Background/Objectives: This study examines the factors associated with U.S. adolescents’ obesity and overweight status. Methods: Using a multivariable logistic regression, we analyzed the data from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), comprising 17,232 students. Results: The odds of being obese or overweight were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) for the participants who perceived themselves as slightly overweight (AOR, 13.31; 95% CI [11.83, 14.97]) or very overweight (AOR, 39.29; 95% CI [30.12, 51.25]) compared to those who perceived their weight as about right. The participants with significantly higher odds included those aged 14 years (AOR, 2.53) compared to those aged 13 years or younger; male students (AOR, 1.63) compared to female students; and American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students (AOR, 2.11), Black or African American students (AOR, 2.63), Hispanic/Latino students (AOR, 1.54), and students of multiple races (AOR, 1.56), compared to White students. The odds were also significantly higher for the participants who did not eat breakfast on all seven days of a week (AOR, 1.21) and for the students who did not report their mental health status (AOR, 2.07) compared to those who reported their mental health as mostly or always not good. Conclusions: These findings suggest schools are uniquely positioned to implement strategies for healthier behaviors designed and implemented with a focus on health equity.

Background: This study examines the levels and predictors of malnutrition in Indian children under 5 years of age. Methods: Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure was applied to data from the India National Family Health Survey 2019–2021. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the predictors. Results: 52.59% of children experienced anthropometric failure. Child predictors of lower malnutrition risk included female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.881) and average or large size at birth (AOR = 0.729 and 0.715, respectively, compared to small size). Higher birth order increased malnutrition odds (2nd-4th: AOR = 1.211; 5th or higher: AOR = 1.449) compared to firstborn. Maternal predictors of lower malnutrition risk included age 20–34 years (AOR = 0.806), age 35–49 years (AOR = 0.714) compared to 15–19 years, normal BMI (AOR = 0.752), overweight and obese BMI (AOR = 0.504) compared to underweight, and secondary or higher education vs. no education (AOR = 0.865). Maternal predictors of higher malnutrition risk included severe anemia vs. no anemia (AOR = 1.232). Protective socioeconomic factors included middle (AOR = 0.903) and rich wealth index (AOR = 0.717) compared to poor, and toilet access (AOR = 0.803). Children’s malnutrition risk also declined with paternal education (primary: AOR = 0.901; secondary or higher: AOR = 0.822) vs. no education. Conversely, malnutrition risk increased with Hindu (AOR = 1.258) or Islam religion (AOR = 1.369) vs. other religions. Conclusions: Child malnutrition remains a critical issue in India, necessitating concerted efforts from both private and public sectors. A ‘Health in All Policies’ approach should guide public health leadership in influencing policies that impact children’s nutritional status.

The use of the internet and supported apps is at historically unprecedented levels for the exchange of health information. The increasing use of the internet and social media platforms can affect patients’ health behavior. This study aims to assess the variations in patterns of social media engagement between individuals diagnosed with either chronic diseases or mental health conditions. Data from four iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey Cycle 4 from 2017 to 2020 were used for this study with a sample size (N) = 16,092. To analyze the association between the independent variables, reflecting the presence of chronic conditions or mental health conditions, and various levels of social media engagement, descriptive statistics and logistic regression were conducted. Respondents who had at least one chronic condition were more likely to join an internet-based support group (Adjusted Odds Ratio or AOR = 1.5; Confidence Interval, CI = 1.11–1.93) and watch a health-related video on YouTube (AOR = 1.2; CI = 1.01–1.36); respondents with a mental condition were less likely to visit and share health information on social media, join an internet-based support group, and watch a health-related video on YouTube. Race, age, and educational level also influence the choice to watch a health-related video on YouTube. Understanding the pattern of engagement with health-related content on social media and how their online behavior differs based on the patient’s medical conditions can lead to the development of more effective and tailored public health interventions that leverage social media platforms.

Background: The ability to offer and sustain interprofessional collaboration and education (IPE) in an academic setting could potentially serve as a training model for other academic institutions to implement programs that will increase the number of practice-ready, culturally competent healthcare professionals. We designed, implemented, and evaluated an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program to train culturally competent interdisciplinary students to provide quality, patient-centered healthcare in rural and underserved communities post-graduation. Methods: Two cohorts of students (Cohort 1, n = 15, Cohort 2, n = 14) were recruited into a two-year longitudinal program with 80 hours of didactic learning and 40 community-based training. Core areas included: 1) interprofessional education and practice; 2) social determinants of health; 3) cultural competency; 4) behavioral health integration; 5) practice transformation; and 6) emerging health topics. Following completion of each content area, students participated in synchronous debriefing sessions and provided feedback via surveys. Wilcoxon ranks test assessed differences in pre- and post-scores in intention, perceived knowledge, and perceived skills for each content area. Results: Students’ intention, perceived knowledge, and perceived skills significantly changed from pre- to post-program in all core areas (p < .05). The greatest change from pre- to post-program was perceived knowledge in interprofessional education (D = 1.75). Interactive activities were most useful for keeping students engaged. Conclusion: The program resulted in significant changes for participating students in their intention, perceived knowledge, and perceived skills. Implications for this training program include guidance for academic institutions and AHECs to integrate IPE training.

(1) Background: Several agencies in the United States play a primary role in ensuring food safety, yet foodborne illnesses result in about 3000 deaths and cost more than USD 15.6 billion each year. The study objectives included analyzing local health departments’ (LHDs) level of engagement in food safety and other related services, and LHDs’ characteristics associated with those services. (2) Methods: We used data from 1496 LHDs that participated in the 2019 National Profile of Local Health Departments Survey, administered to all 2459 LHDs in the United States. Logistic regression analyses were performed to model multiple dichotomous variables. (3) Results: An estimated 78.9% of LHDs performed food safety inspections, 78.3% provided food safety education, 40.7% provided food processing inspections, and 48.4% engaged in policy and advocacy. The odds for LHDs to directly provide preventive nutrition services were 20 times higher if the LHDs had one or more nutritionists on staff (Adjusted Odds Ratio or AOR = 20.0; Confidence Interval, CI = 12.4–32.2) compared with LHDs with no nutritionists. Other LHD characteristics significantly associated with the provision of nutrition services (p < 0.05) included population size, state governance (rather than local), and LHD having at least one registered, licensed, practical, or vocational nurse. The odds of providing food processing services were lower for locally governed than state-governed LHDs (AOR = 0.5; CI = 0.4–0.7). The odds of performing food safety inspections varied by LHD’s population size, whether a nutritionist was on staff, whether it was state-governed (vs. locally), and whether it completed a community health assessment (CHA) within 5 years. (4) Conclusions: LHDs play a critical role in ensuring safe food for Americans, yet variations exist in their performance based on their specific characteristics. Adequate funding and a competent workforce are essential for LHDs to utilize evidence-based practices and engage in policymaking and advocacy concerning food safety.

Food waste is a globally abundant resource, but currently, it is primarily managed by disposal in landfills, wasting the valuable nutrients. At the same time, commercial fish feeds are expensive and contain unsustainably produced ingredients that are subject to price fluctuations and demand for other uses. Utilizing food waste to supplement or replace traditional feed ingredients could increase the profitability and sustainability of aquaculture, supporting fish species that provide economic, recreational, and ecological value. To explore the feasibility of using food waste in aquaculture, food waste was recycled into “converted fish flakes” (CFF) with a protein ratio appropriate for zebrafish (Danio rerio) in a small-scale aquaculture study. Juvenile zebrafish were fed diets with increasing proportions of food waste (25%, 50%, and 100% CFF) for 32 days and compared to a control group fed with commercial feed. Zebrafish fed CFF diets had high survival rates and growth that was comparable to the commercial feed. CFF diets did not significantly alter zebrafish fecundity or viscerosomatic index (VSI). Histology revealed an increased amount of goblet cells in the intestine and fat deposits in the liver associated with a 50% CFF diet. These results indicate that recycled food waste could be feasibly used in freshwater, small-scale aquaculture of omnivorous fish.

Background: Lycopene is a carotenoid found in some fruits and vegetables that is responsible for the red pigment in tomatoes and tomato products. While many studies have shown a link between lycopene and protection against the initiation and/or progression of lung cancer, data on its effect on lung cancer survivability is limited. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to see if there was a link between lycopene levels in the blood and lung cancer mortality. A secondary goal was to see if dietary factors influence lycopene levels in the blood. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 14,358 adults who took part in Phase II of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III was carried out (1991-1994). This dataset served as the baseline for a 15-year (1991-2006) follow-up study, which was correlated with the National Death Index database. The Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model was used to calculate the HR for all-cause and cancer-related deaths for individuals with high, moderate, and low serum lycopene levels. Results: The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of deaths associated with low serum lycopene levels (25 percent cutoff) was 1.67 (95 percent CI=1.24-2.23) and 1.00, respectively (ref). After controlling for multiple risk factors such as age and gender, the HR for lung cancer fatalities was 1.45 (95% CI=1.08-1.96) for low serum levels (25 percent cutoff) with a reference value of 1.00. For low vs. high serum lycopene levels, the adjusted HR for lung cancer death using 3-level categorization (and adjusted for fruits and vegetables) was 1.67 (95 percent CI=1.03-2.71). In addition, the adjusted HR for lung cancer death using 3-level categorization (and unadjusted for fruits and vegetables) was 1.68 (95 percent CI=1.04-2.72) for low serum lycopene levels vs. high serum lycopene levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that high serum lycopene levels may reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer. Furthermore, lycopene may not only reduce the risk of lung cancer development but may also improve survival among lung cancer patients. More research is needed to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying this association. Keywords Serum lycopene, Lung cancer, Mortality risk, Cohort study

The World Economic Forum reports the COVID-19 pandemic could push half a billion people in the world into poverty and financially impact millions more due to the 20% drop in income caused by the impending recession. This contagion is expected to exacerbate the inequities and disparities in health outcomes for older adults, persons in poor living environments, and residents of resource-poor rural communities across the United States. For the poor and disenfranchised, many social determinants of health (SDoH) are expected to worsen during the COVID-19 (the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and in its aftermath, namely, employment, housing, food, education, and health care. Public health professionals and policy makers need to proactively work with community partners to influence policies and other relevant sectors to ensure that health inequities do not intensify for the most vulnerable in our communities. The far-reaching impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is already being felt among population subgroups as a function of poverty, whether it is due to structural racial injustice, an inability to treat underlying chronic conditions due to increased health care burden and clinic closures, patients’ lack of access to critically needed health care, or a product of long-standing social injustices manifested mainly through food insecurity or job and income losses.

Introduction: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. IBS can significantly impact quality of life for patients. Similarity in symptoms can be attributed to other diseases, and the varied symptomatic manifestation among patients can cause physicians to have difficulty in providing a differential diagnosis, prolonging suffering. The heterogeneity of the disorder often forces physicians and patients to primarily focus on symptomatic management with pharmaceuticals, which can eventually lead to patient dissatisfaction due to the undesirable side effects sans quality of life improvement. Methods: We used articles found in PubMed, National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide a review of literature that focuses on two alternative approaches to symptom management, meditation and diet. Evidence suggests these alternative approaches to pain management can be integrated with conventional therapy to attenuate pain in IBS by inhibiting transient receptor potential channels. Results: Within the last century, low FODMAP diets, along with relaxation through meditation, are areas that have received increased attention among medical professionals. Evidence suggests that dietary interventions, along with discovery and understanding of transient receptor potentials, have provided new insight into the mechanisms of action that are attributed to nociception in IBS. Conclusion: In this opinion paper, we offer information on evidence-based complementary therapies that have been reported to improve patient satisfaction in the management of pain related to IBS. It would behoove physicians and patients to utilize an integrative approach that includes conventional and proven alternative therapies for IBS treatment.

This project used a nonexperimental design with a convenience sample and studied the relationship between academic motivation, grade expectation, and academic performance in 1,210 students enrolled in undergraduate human anatomy and physiology (HAP) classes over a 2-yr period. A 42-item survey that included 28 items of the adapted academic motivation scale for HAP based on self-determination theory was administered in class during the first 3 wk of each semester. Students with higher grade point averages, who studied for longer hours and reported to be more motivated to succeed, did better academically in these classes. There was a significant relationship between students' scores on the adapted academic motivation scale and performance. Students were more extrinsically motivated to succeed in HAP courses than intrinsically motivated to succeed, and the analyses revealed that the most significant predictor of final grade was within the extrinsic scale (introjected and external types). Students' motivations remained stable throughout the course sequence. The data showed a significant relationship between HAP students' expected grade and their final grade in class. Finally, 65.5% of students overestimated their final grade, with 29% of students overestimating by two to four letter grades.

The global rise of childhood obesity has become a major public health concern due to surmounting evidence of associated health issues, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some cancers. This requires a multifaceted approach to find solutions that can effectively control the epidemic. One major approach is breastfeeding, which is considered to be the preferred form of infant nutrition. Our review of literature finds substantive evidence that exclusive breastfeeding for at least one year after birth could possibly help prevent childhood obesity. One of the many documented benefits is its role in weight control, with breast-fed infants being leaner than their formula-fed counterparts through adulthood. Breastmilk is rich in many different biochemicals, including hormones that regulate appetite and promote healthy weight. Optimal nutrition should start early in infancy with exclusive and sustained breastfeeding if we are to make any headway against childhood obesity.