Source: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
EXAMINING ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINANTS OF DIET AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BEHAVIORS IN RURAL POPULATIONS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1018607
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Feb 7, 2019
Project End Date
Dec 21, 2021
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007
Performing Department
College of Education & Human Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Obesity is widely cited as an alarming public health issue in the United States due to its prevalence and association with chronic disease. Data published in 2018 indicate that 38.9% of adults in the United States have obesity, and that obesity prevalence is higher in rural populations compared to urban. Likewise, studies have reported that there is a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity among rural children compared to their non-rural counterparts, and compared to national averages. In general, little research exists examining the dietary and physical activity patterns in rural populations that may be contributing to this obesity disparity, and even less exists on how the rural environment influences these behaviors. Adding to the convolution of obesity research in rural populations, definitions of 'rural' that have been used may not accurately capture who is rural (i.e. defining rural as everything that is not urban) and therefore results cannot be generalized to truly rural populations (i.e. individuals with rural lifestyles or occupations). Research is needed to better understand what is specific to the rural environment that is contributing to the rural obesity disparity and what types of population-level interventions are most effective at reducing it.Rural populations are understudied and research in rural populations is necessary to understand more about health disparities in obesity. Differences exist between rural and non-rural populations, including sociodemographic factors like income and education, as well factors like access and availability of food and resources for physical activity; however research in rural areas is lacking. Although certain sociodemographic differences between rural and non-rural populations have been identified, it is unknown how these differences contribute to the rural/non-rural obesity disparity, as much of the work on how the environment impacts obesity has occurred in metropolitan areas. Moreover, research focuses on geographical regions defined as either rural or urban and is not based on the lifestyle of the individual. Taken together, it is apparent that the need for obesity research within rural populations exists, and care must be taken to ensure proper methodology and enhancement of previous work done.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
70360991170100%
Knowledge Area
703 - Nutrition Education and Behavior;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
1170 - Epidemiology;
Goals / Objectives
The overall purpose of this research is to identify factors within the rural environment that contribute to the rural/urban obesity disparity, and to examine the effectiveness of interventions aimed at obesity reduction in rural populations. More specifically, the following objective will guide the purpose:Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan.Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations.
Project Methods
To complement and enhance existing work in rural areas, 'rural' will be defined not only by zip code, but also by information about rural lifestyle and occupation, in addition to living in town or out of town. This project builds upon previous work and as such, data collection and evaluation of existing projects and interventions will continue, while evidence from that work continues to be disseminated and used to inform future projects and proposals. Ultimately the goal is to secure funding for a longitudinal study examining the environmental determinants of obesity in rural versus non-rural youth with subsequent development of a targeted, population-level obesity intervention. Overall, this research aims to understand and impact obesity in rural populations.Together with internal and external collaborators, along with student labor, several projects will be completed or newly initiated. Upon completion, data will be analyzed and submitted for publication while preparing applications for more comprehensive federal funding mechanisms.Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. Objective 1 ProceduresDiet and physical activity play a role in obesity and weight management. Although an obesity disparity has been shown between rural and non-rural adults2 and children,3-5 little is known about how the dietary and physical activity patterns of rural and non-rural adults differ, and research indicates that the diets and physical activity patterns of rural and non-rural children are similar4,20. As such, other factors in the environment are contributing to the rural/non-rural obesity disparity, however they remain little researched.Environmental factors related to obesity in rural populations will be examined in the following ways:1. The Voices for Food project is a collaborative, multi-state (Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Dakota), multi-disciplinary team of nutrition, agriculture, youth, community development, and evaluation specialists from the North Central Region that has come together to address food security in rural communities with high poverty rates. This innovative, integrated research and extension project had the following objectives: (1) implement a community-based model to enhance food security; (2) use a quasi-experimental design in six states to examine outcomes; and (3) utilize on-line distance learning (including eXtension) to document and disseminate best practices. My involvement in the design and evaluation of the study brings ample opportunity for exploring aspects within both the food pantry and community environments that are contributing to the diet quality and food security of rural food pantry clients. While study methodology and ancillary findings have been published, evaluation of the main outcomes and these additional environmental factors remains along with their dissemination.2. An ongoing examination of the school environment, including a comprehensive assessment of wellness policies and school policies/systems/environment, also provides opportunity for understanding how diet and physical activity behaviors among rural populations (youth) are shaped. This information will be used to inform the development of an intervention aimed at enhancing the writing, implementation and evaluation of wellness policies within schools. This type of intervention, if successful, has the potential for nationwide impacts.Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. Objective 2 ProceduresBecause diet and physical activity are related to obesity and weight management, innovative interventions aimed at changing these behaviors must be examined. This includes targeting individuals and the environments in which they live. The below projects aim to explore unique ways of impacting behaviors and setting the stage for sustainable, evidence-based programs delivered in communities.Interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors in rural populations will be examined in the following ways:1. Food pantry- and community-based intervention: The Voices for Food project (detailed above) implemented community- and food pantry-level interventions, including food policy councils and community coaching, to improve the diet quality and food security status of food pantry clients, and to improve the quality of foods provided to clients at food pantries. My involvement in the design and evaluation of the study brings with it the responsibility of analyzing the success of the intervention, as well as dissemination study findings and protocols.2. Enhancing existing interventions: By examining enhancements to existing interventions, time and resources (in terms of project development and implementation) are saved and results can be tailored to populations of interest. This is the premise behind my work on projects to 1) tailor a doubling of fruit and vegetable vouchers to rural and American Indian communities and 2) enhance nutrition education and cooking skills of WIC recipients. Determining the success of these interventions could again have nationwide impact, as these programs in their current form are implemented across the country.3. School-based interventions: Team Nutrition aims to improve the diet (and somewhat physical activity) behaviors of youth by supporting policy/systems/environment interventions within schools. Although evidence-based interventions and evaluations are used, work needs to be done to evaluate the success of Team Nutrition in South Dakota, overall, and within different types of schools and districts. Additionally, impact evaluation must occur, indicating how many students, parents and school staff were engaged in activities. My role as a social scientist on this project allows me the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of Team Nutrition in South Dakota.For both observational and intervention studies, appropriate statistical analyses will be performed to support the goals and objectives of each individual project. This may include logistic or linear regression for cross-sectional studies, to allow for examining relationships between outcomes and other factors while controlling for variables, or mixed models for longitudinal studies, to determine differences between groups while accounting for fixed and random factors.

Progress 02/07/19 to 12/21/21

Outputs
Target Audience:Over the course of this project period, my work included several projects with reach impacting diverse target audiences. Much of my work focused on improving the health and well-being of South Dakotans, and findings reached state workers (including decision-makers) and other stakeholders via state-level presentations. Students were also reached, as my work informs my teaching. Additionally, students were able to take our work and disseminate to health professionals across the state via presentations at state-level meetings. Our food pantry work has reached audiences both regionally and nationally, as we have hosted trainings and been asked to present at nutrition educator conferences. Additionally, my school environment work impacted local schools and communities, as reports generated from the work were given back to schools. Changes/Problems:Beginning in March 2020, COVID slowed down the progress of our community-based work, particularly our work with schools. We were unable to get into some schools for planned assessments, and later unable to get into schools to deliver results. Further, community-based efforts to discuss interventions were limited to virtual meetings. All of our work that involved focus groups needed to shift online or be transitioned to one-on-one phone calls. Work was able to be conducted, but timelines needed to shift. Lastly, dissemination efforts were limited mainly to peer-reviewed publications, as many conferences and meetings were cancelled or moved to virtual formats during the last 18 months of the project period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the project period, I trained several MS-level students as part of my funding. Students were trained to conduct literature reviews, collect and manage data, and present scientific findings. Partnering with Dr. Jessica Meendering on multiple projects, including our school-based work, enhanced the training that my students received. During the project period I mentored 8 Plan B research papers, 4 Plan A theses and 1 PhD student on activities related to the project. To enhance my research and mentoring potential, I participated in a number of activities during the project period: Conference Attendance, "Capstone Symposium," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) New Connections, New Orleans, LA, United States. (March 13, 2019 - March 15, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Annual Meeting," International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), Prague, Czech Republic. (June 4, 2019 - June 7, 2019). Symposium, "Eastern South Dakota Research Symposium," Sanford Research, SDSU, USD, Augustana, Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (June 12, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Fall Conference," South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SDAND), Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (September 19, 2019). Conference Attendance, "2019 Chronic Disease Partners and Better Choices, Better Health Meeting," South Dakota Department of Health, Mitchell, SD, United States. (October 16, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Philadelphia, PA, United States. (October 26, 2019 - October 29, 2019). Webinar, "Conflict Management," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Health/Community Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group. (December 2, 2019). Workshop, "Innovation: Transforming Ideas into Solutions," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 14, 2020). Workshop, "Dream Big, Focus Small: Achieve SMARTER Goals," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 27, 2020). Workshop, "Meetings that Work," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 29, 2020). Conference Attendance, "Annual Meeting," International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), virtual. (June 2020). Workshop, "Secrets of Motivation," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (June 29, 2020). Workshop, "Getting Results without Authority," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (June 29, 2020). Webinar, "Knowledge-Based Strategic Decision-Making," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (August 18, 2020). Conference Attendance, "Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, virtual. (October 2020). Conference Attendance, "Annual Meeting," International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), virtual. (June 2021). Conference Attendance, "Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, virtual. (October 2021). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?have disseminated my research through poster presentations, oral presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, some projects have been featured through the iGrow website and/or press releases. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. 65% Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on the USDA-funded Voices for Food project as well as a comprehensive examination of the school environment, including policies. Potential outputs focused on data analyses and dissemination of findings. Over the course of the project period, much effort went into data management, cleaning, and analysis of Voices for Food datasets for specific publications, including a 'core hypothesis' paper examining the impact of the Voices for Food intervention on the diet quality and food security of food pantry clients. Specifically, data included baseline, mid-point and follow-up surveys from clients (including ASA-24 data and food security data), food pantry and community stakeholders, as well as scorecards that captured degree of intervention implementation. Analyses for the 'core hypothesis' paper were completed, and a manuscript will be submitted in 2022. Several other analyses were completed with publications submitted and/or accepted for publication, largely focusing on success in engaging target populations in our food policy councils as well as how different analysis methods correlate with the quality of food available in food pantries. In addition to this work, I collaborated with internal and external partners on a project examining written wellness policy quality and implementation in elementary schools across several states. Specifically, we assessed the nutrition and physical activity environments within several school districts and provided reports to districts with our findings, along with findings from our assessment of their written school wellness policies. Our findings from this work were disseminated internationally and resulted in several peer-reviewed publications. We also completed community-wide assessments that were used to drive conversations about policy, systems and environment interventions in the community and specifically in schools. Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. 80%Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on a food pantry- and community-based intervention (Voices for Food), enhancing existing interventions (Double Up Dakota Bucks and cooking workshops for WIC participants) and school-based interventions (Team Nutrition). Potential outputs focused on data analyses examining the effectiveness of interventions as well as dissemination of findings. Over the course of the project period, an examination of the effectiveness of the Voices for Food intervention in changing diet and improving food security in intervention vs comparison participants was conducted. The data analyses are complete and the manuscript is drafted, with planned submission in 2022. The Double Up Dakota Bucks intervention was implemented and although it was not integrated into my other community-based projects, it still yielded valuable pilot information about how to best implement a program like this in South Dakota. The WIC intervention was also implemented (although the timeline shifted due to COVID-19), and both quantitative survey and qualitative focus group data were collected and analyzed. Reports have been submitted related to this work regarding the effectiveness of the intervention in changing knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Team Nutrition was implemented, and information provided for reporting purposes, including impact of interventions. Additionally, pieces of the Team Nutrition interventions were picked up after the project concluded - things like Smarter Lunchrooms were adopted in schools without the support of Team Nutrition itself. In my other community-based projects, baseline assessments were completed and interventions were implemented. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions will be explored in future data analyses.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Wright BN, Vasquez-Mejia CM, Guenther PM, McCormack LA, Stluka SR, Franzen-Castle L, Henne B, Mehrle D, Remley D, Eicher-Miller HA. Fruit and vegetable Healthy Eating Index component scores of distributed food bags were positively associated with client diet scores in a sample of rural, Midwestern food pantries. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Accepted September 2020.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Chen B, Kattelmann K, Comstock C, McCormack L, Wey H, Meendering J. Parenting Styles, Food Parenting Practices and Dietary Intakes of Preschoolers. Nutrients. 2021;13:3630.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Franzen-Castle L, Remley D, McCormack LA, Adamski R, Henne R, Eicher-Miller HA, Mehrle DJ, Stluka S. Engaging rural stakeholders and community members with food policy councils to improve food access: Facilitators and barriers. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. 2021 (e-pub ahead of print).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Eicher-Miller HE, Wright BN, Tooze JA, Craig BA, Liu Y, Bailey RL, McCormack LA, Stluka S, Franzen Castle L, Henne B, Mehrle D, Remley D. Evaluating a food pantry-based intervention to improve food security, dietary intake and quality in Midwestern food pantries.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Pickford C, McCormack L, Liu Y, Eicher-Miller HE. USDA Food Composition Databases, the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies 5.0 and the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference Version 28, yield significantly different nutrient totals of food items from 8 Midwestern food pantry inventories.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2021 Citation: Chen B, Kattelmann K, Comstock C, McCormack L, Wey H, Bowne M, Meendering J. Factor Analysis to Identify Food Parenting Practices from Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES) Among Parents of Preschool Children.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Meendering JM, Skinner MM, McCormack LA. Model school-district wellness policies warrant improvements in comprehensiveness and strength. Journal of School Health. Accepted June 2020.


Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, my research included several projects with reach impacting diverse target audiences. Much of my work focused on improving the health and well-being of South Dakotans, and findings reached state workers (including decision-makers) and other stakeholders via state-level presentations. Students were also reached, as my work informs my teaching. Additionally, students were able to take our work and disseminate to health professionals across the state via presentations at state-level meetings. Our food pantry work has reached audiences both regionally and nationally, as we have hosted trainings and been asked to present at nutrition educator conferences. Additionally, my school environment work impacted local schools and communities, as reports generated from the work were given back to schools, and our partnership with others working in this space ensures we will have nationwide application via freely available, web-based tools. Changes/Problems:COVID slowed down the progress of our community-based work, particularly our work with schools. We were unable to get into some schools for planned assessments, and later unable to get into schools to deliver results. Further, community-based efforts to discuss interventions have been limited to virtual meetings. All of our work that involved focus groups needed to shift online or be transitioned to one-on-one phone calls. Work was able to be conducted, but timelines needed to shift. Lastly, dissemination efforts were limited as many conferences and meetings were cancelled during the second half of the reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During the reporting period, I trained an MS-level student (Shaylee Menage) as part of my funding. Shaylee was trained to conduct literature reviews, collect and manage data, and present scientific findings. Partnering with Dr. Jessica Meendering on multiple projects, including our school-based work, enhanced the training that Shaylee received. During the reporting period I mentored 4 Plan B research papers and 1 PhD student on activities related to the project. To enhance my research and mentoring potential, I participated in a number of activities during the reporting period: Webinar, "Knowledge-Based Strategic Decision-Making," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (August 18, 2020). Workshop, "Getting Results without Authority," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (June 29, 2020). Workshop, "Secrets of Motivation," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (June 29, 2020). Workshop, "Meetings that Work," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 29, 2020). Workshop, "Dream Big, Focus Small: Achieve SMARTER Goals," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 27, 2020). Workshop, "Innovation: Transforming Ideas into Solutions," Dale Carnegie, Live Online. (May 14, 2020). Webinar, "Conflict Management," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Health/Community Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group. (December 2, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)," Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Philadelphia, PA, United States. (October 26, 2019 - October 29, 2019). Conference Attendance, "2019 Chronic Disease Partners and Better Choices, Better Health Meeting," South Dakota Department of Health, Mitchell, SD, United States. (October 16, 2019). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have disseminated my research through poster presentations, oral presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, some projects have been featured through the iGrow website and/or press releases. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. Data analysis and dissemination for projects, particularly the USDA-funded Voices for Food project, continues to be a priority. Manuscripts are being developed that address the core hypotheses of the study, as well as dissemination of our study-developed scorecards. Another focus will be on publishing our experiences with school environment assessment and community-based intervention. Future priorities also include seeking external funding to support these goals. Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. My focus for this objective will continue to be collection of data, analysis of data, and dissemination of findings. One of our largest, multi-year community-based interventions will be in its implementation phase, providing opportunities to evaluate our innovative approaches to change behavior via changed environments. Moreover, results from these interventions will be used to submit a federal grant during the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. 30%Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on the USDA-funded Voices for Food project as well as a comprehensive examination of the school environment, including policies. Potential outputs focused on data analyses and dissemination of findings. During the reporting period, much effort went into data management and cleaning of Voices for Food datasets for specific publications, including a 'core hypothesis' paper examining the impact of the Voices for Food intervention on the diet quality and food security of food pantry clients. Other publications in preparation are focused on our success in engaging target populations in our food policy councils as well as how different analysis methods correlate with the quality of food available in food pantries. In addition to this work, I have continued internal and external collaborations on a project examining written wellness policy quality and implementation in elementary schools across several states. Specifically, we have assessed the nutrition and physical activity environments within several school districts and have provided reports to districts with our findings, along with findings from our assessment of their written school wellness policies. We also completed community-wide assessments that are being used to drive conversations about policy, systems and environment interventions in the community and specifically in schools. Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. 35%Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on a food pantry- and community-based intervention (Voices for Food), enhancing existing interventions (Double Up Dakota Bucks and cooking workshops for WIC participants) and school-based interventions (Team Nutrition). Potential outputs focused on data analyses examining the effectiveness of interventions as well as dissemination of findings. During the reporting period, an examination of the effective of the Voices for Food intervention in changing diet and improving food security in intervention vs comparison participants was conducted. The data analyses are being fine-tuned and the manuscript is being drafted. The Double Up Dakota Bucks intervention was launched and my work with it now involves its integrated into another community-based project where we are tracking use and redemption. The WIC intervention has completed, and survey data analyses have been conducted. Focus group data collection transitioned to phone interviews due to COVID-19 and is expected to wrap up during the next reporting period. Our official Team Nutrition work has ended, although information continues to be provided for reporting purposes. Additionally, pieces of our interventions have transitioned to other projects - things like Smarter Lunchrooms are being adopted in schools without the support of Team Nutrition itself. In my other community-based projects, baseline assessments have been completed. Intervention implementation and evaluation of effectiveness will be examined in upcoming reporting periods.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Liu Y, Tooze JA, Zhang Y, Leidy HJ, Bailey R, Wright B, Ma M, Stluka S, Remley DT, McCormack LA, Franzen-Castle L, Henne R, Mehrle D, Moore L, Eicher-Miller HA. Breakfast consumption is positively associated with usual nutrient intakes among food pantry clients living in rural communities. Journal of Nutrition. 2020;150:546-553.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Martin SS, Meendering JR, McCormack LA. Associations between written school nutrition wellness policies and the observed nutrition environment within elementary schools. Journal of Education & Social Policy 2019;6(3):50-58.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Wright BN, Tooze JA, Bailey RL, Liu Y, Rivera RL, McCormack LA, Stluka SR, Franzen-Castle L, Henne B, Mehrle D, Remley D, Echer-Miller HA. Dietary quality and usual intake of under-consumed nutrients and related food groups differ by food security status for rural, Midwestern food pantry clients. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120:1457-1468.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oster L, Jacobson M, McCormack L. Virtual Delivery of Programs and Data Collection, National CDSME & Falls Prevention Resource Center Grand Rounds, virtual.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Meendering J, McCormack L, Schwartz M. Relationship between the quality of school wellness policies and the degree of policy implementation using the WellSAT and WellSAT-I, International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Auckland, New Zealand. *conference cancelled due to COVID-19 but abstracts published
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: McCormack L, Meendering J, Schwartz M. Wellness policy writing and implementation: Differences between rural and urban schools, International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Auckland, New Zealand. *conference cancelled due to COVID-19 but abstracts published
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Block MM, Kattelmann K, Meendering J, McCormack LA. Relationship of Weight-Related Eating Behaviors and Weight-Loss of Participants Enrolled in a Proprietary Weight-Loss Program. Nutrition and Metabolic Insights. 2020;13:1178638820928413.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Dhakal S, McCormack LA, Dey M. Association of the gut microbiota with weight-loss response within a retail weight-management program. Microorganisms. 2020;8:1246.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Gebhart K, Kattelmann K, Wey H, McCormack LA, Bowne M, Stluka S, Meendering J. Fidelity of Implementation of Train-the-Trainer Methodology for Delivery of a Preschool Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum. European Journal of Educational Research. 2020:1483-1490.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: Meendering JM, Skinner MM, McCormack LA. Model school-district wellness policies warrant improvements in comprehensiveness and strength. Journal of School Health. Accepted June 2020.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: Wright BN, Vasquez-Mejia CM, Guenther PM, McCormack LA, Stluka SR, Franzen-Castle L, Henne B, Mehrle D, Remley D, Eicher-Miller HA. Fruit and vegetable Healthy Eating Index component scores of distributed food bags were positively associated with client diet scores in a sample of rural, Midwestern food pantries. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Accepted September 2020.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Willhite T, McCormack L, Stluka S. Impact of Coaching by Extension Professionals on Rural Wellness Coalition Success, South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sioux Falls, SD.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Jacobson M, Muntefering B, McCormack L. Workshop Wizard: A Referral Management System, Chronic Disease Partners and Better Choices, Better Health Meeting, Mitchell, SD.


Progress 02/07/19 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, my research included several projects with reach impacting diverse target audiences. Much of my work focused on improving the health and well-being of South Dakotans, and findings reached state workers (including decision-makers) and other stakeholders via state-level presentations. Students were also reached, as my work informs my teaching. Additionally, students were able to take our work and disseminate to health professionals across the state via presentations at state-level meetings. Our food pantry work has reached audiences both regionally and nationally, as we have hosted trainings and been asked to present at nutrition educator conferences. Additionally, my school environment work impacted local schools and communities, as reports generated from the work were given back to schools, and our partnership with others working in this space ensures we will have nationwide application via freely available, web-based tools. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the reporting period, I trained an MS-level student (Errin Short) as part of my funding. Errin was trained to conduct literature reviews, collect and manage data, and present scientific findings. Partnering with Dr. Jessica Meendering on multiple projects, including our school-based work, enhanced the training that Errin received. During the reporting period I mentored 3 Plan B research papers, 3 Plan A theses and 1 PhD student on activities related to the project. To enhance my research potential I participated in a number of activities during the reporting period: Conference Attendance, "Fall Conference," South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SDAND), Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (September 19, 2019). Symposium, "Eastern South Dakota Research Symposium," Sanford Research, SDSU, USD, Augustana, Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (June 12, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Annual Meeting," International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), Prague, Czech Republic. (June 4, 2019 - June 7, 2019). Conference Attendance, "Capstone Symposium," Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) New Connections, New Orleans, LA, United States. (March 13, 2019 - March 15, 2019). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have disseminated my research through poster presentations, oral presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, some projects have been featured through the iGrow website and/or press releases. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. Data analysis and dissemination for the USDA-funded Voices for Food project continues to be a priority. Manuscripts are being developed that address the core hypotheses of the study, as well as dissemination of our study-developed scorecards. Our school wellness policy paper will be completed and submitted during the next reporting period. Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. My focus for this objective will continue to be collection of data, analysis of data, and dissemination of findings. During the next reporting period, all focus group data should be analyzed and results from at least 2 of the interventions being examined will be available. Ideally, results from these interventions will be used to submit a federal grant during the next reporting period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Examine how factors within the rural environment (including schools, daycares, convenience stores, communities, etc.) are associated with diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) of individuals across the lifespan. 10%Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on the USDA-funded Voices for Food project as well as a comprehensive examination of the school environment, including policies. Potential outputs focused on data analyses and dissemination of findings. During the reporting period, much effort went into data management and cleaning of Voices for Food datasets in order to analyze main study outcomes. This includes baseline, mid-point and follow-up data collection from clients (including ASA-24 data and food security data) as well as food pantry and community stakeholder data. Work specifically included analyzing data for a manuscript assessing the impact of the Voices for Food intervention on diet quality and food security status of food pantry clients. In addition to this work, I have continued internal and external collaborations on a project examining written wellness policy quality and implementation in elementary schools across several states. Specifically, I am working on analyses for this paper as well as for two abstracts to be submitted for international presentation. Objective 2: Explore innovative interventions aimed at changing diet and physical activity behaviors (and ultimately obesity) among rural populations. 15%Accomplished In my original proposal, this objective encompassed work on a food pantry- and community-based intervention (Voices for Food), enhancing existing interventions (Double Up Dakota Bucks and cooking workshops for WIC participants) and school-based interventions (Team Nutrition). Potential outputs focused on data analyses examining the effectiveness of interventions as well as dissemination of findings. During the reporting period, an examination of the effective of the Voices for Food intervention in changing diet and improving food security in intervention vs comparison participants was conducted. The data analyses are being fine-tuned and the manuscript is being drafted. The Double Up Dakota Bucks intervention has been launched and is awaiting data collection for analyses. Likewise, the WIC intervention has completed and data need to be compiled. Additionally, focus group data are being collected for both these interventions, and that has yet to be analyzed. Team Nutrition work continues in a select few schools and during the reporting period, work has focused on implementing and evaluating summer program efforts and disseminating farm-to-school funding and informational materials. Once reports are drafted, effectiveness of chosen interventions will be evaluated.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Reil, M. (Presenter), McCormack, L. A., 2019 Annual Meeting, "Wellness Policy Awareness Among School Leaders and the Impact on Written Policy Scores" South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (September 20, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Short, E. (Presenter), McCormack, L. A., 2019 Annual Meeting, "A Narrative Review of Food Pantry Interventions," South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (September 20, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Venjohn, A. (Presenter), McCormack, L. A., Meendering, J. M., Specker, B. L. 2019 Annual Meeting, "The Correlation Between Food Rules and Childhood Obesity in Rural and Non-Rural Families," South Dakota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sioux Falls, SD, United States. (September 20, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Pappadackis P, Kattelmann KK, Weidauer L, McCormack LA, Colby S. A Campus Dining Tour Intervention for First Year Students Perception of Healthfulness of Environment, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, Orlando, FL, United States. (July 30, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Stluka, S. R., Jacobson, M. N., Benson, F. B., McCormack, L. A., Annual Conference, "South Dakota Team Nutrition: Increasing Access to Healthier Food Options," Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior, Orlando, FL, United States. (July 30, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Eicher-Miller, H., Wright, B., Guenther, P., McCormack, L. A., Stluka, S. R., Remley, D., Mehrle, D., Franzen-Castle, L., Henne, R., Vasquez-Mejia, C., Nutrition 2019, "Nutritional quality of vegetables, fruits, protein foods, and sodium distributed in client food bags is positively associated with client diet quality in rural food pantries," American Society for Nutrition, Baltimore, MD, United States. (June 8, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: McCormack, L. A., 2019 Annual Meeting, "Child perceptions of support for healthy behaviors and associations with measured diet and physical activity," ISBNPA, Prague Congress Centre, Prague, Czech Republic. (June 6, 2019).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Stluka, S. R., Henne, B., McCormack, L. A., Moore, L. A., 2019 Annual Conference, "Voices for Food: Nutrition Educators as Community Coaches to fulfill PSE Standards," Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network, Farmington, PA, United States. (April 29, 2019).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Martin SS, Meendering JR, McCormack LA. Associations between written school nutrition wellness policies and the observed nutrition environment within elementary schools. Journal of Education & Social Policy
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Liu Y, Tooze JA, Zhang Y, Leidy HJ, Bailey R, Wright B, Ma M, Stluka S, Remley DT, McCormack LA, Franzen-Castle L, Henne R, Mehrle D, Moore L, Eicher-Miller HA. Breakfast consumption is positively associated with usual nutrient intakes among food pantry clients living in rural communities. Journal of Nutrition (in press).
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: McCormack LA, Martin SS, McGlade C, Meendering J, Foster JG, Miller A. Differences in overweight/obesity among youth in a Midwest state by rural-urban continuum codes. South Dakota Medicine
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: McCormack LA, Eicher-Miller H, Remley D, Moore LA, Stluka SR. The development and use of an assessment tool to capture changes in the food pantry nutrition environment and system of food distribution. Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2019:9(5):962-969. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibz114. PMid:31570925
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Hanson AJ, Kattelmann KK, McCormack LA, Zhou W, Brown ON, Horacek TM, Shelnutt KP, Kidd T, Opoku-Acheampong A, Franzen-Castle LD, Olfert MD, Colby SE. Cooking and meal planning as predictors of fruit and vegetable intake and BMI in first-year college students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(14):2462. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16142462. PMid: 31373293
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: McCormack LA, Meendering JR, Thiex NW, Hockett CW, Wey HE, Beare TM, Specker BL. Comparison of physical activity by lifestyle between two rural pediatric population groups. South Dakota Medicine. 2019;72(4):168-173. PMid:31436930
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: McCormack LA, Pamarthi S. Perceived weight status, disease risk and weight loss behaviors among young adults. South Dakota Medicine. 2019;72(3):102-108. PMid:31018053
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Remley D, Franzen-Castle L, McCormack LA, Eicher-Miller H. Chronic Health Condition Influences on Client Perceptions of Limited or Non-Choice Food Pantries in Low-Income, Rural Communities. American Journal of Health Behavior. 2019;43(1):105-118. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.43.1.9. PMid:30522570