We explore frameworks and techniques for aligning stakeholder values in a One Health approach with potential bioindicators of change that could be monitored at different spatial scales. River watersheds are one of Alaska's most complex terrestrial features, conducting important biological activities while also providing services to humans. Rivers are crucial for both estuarine and aquatic biota, as well as biogeochemical and physical processes. The Yukon watershed provides a broadscale opportunity for communities to monitor the environment, manage resources, and contribute to stewardship policy formation. Watershed functions have been employed as environmental and socioeconomic resilience vulnerability indicators. The environmental impacts of local efforts to provide food, shelter, and clothing for rural communities are much more limited than those of today’s economically motivated industries (agricultural, forestry, and textile, for example) that supply large urban centers. Despite its long history of human activity, the Yukon River has not gotten the same comprehensive and multidisciplinary research as the other great American river systems. We can learn about regime-shifting pressures like fire, poisons, and invasive species development by adopting hypothesis-based monitoring of important watershed functions. Community resilience can be maintained by combining adaptive risk management strategies including stakeholders with place-based education, particularly on pollutants and nutrition. Monitoring keystone species and community activities like citizen science are the initial steps in tracking resiliency changes across the Yukon watershed. Creating a policy climate that supports local experimentation and innovation helps to maintain resilience during times of stress brought on by development.

The recent release of Food and Sustainability in the Twenty-First Century, is volume 9 of the Anthropology of Food and Nutrition series. This volume has 4 editors, 14 chapters, and 227 pages, including an index. The general objective of the volume and the series as a whole is to provide cross-disciplinary perspectives on topics of contemporary interest. Sustainability lacks a consensus definition; therefore, each chapter is conceived to provide a relevant point of view, largely by example.

An introductory text in food science may have more than a dozen chapters, totaling perhaps 100 sections. Similarly, a food analysis text might have 3 dozen chapters, whereas a food chemistry text may have a dozen or more chapters totaling 100 sections. Nutrition research seems unbounded, encompassing all domains of life, industry, health, chemistry and biology, and much of physics, justifying numerous text coverages. Necessarily, this volume of 310 pages is selective and perhaps arbitrary. The current reference has 7 chapters containing 40 sections, and rightly without apologies. The Editor describes the included content as relevant and interesting, with which anyone should agree. I enjoyed them all immensely.

In an effort to characterize food costs in the United States (US)-affiliated Pacific Region, a first-time food cost survey was conducted in March 2014. A market basket survey was developed using an adaptation of the US Department of Agriculture Thrifty Food Plan. Surveys were conducted in the states of Alaska and Hawai'i; Portland, Oregon; the US-affiliated Pacific Islands of American Samoa (American Samoa); Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; the island of Pohnpei within the Federated States of Micronesia; Guam; Republic of the Marshall Islands; and Republic of Palau. Urban and rural communities were included. Multiple stores in multiple communities were surveyed in each jurisdiction. Food retailers (N = 74) ranged from convenience markets to supermarkets. Not all foods in the market basket survey were available in each of the communities. Inspection of available income data also showed that food costs represented a higher percentage of household income for American Samoa than those of Alaska, Hawai'i, and Portland. Thrifty Food Plan weighted weekly totals for the region ranged from $181.90 to $264.30. Weighting was based on the amount of the item converted to grams required for the Thrifty Food Plan menu. These food costs are significantly higher than those of Portland ($142.00) for the survey period. Protein foods, grains, vegetables, fruit, and dairy were the 5 most costly components, in descending order. Food affordability was assessed by comparing food costs across jurisdictions and examining estimated food costs to reported average jurisdiction incomes. The survey is intended to help inform public health policy and educational programs in the region. A locally adapted food survey would benefit future analyses, regional policy, and educational efforts.

Introducing the Sociology of Food and Eating (2019) is a readable book of 223 pages in 12 chapters. The book is indexed and has approximately 23 pages of references dating from 1874 to 2018. The vocabulary suits an introductory audience, paced for comprehension and reflection. Each chapter begins with a theme and concludes with a summary of key points. The book reports on the rigor and scope of sociological methodology. This book seems to target graduate students and faculty members who are exploring the inclusion of food and society in their programs.

Objective: To address the impact of modifying the USDA Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) on diet quality and lifestyle among a Head Start program eligible population. Description: Diet quality and lifestyle are determinants of bodyweight. The TFP has been criticized for two basic reasons. One, the TFP does not consider the time required to prepare food, a requirement that has well documented costs; the cost of food includes both the purchase price and the “opportunity cost of time.” Two, the TFP's “constant cost,” meaning, in part, that benefits are temporally and geographically static. Proposed remedies have included: increase SNAP payments by 20% to acknowledge the opportunity cost of time and relax the constant cost requirement to account for geographical differences in food prices. These suggestions do not address how changing the SNAP benefits affect diet quality, weight status, and time use. Evaluation: This proposal includes a modeling exercise based on a modification of the TFP approach. Input includes NHANES and the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), and other databases such as the CNPP food prices. The identified data will be split into halves, the first for model development, and second for model testing. Also included is a survey of Head Start families, which will query how families have in the past, or might in the future, change food and beverage related time use, and other lifestyle characteristics, when exposed to a changes in their economic situation. Conclusions and Implications: The findings of this study will inform changes in SNAP policy. Funding: 2016-11072-1012762.

River watersheds are among the most complex terrestrial features in Alaska, performing valuable ecosystem functions and providing services for human society. Rivers are vital to both estuarine and aquatic biota and play important roles in biogeochemical cycles and physical processes. The functions of watersheds have been used as vulnerability indicators for ecosystem and socioeconomic resilience. Despite a long history of human activity, the Yukon River has not received the holistic and interdisciplinary attention given to the other great American river systems. By using hypothesis-based monitoring of key watershed functions, we can gain insight to regime-shifting stresses such as fire, toxins, and invasive species development. Coupling adaptive risk management practices involving stakeholders with place-based education, especially contaminants and nutrition related, can maintain resilience within communities. The Yukon watershed provides a broadscale opportunity for communities to monitor the environment, manage resources, and contribute to stewardship policy formation. Monitoring keystone species and community activities, such as citizen science, are critical first steps to following changes to resiliency throughout the Yukon watershed. Creating a policy environment that encourages local experimentation and innovation contributes to resilience maintenance during development-imposed stress.

This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Actical accelerometer for measuring physical activity (PA) in preschool children of mixed ethnicity, compared with direct observation via a modified System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT) protocol and proxy parental reports (PA Logs). Fifty children in Hawai'i wore wrist-mounted accelerometers for two 7-day periods with a washout period between each week. Thirty children were concurrently observed using SOFIT. Parents completed PA Logs for three days. Reliability and validity were measured by intra-class correlation coefficient and proportions of agreement concurrently. There was slight agreement (proportion of agreement: 82%; weighted Kappa=.17, P <.001) between the accelerometer and SOFIT as well as between the accelerometer and the PA Logs (proportions of agreement: 40%; weighted Kappa=0.15, P <.001). PA logs underestimated the PA levels of the children, while the Actical was found to be valid and reliable for estimating PA levels of multiethnic, mixed ethnicity preschoolers. These findings suggest that accelerometers can be objective, valid, and accurate physical activity assessment tools compared to conventional PA logs and subjective reports of activity for preschool children of mixed ethnicity.

Graphics convey ideas elegantly and with memorable impact. A well-conceived Venn diagram addressing environmental determinants of childhood obesity is published in the current issue of JNEB. 1 Kunin-Batson A.S. Seburg E.M. Crain A.L. et al. Household factors, family behavior patterns, and adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines among children at risk for obesity. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015; 47: 206-215 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar

No reports of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations are available for Alaska Native populations. Design: Cross‐sectional study. Methods: PTH, serum 25(OH)D, dietary calcium and demographic variables were collected from 496 Alaska Natives of Western Alaska (43% males) ages 14‐92y residing in Southwestern Alaska. Results: Estimated calcium intake was 470 ± 341 and 376 ± 245 mg/d among men and women, respectively. Median PTH concentration (pmol/L) was 6.96 (2.4‐37.2), and 6.0 (2.4‐24.2) among men and 7.7 (2.6‐37.2) among women. In MLR models, predictors of PTH were 25(OH)D (P=0.02) and BMI (P=0.04) among men, and BMI (P<0.01), 25(OH)D (P=0.01) and an age x BMI interaction (P=0.02) among women.ConclusionBroadly low calcium intake was likely related to elevated PTH levels, but resulted in a weak calcium and PTH relationship. PTH concentrations were apparently moderated by 25(OH)D.

Food prices are a determinant of food security, particularly in low‐income households. The Children's' Healthy Living Program (CHL) conducted the first US Affiliated Pacific Region (USAPR) wide food cost survey based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan. We sought to establish the cost and availability of market foods among the USAPR. The weekly cost of food for a family of four with school age children was estimated based on the 2002 USDA Food Security Toolkit. Up to three stores were surveyed in communities of Alaska, America Samoa, CNMI, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau in a two week period in March 2014. 87 food items were priced across 9 food categories. Weekly food costs ranged from $326 in Rota, CNMI, to $168 in Anchorage, Alaska, with a mean of $316 (38.2). Food prices variation was greatest among dairy foods while fruits showed the least. Dairy comprised less than 7% of the total food costs for Hawaii and Alaska communities, but greater than 11% of the weekly food costs in the other USAPR communities. For several USAPR island communities, certain Thrifty Food Plan items were unavailable or exceptionally expensive (bagels, 1% milk). A more complete understanding of costs and their role in food security will require additional information such as income, utilities, housing, education and healthcare. Our results can contribute to locally adapted thrifty menus.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, a large US Department of Agriculture nutrition education program for low-income people, by comparing the overall quality and cost of diets when entering and exiting the program.METHODS:Secondary analysis of data collected in 2011 from female participants in the Mountain region. Dietary recalls were collected by paraprofessionals. Outcome measures were the differences between Healthy Eating Index-2005 scores and costs of diets at entry and exit. Significance was determined using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.RESULTS:At entry the mean total Healthy Eating Index-2005 score was 49.1 (out of a possible 100) and at exit, 55.2 (P < .001) (n = 3,338). Eight of 12 component scores also improved significantly whereas the sodium score worsened. The estimated median cost of diets was 13% higher at exit compared with entry.CONCLUSIONS:Participants' overall diet quality improved and was accompanied by an increase in food cost.

EFNEP is USDA’s largest nutrition education program for low income people and receives about $68,000,000 in funding annually. Evaluations have consistently shown positive results, but the 24‐hr recalls of dietary intake have not been widely used. Our objective was to compare the quality of diets reported by participants when entering the program with those reported when exiting. Because the 2005 Dietary Guidelines were in effect when the curriculum was developed, the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)‐2005 was selected as the quality indicator. Recalls were collected by trained paraprofessionals using a standard format and were coded using the USDA food coding system. This study was a secondary analysis of data collected from 3,367 female participants in the eight states of the Mountain region from October 2010 through September 2011. We calculated mean HEI‐2005 scores for entry and exit recalls. Significant differences were determined using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. The majority of participants were Hispanic. At entry the mean total HEI‐2005 score was 49.1 (out of a possible 100); and at exit, 55.2. Nine of the 12 component scores also improved significantly while Sodium worsened. Because of the self‐reported data, lack of biomarkers, and no control group, it is difficult to conclude that diet quality improved; however, it is likely that nutrition knowledge improved and led to short‐term improvement in diet quality.

Underserved minority populations in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Hawaii, and Alaska display disproportionate rates of childhood obesity. The region’s unique circumstance should be taken into account when designing obesity prevention interventions. The purpose of this paper is to (a), describe the community engagement process (CEP) used by the Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the USAPI, Hawaii, and Alaska (b) report community-identified priorities for an environmental intervention addressing early childhood (ages 2–8 years) obesity, and (c) share lessons learned in the CEP. Four communities in each of five CHL jurisdictions (Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawai‘i) were selected to participate in the community-randomized matched-pair trial. Over 900 community members including parents, teachers, and community leaders participated in the CEP over a 14 month period. The CEP was used to identify environmental intervention priorities to address six behavioral outcomes: increasing fruit/vegetable consumption, water intake, physical activity and sleep; and decreasing screen time and intake of sugar sweetened beverages. Community members were engaged through Local Advisory Committees, key informant interviews and participatory community meetings. Community-identified priorities centered on policy development; role modeling; enhancing access to healthy food, clean water, and physical activity venues; and healthy living education. Through the CEP, CHL identified culturally appropriate priorities for intervention that were also consistent with the literature on effective obesity prevention practices. Results of the CEP will guide the CHL intervention design and implementation. The CHL CEP may serve as a model for other underserved minority island populations.

The nitrogen isotope ratio (δ(15)N) of RBCs has been proposed as a biomarker of marine food intake in Yup'ik people based on strong associations with RBC eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). However, EPA and DHA derive from marine fats, whereas elevated δ(15)N derives from marine protein, and these dietary components may have different biologic effects. Whether δ(15)N is similarly associated with chronic disease risk factors compared with RBC EPA and DHA is not known. We used covariate-adjusted linear models to describe biomarker associations with chronic disease risk factors in Yup'ik people, first in a smaller (n = 363) cross-sectional study population using RBC EPA, DHA, and δ(15)N, and then in a larger (n = 772) cross-sectional study population using δ(15)N only. In the smaller sample, associations of RBC EPA, DHA, and δ(15)N with obesity and chronic disease risk factors were similar in direction and significance: δ(15)N was positively associated with total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and inversely associated with triglycerides. Based on comparisons between covariate-adjusted β-coefficients, EPA was more strongly associated with circulating lipids and lipoproteins, whereas δ(15)N was more strongly associated with adipokines, the inflammatory marker interleukin-6, and IGFBP-3. In the larger sample there were new findings for this population: δ(15)N was inversely associated with blood pressure and there was a significant association (with inverse linear and positive quadratic terms) with adiponectin. In conclusion, δ(15)N is a valid measure for evaluating associations between EPA and DHA intake and chronic disease risk in Yup'ik people and may be used in larger studies. By measuring δ(15)N, we report beneficial associations of marine food intake with blood pressure and adiponectin, which may contribute to a lower incidence of some chronic diseases in Yup'ik people.

OBJECTIVES:American Indians and Alaska Natives (ANs) report among the lowest levels of physical activity in the USA, but there is very little systematic research examining the determinants of physical activity patterns in these populations. This study investigated the relationships between enculturation (or cultural traditionality), psychosocial stress, and physical activity in a community-based sample of Yup'ik women and men living in rural AN communities. Associations between these variables and several metabolic risk factors were also examined. DESIGN:A sample of 488 Yup'ik participants (284 women and 204 men) from six villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region completed a wellness survey and an array of physiological assessments [e.g., body mass index (BMI), blood pressure]. A subset of 179 participants also completed a 3-day pedometer assessment of physical activity. RESULTS:Multivariate linear regression models indicated that participants who were more enculturated (i.e., living more of a traditional lifestyle) and who experienced lower levels of psychosocial stress were significantly more physically active. In turn, both lower levels of psychosocial stress and higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower BMI, lower percent body fat, and lower waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS:Findings underscore the importance of gaining a culturally specific understanding of physical activity patterns in indigenous groups in order to inform effective health promotion strategies.

Background: Low serum vitamin D is associated with higher latitude, age, body fat percentage and low intake of fatty fish. Little documentation of vitamin D concentrations is available for Alaska Native populations. Objective: This study was undertaken to investigate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations of the Yup'ik people of southwestern Alaska in relation to demographic and lifestyle variables, particularly with the use of locally harvested (local) foods. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: We estimated 25(OH)D, dietary vitamin D and calcium, percent of energy from local foods and demographic variables in 497 Yup'ik people (43% males) aged 14–92 residing in southwestern Alaska. Sampling was approximately equally divided between synthesizing and non-synthesizing seasons, although the preponderance of samples were drawn during months of increasing daylight. Results: Mean vitamin D intake was 15.1±20.2 µg/d, while local foods accounted for 22.9±17.1% of energy intake. The leading sources of vitamin D were local fish (90.1%) followed by market foods. Mean 25(OH)D concentration was 95.6±40.7 nmol/L. Participants in the upper 50th percentile of 25(OH)D concentration tended to be older, male, of lower body mass index, sampled during the synthesizing season, and among the upper 50th percentile of local food use. Conclusions: A shift away from locally harvested foods will likely increase the risk for serum 25(OH)D insufficiency in this population.