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A mixed methods study was conducted to better understand food access, food retail store environment, and perspectives of community residents on their grocery store shopping patterns and access to healthy foods in underserved, predominantly African American neighborhoods. GIS mapping, grocery store observations (n = 4), a food access and grocery store environment survey (n = 126), and focus groups (n = 48) were used. The results indicate that these neighborhoods have a low density of grocery stores, and only two out of four grocery stores meet the standard for a healthy retail store. Barriers to getting healthy foods and solutions to improve food access are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes East Asian international students' changes in food consumption since coming to the US, and reasons for the changes. The results of this cross-sectional study from four campuses in the New York area show that after coming to the US, they ate/drank more processed food, water, raw vegetables, meat, dairy, and other Asian foods, and ate fewer cooked vegetables and foods from their home countries. The main reasons were their concerns about health, weight, availability, convenience, taste, and price. The least chosen reasons were related to concerns about food sustainability issues. Future research should focus on conducting qualitative studies to better understand nuances in international students' food choice concerns and motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Methods:Results:Conclusion:Identifying factors impacting vaccination and testing for COVID-19 is crucial to reduce health disparities, especially for rural/agricultural, low access and high poverty Latino communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This study examined differences in perceived barriers and facilitators (such as values, beliefs, and concerns) to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and testing intention by vaccination status and testing hesitancy among rural Latino community members in Southwest Florida.Rural Latino community members (N = 493) completed a cross-sectional survey in Spanish (86.0%) or English (14.0%) on perceived COVID-19 vaccine/testing barriers and facilitators, as well as demographics, mental health, medical history, health perceptions, and health literacy.At the time of the survey, approximately 43% of participants were unvaccinated and 46.4% were testing hesitant. Significantly more vaccinated participants acknowledged keeping their family (d = .25), community (d = .27), and themselves (d = .22) safe as facilitators to vaccination (ps < .001). Among the unvaccinated participants, the most common concerns for getting vaccinated were side effects (d = −.53) and lack of knowledge about how the vaccine works (d = −.35, ps < .001). Testing hesitant participants reported concerns including not knowing where to get tested (d = −.25, p = 0.01) and less confidence in a positive test result (d = −.40, p < 0.001). Doctors and faith leaders were ranked as the most trusted information sources across groups. In logistic regression models, vaccination was linked to age, gender, education, and protecting others, while concerns about needles and side effects reduced odds; testing was driven by education, anxiety, hope, and safety concerns.Promoting family and community safety may be effective facilitators influencing vaccine and testing intention in rural Latino communities. Enhanced education by trusted information sources, such as doctors and faith leaders may alleviate associated concerns. Our findings may inform actions for future pandemics. Further studies should determine the generalizability of our findings across other rural migrant communities and other vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During 2017-2018, East Asian international students accounted for 46% (n = 466, 265) of total international students in the US. Upon arrival here, they tend to face challenges regarding cooking and eating out while focusing on academic achievement and navigating a different food environment. However, how the transition takes place and how it links to current food consumption have not been explored. To examine East Asian international students' changes in frequency of cooking and eating out upon arrival to the US, and the relationship with food consumption. A cross-sectional survey administered to East Asian international students (n = 511; female 67.1%; mean age 24.8 years;) at four universities in New York State. A 14-item food frequency questionnaire using nine-point Likert scale was used to measure food consumption. Comparison between cooking and eating out in their home country and in the US were measured by descriptive statistics and t-test. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze how current cooking and eating out, and weekly expenditure, were related to current food consumption. Students cooked more frequently in the US than in their home countries (t = -19.74; P <.01). For those who cooked less in home countries, they cooked more frequently in the US (37.6%). Students also ate out slightly more frequently in the US (t = -4.02; P <.01). Those who ate more frequently in their home countries continued to eat out frequently in the US (43.1%), while those who almost never ate out in their home countries ate out more in the US. When students cooked more often, they ate more whole foods (B =.072, P =.01) and spent more on groceries weekly (B =.125, P =.001), while eating less processed foods (B = -.096, P =.006). While students tend to spend more on eating out due to busy academic schedules, cooking more often would help them eat more whole foods and less processed foods, leading to healthy food consumption while they stay here. None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was a cross-sectional study to examine problematic mealtime behaviors among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Florida. Forty-one parents completed a 48-item survey. The mean age of their children was 8.1 years and 73% were male. The data were divided and compared by age group: Ages 2–6, 7–11, and 12–17. Data from the 3- to 6-year-old children were extracted and compared with the references from Provost et al. (2010). There were age differences in eating difficulties at home (p = 0.013), fast food restaurants (p = 0.005), and at regular restaurants (p = 0.016). The total mealtime behavior score was significantly higher in early childhood (p < 0.001) and mid-childhood (p = 0.005) than adolescents. More parents of ages 3–6 with ASD reported difficulties with breastfeeding (p < 0.01); concerns about eating (p < 0.001); difficulties related to mealtime locations (p < 0.05), craving certain food (p < 0.05), and being picky eaters (p < 0.01) compared to typically developing children. The total mealtime behavior score was significantly higher in children with ASD than typically developing children (p < 0.001). The results indicate that early childhood interventions are warranted and further research in adolescents is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescence is an important period with rapid physical growth transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Distorted body image can result in eating disorders or inadequate nutrient intakes in adolescence. Limited research has been done with high school boys in both Korea and China.Objectives: To examine body image, weight control behaviors, nutritional knowledge, and dietary habits in Korean and Chinese teenage boys, and to evaluate any differences in these measures between two countries.Methods and Study Design: High school boys in Yongin of Korea and Weihai region of China (n=201 Korean and n=196 Chinese) participated in a selfreport survey. A previously validated questionnaire assessed height and weight, body image, nutritional knowledge, and dietary habits. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Chi-square, and Pearson correlations were used for data analysis.Results: About 41.4% of Korean students and 40.8% of Chinese students desired to be thinner. The majority of the students from both countries showed a perception gap between ideal body image and current body image. Korean students had a higher frequency of weight control attempts compared with Chinese students (p=0.004). Overall, Korean students had higher scores in nutritional knowledge (p<0.001), while Chinese students had higher scores in dietary habits (p<0.001). Nutrition knowledge in Korean students and dietary habit in Chinese students showed positive correlation with body shape satisfaction (p<0.01).Conclusions: The findings of this study support that developing proper body image among high school boys is important in Korea and China. Different educational strategies might be beneficial to Korean or Chinese students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]