 businesses to participate in the rewards program; and registered more than 2,000 members. In addition, the research team completed evaluations based on focus groups, structured questionnaires, and analysis of system usages.Since its launch, the Princeton Living Well (PLW) website has had more than 400,000 page hits with more than 200,000 page views by internet users. The PLW website averages more than 15,000 web visits per month and now has more than 2100 members (as of November 2009). The number of business partners has grown to 72, as has the number of community partners has grown to 14 (as of November 2009). The feedback received from both web portal users and business partners indicates that the pilot implementation of the NnoLEDGE web portal was successful. Viocare is currently seeking funding to complete the NnoLEDGE program, expand on its basic set of features, and evaluate its implementation and sustainability in additional communities.
Eligibility:Community health organizations, local businesses, and community residents in the Princeton, NJ metropolitan area.
Changed at:1/18/2011 9:48 AMChanged by:Judy Treu
Created at:8/31/2010 11:31 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Nutrition Detectives / ABC for Fitness: Nutrition and Physical Activity Education for Elementary School Children

Title:Nutrition Detectives / ABC for Fitness: Nutrition and Physical Activity Education for Elementary School Children
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet;Physical Activity;School-based
Funding Source:Independence School District, with funding from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Funding Period:2006-2009
Study Design:Structured, Multi-phase Initiative to Implement, Evaluate, and Disseminate School-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions
Purpose:To evaluate nutrition and physical activity programs for elementary school children, as well as promote healthy lifestyle and reverse the trend of obesity among students
Further Study Details:The PRC and the Independence School District in Missouri partnered to evaluate 2 programs. Nutrition Detectives provides “5 clues” to make healthful food choices, and ABC for Fitness offers 30 minutes of daily classroom-based physical activity. Phase 1 was a pilot study in 3 schools to identify the best intervention (Nutrition Detectives, ABC for Fitness, or both), and refine the programs and data collection. The combination of both programs was identified as the best intervention. Phase 2 evaluated both programs by comparing “pre” and “post” data (nutrition label literacy, body mass index (BMI), physical fitness, classroom behavior, and medication use) from 3 intervention and 2 control schools. In 2009-2012, we conducted a subsequent study – Advancing School & Community Engagement Now for Disease Prevention (ASCEND) –that compared a standard vs. enhanced intervention among elementary schools within this district, with another district serving as a control.
Findings:Phase 2 was completed in 2009. For Nutrition Detectives™, we found statistically significant improvements in scores on a standardized food label literacy quiz among intervention school students and their parents, compared to scores among control school students and parents. For ABC for Fitness™, we found no change in BMI over the course of the school year. However, intervention school students had statistically significant improvements in certain fitness measures (abdominal and upper body strength). Although we found no improvements in classroom behavior, we found a statistically significant reductions in the numbers of intervention school students receiving medication for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or asthma. For the subsequent study results, please refer to “Advancing School & Community Engagement Now for Disease Prevention (ASCEND).”
Eligibility:Second, third, and fourth grade students in the Independence School District in Missouri 
Changed at:3/2/2017 7:14 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:23 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Health Promotion in the New Haven Public Schools (2009-2010)

Title:Health Promotion in the New Haven Public Schools (2009-2010)
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:2009-2010
Study Design:Pre/Post
Purpose:To partner with the New Haven Public Schools District-wide Wellness Committee to implement and evaluate health programs for elementary school students.
Further Study Details:During our prior collaboration during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years, we examined the feasibility of offering the Nutrition Detectives™ program in selected NHPS elementary schools with funding from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. In 2009-10, at the request of the Wellness Committee, we condensed the original 90-minute Nutrition Detectives™ (ND) program to 45 minutes, for inclusion in a new health education curriculum for fifth grade students. Physical education teachers taught the ND lesson in all schools, and the PRC administered a pre/post ‘food label quiz’ in 5 schools to evaluate the lesson.
Findings:After the lesson, students on average had a 16% increase in food label quiz scores, which was statistically significant. The increase in scores was similar to those found with the 90-minute version of the program offered in prior years in the New Haven Public Schools and in the Independence School District in Missouri. This indicates that it may be possible for other schools to offer a condensed version of the program without diluting its messages.
Eligibility:Fifth grade students in 5 selected schools in the New Haven Public Schools
Changed at:1/18/2011 12:22 PMChanged by:Judy Treu
Created at:1/18/2011 12:19 PMCreated by:Judy Treu

Health Promotion in the New Haven Public Schools (2007-2009)

Title:Health Promotion in the New Haven Public Schools (2007-2009)
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet;School-based
Funding Source:Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:2007-2009
Study Design:Pre/post feasibility study
Purpose:To evaluate nutrition and physical activity programs for elementary school children, as well as promote healthy lifestyle and reverse the trend of obesity among students and their families.
Further Study Details:The PRC collaborated with the New Haven Public Schools’ District Wellness Committee on a feasibility study to implement the Nutrition Detectives™ and ABC for Fitness™ programs in selected elementary schools. Nutrition Detectives is a 90-minute program that teaches 5 clues to make healthful food choices based on food labels and ingredient lists. ABC for Fitness guides classroom teachers to offer brief bursts of physical activity spread over the school day, ideally adding up to 30 minutes of daily activity. Year 1 (2007-08 school year) focused on an implementation and evaluation of Nutrition Detectives in fifth grade classes in 4 intervention and 4 control schools. Year 2 (2008-09 school year) included expansion of Nutrition Detectives to fifth grade classes in 5 additional schools, along with implementation and evaluation of ABC for Fitness in fourth grade classes in these schools. Relevant student outcomes incorporated into the evaluation plan included nutrition label literacy and standardized scores for 4 measures of physical fitness.
Findings:Fifth grade students who took part in Nutrition Detectives improved their ability to make healthful food choices, as measured by a 15% increase in scores on a standardized quiz. Fourth grade students in schools trained to offer ABC for Fitness showed statistically significant gains in two measures of fitness (curl-ups and right angle pushups) between the beginning and end of the 2008-09 school year. However, since teachers were not mandated to offer ABC for Fitness and no control schools were available to compare pre/post fitness scores, it is unclear whether the improved fitness scores were a t result of the ABC for Fitness program. This study has helped to lay the foundation for expanded obesity prevention efforts in the New Haven Public Schools.
Eligibility:Fourth and fifth grade students in selected schools in the New Haven Public Schools.
Changed at:3/1/2017 9:43 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:28 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program

Title:Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program
Status:Completed
Topic:Community;Cooking/Culinary Arts;Nutrition / Diet;Worksite Wellness
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Funding Period:2016-2019
Study Design:Pre/post
Purpose:The purpose was to determine the effectiveness of a worksite-based Fruit & Vegetable Prescription (Rx) program designed to increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and other health-promoting foods and improve diet quality and health outcomes. This project was a subset of our Community Health Opportunities Organized with Schools at the Epicenter (CHOOSE) core research project, with the Griffin Hospital worksite serving as a community portal.
Further Study Details:The PRC partnered with Wholesome Wave® to adapt and pilot test a Fruit and Vegetable Rx program offered elsewhere by Wholesome Wave® in clinical settings. The 58 study participants (Griffin Hospital employees) were randomly assigned to either Fruit and Vegetable Rx or control/no intervention. The Fruit and Vegetable Rx group attended 10 educational/skill-building sessions (45 minutes each) and received vouchers to buy fruits and vegetables. Sessions focused on nutritious, affordable, easy-to-prepare meals and cooking demonstrations. Control group members maintained their usual habits, and did not receive any incentives. All participants received a $50 gift card at each data collection time point (3 for the intervention group, 2 for the control group).
Findings:After the intervention: Overall diet quality increased by 5.3 points out of 100 in the intervention group, and by 1.7 points in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Intervention group members significantly reduced their intake of “empty calories” as compared to those in the control group. There were no effects on weight, waist circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood lipids, or hemoglobin A1c.  More than 90% of intervention group members said the program helped them to increase their fruit and vegetable intake, and 78% said their diet was somewhat or much more healthful than before starting the program. There were no differences between groups in terms of cooking skills or household meal practices.By 3 months after the intervention: The reduction in empty calories was maintained in the intervention group, but no longer significantly different from the change in the control group (who also reduced their intake of empty calories).
Eligibility:Griffin Hospital employees who were willing/able to participate in weekly lunch & learn nutrition and cooking sessions for a 10-week period.
Evaluation:Outcome measures included body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, body fat, blood lipids, hemoglobin A1C, and diet quality based on 24-hour diet recalls. All participants were asked to complete surveys on their food and beverage intake, household meal practices, cooking skills, physical activity, and medication use. Those in the fruit and vegetable group completed a brief survey at each session.
Changed at:3/27/2020 3:42 PMChanged by:
Created at:11/30/2017 6:33 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg

Evaluation of Pilot Implementation of Components of PE4Life in Selected Schools in New Haven, Connecticut

Title:Evaluation of Pilot Implementation of Components of PE4Life in Selected Schools in New Haven, Connecticut
Status:Completed
Topic:Physical Activity;School-based
Funding Source:New Haven Public Schools
Funding Period:2006
Study Design:Quasi-Experimental Prospective Intervention-Control
Purpose:To assess the impact of the use of fitness-monitoring technology, when added to the regular physical education curriculum, on students’ physical fitness levels and on teachers’ attitudes toward physical education.
Further Study Details:The 6 participating schools were divided into 2 groups, a pilot group and a control group. The groups were comprised of:2 elementary classes (4th grade),2 middle school classes (6th grade) and2 high school classes (9th -12th grade).The three pilot schools used heart rate monitors, pedometers, Trifit machine, BIO measure machine (BMI) and/or increased physical education class time to improve fitness levels. The study was designed so that each pilot school would use each piece of equipment in three 2-month cycles. Measures of fitness levels were recorded at the beginning and end of the school year using Fitnessgram; the measures included:aerobic capacity,Body Mass Index,abdominal muscle strength,upper body strength, andflexibility.Opinions of teachers in Intervention schools were elicited through surveys.
Findings:A small number of students took part in this pilot study19 Intervention and 18 Control students in 4th grade,25 Intervention and 21 Control students in 6th grade, and12 Intervention and 9 Control students in high school.The groups (chosen by convenience sampling) had statistically significant differences at baseline in some measures of physical fitness levels. Overall, students in the Control schools had statistically significant improvements in some of the fitness measures compared to those in the Intervention schools. Due to the small sample size and differences at baseline among students, it is difficult to draw conclusions about these results. It would be advisable to conduct a larger study with a larger sample size.Teachers who completed the surveys agreed that the use of the new technology during physical education classes raised awareness of physical fitness among participating students. They reported that it was easy to incorporate the technology into the existing curriculum, and that the amount of physical testing using the technology was not overwhelming to teachers or students. The teachers agreed that students would be interested and willing to use the new technology. Finally, they strongly agreed that the number of hours devoted to physical activity throughout the school day should and can be increased, and that it would be possible to overcome any obstacles to implementing a school program that increases daily physical activity among students.
Eligibility:Students enrolled in the intervention and control schools in the New Haven Public Schools District
Changed at:3/1/2017 9:41 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:53 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Evaluation of a Diet Rich in Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) on Reduction of Visceral Fat in the Abdomen: A Pilot Study

Title:Evaluation of a Diet Rich in Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) on Reduction of Visceral Fat in the Abdomen: A Pilot Study
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet
Funding Source:Prevention Magazine
Funding Period:2008
Study Design:Pilot Study with One Treatment Assignment
Purpose:To assess the effects of a 4-week diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) on the reduction of visceral fat, as measured by MRI of the abdomen. This type of fat has been linked to higher risk of atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke) and insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes). The benefits of a diet rich in MUFA have been demonstrated by previous research. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential benefits of an eating plan with high level of MUFAs that is easy for people to understand and adopt.
Further Study Details:A total of 10 women were enrolled in the dietary intervention; there was no control diet for this pilot study. Participants were evaluated at baseline and at the completion of the 4-week dietary intervention. The primary outcome measure was a change in visceral fat mass as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Findings:Following the diet for 4 weeks led to statistically significant reductions in visceral fat, weight, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR (a measure of insulin resistance). A slight decrease in HDL (the “good” cholesterol) was shown and there were also trends toward reductions in LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, and C-reactive protein, but these were not statistically significant.
Eligibility:Women aged 35-75 years with BMI≥30 and waist circumference of at least 34 inches.
Changed at:1/18/2011 9:42 AMChanged by:Judy Treu
Created at:8/31/2010 11:19 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Enhancing School and Community Engagement in Physical Activity and Nutrition

Title:Enhancing School and Community Engagement in Physical Activity and Nutrition
Status:Completed
Topic:Nutrition / Diet;Physical Activity;School-based;Training Services
Funding Source:Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, LLC, an affiliate of the WellPoint Foundation (funding provided to Quinnipiac University)
Funding Period:2010-2011
Study Design:Pre/post study
Purpose:To implement and evaluate two health programs in school districts in Hamden and Wallingford, CT.
Further Study Details:During the 2010-2011 school year, the PRC served as advisor to Quinnipiac University on a project to benefit the health of students in the Hamden and Wallingford school districts. The PRC provided training on the Nutrition Detectives and ABC for Fitness programs to faculty and students in the Quinnipiac University School of Health Sciences, who then partnered with teachers in Hamden and Wallingford to offer the programs to third and fourth grade students in selected schools. The PRC also provided technical assistance in using qualitative and quantitative methods to assess the effectiveness of the programs.  
Findings:Quinnipiac faculty/students and school staff collected pre/post data from 110 children in 2 intervention schools and 129 children in 2 control schools. Students who took part in the Nutrition Detectives program in intervention schools increased their food label literacy scores by 25% compared to their baseline scores. Due to circumstances beyond the control of the research team, inconsistencies in the timing and selection of physical fitness data collected by schools led to inclusive results in the assessment of ABC for Fitness. 
Eligibility:Third grade students in selected elementary schools in the Hamden and Wallingford school districts in Connecticut.
Changed at:3/2/2017 7:00 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:8/31/2010 11:14 AMCreated by:Griffin Hospital

Eat to Row, Eat for Life

Title:Eat to Row, Eat for Life
Status:Completed
Topic:Community;Nutrition / Diet
Funding Source:Katherine Matthies Foundation, provided to Yale Community Rowing
Funding Period:2011-2012
Study Design:Pre/post
Purpose:At the request of the Yale Community Rowing Program, which offers free rowing classes each summer for lower Naugatuck Valley youth aged 10-18 years at the Gilder boathouse in Derby, the PRC and public health interns developed and delivered a pilot version of a nutrition education program to middle school and high school students enrolled in selected rowing classes during the summers of 2011 and 2012. 
Further Study Details: The program, called Eat to Row, Eat for Life, focused on the concept of food as a high-performance fuel, and offered practical tips to choose foods and be physically active. The program was presented by the PRC and/or interns as a PowerPoint and supplemented with hands-on activities and handouts. Students and parents who attended learned how to make healthful food choices using the Nutrition Facts labels and ingredient lists on foods. They also learned how to make better choices at fast food restaurants, how to choose realistic portions rather than “super-sized” portions of food, and how to incorporate physical activity into their everyday lives. We administered a brief pre/post quiz to assess changes in participants nutrition knowledge and food label literacy.
Findings:The program led to significant gains in nutrition knowledge/food label literacy levels of those who attended. In the summer of 2013, to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability, the PRC created a train-the-trainer model that transferred the role of program delivery to recent graduates of nutrition programs at local universities. 
Eligibility:Middle and high school students attending selected sessions of Yale Community Rowing
Changed at:3/2/2017 8:51 AMChanged by:Lisa Seaberg
Created at:3/2/2017 8:51 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg

Community-Based Cooking Classes for Children

Title:Community-Based Cooking Classes for Children
Status:Completed
Topic:Cooking/Culinary Arts;Nutrition / Diet
Funding Source:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Valley YMCA (through funding from the Katherine Matthies Foundation)
Funding Period:2014-2017
Study Design:Pre/post
Purpose:This project was conducted as a subset of the CHOOSE project, with community settings serving as “portals” for offering healthful cooking classes to children.  In recent decades, children have had fewer opportunities to learn to prepare healthful meals due to demographic shifts, family time constraints, availability of packaged and take-out foods, and a decline in home economics education. A recent review article suggests that cooking programs can positively influence children’s food-related preferences, attitudes, and behaviors. Training motivated youths or college students to serve as peer educators is a potentially effective strategy to teach children cooking skills, due to their potential to serve as socially relevant agents for change. 
Further Study Details: In 2016, we partnered with the Valley YMCA in Ansonia, CT on a pilot of cooking classes offered at its summer day camp. It included 6 weekly classes offered to 70 children ages 5 to 12 years (taught in small groups based on age) during the 10-week camp. Each class focused on making a healthful snack, beverage, salad or side dish. The foods were affordable and simple to prepare. We combined instruction by a lead chef/instructor during week 1, with subsequent instruction by college students trained to offer the classes. YMCA staff provided assistance and oversight. We evaluated the impact of the classes with a pre/post survey administered to the older children (age 8-12 years). We assessed program feasibility through facilitated discussions with the instructors and the day camp coordinator.
Findings:The classes led to increased preferences for certain foods (particularly black beans and tomatoes) and increased self-efficacy in making healthful snacks and salads, measuring ingredients, trying new foods, and preparing meals at home.
Eligibility:Children attending the 2016 Summer Day Camp at the Valley YMCA 
Changed at:3/27/2020 3:51 PMChanged by:
Created at:3/1/2017 4:02 AMCreated by:Lisa Seaberg