Background The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected food systems including food security. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security is important to provide support, and identify long-term impacts and needs. Objective The National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) was formed to assess food security over different U.S. study sites throughout the pandemic, using common instruments and measurements. This study present results from 18 study sites across 15 states and nationally over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A validated survey instrument was developed and implemented in whole or part through an online survey of adults across the sites throughout the first year of the pandemic, representing 22 separate surveys. Sampling methods for each study site were convenience, representative, or high-risk targeted. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Food security prevalence was analyzed using analysis of variance by sampling method to statistically significant differences. Results Respondents (n = 27,168) indicate higher prevalence of food insecurity (low or very low food security) since the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared to before the pandemic. In nearly all study sites, there is higher prevalence of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), households with children, and those with job disruptions. The findings demonstrate lingering food insecurity, with high prevalence over time in sites with repeat cross-sectional surveys. There are no statistically significant differences between convenience and representative surveys, but statistically higher prevalence of food insecurity among high-risk compared to convenience surveys. Conclusions This comprehensive study demonstrates higher prevalence of food insecurity in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts were prevalent for certain demographic groups, and most pronounced for surveys targeting high-risk populations. Results especially document the continued high levels of food insecurity, as well as the variability in estimates due to survey implementation method. Summary Multi-site assessment demonstrates widespread food insecurity during COVID-19, especially on households with children, job loss, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color across multiple survey methods.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Restrictive Eating Behaviors Inflammation Symptoms MalnutritionBACKGROUND & AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients alter their dietary behaviors to reduce diseaserelated symptoms, avoid feared food triggers, and control inflammation. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), evaluate risk factors, and examine the association with risk of malnutrition in patients with IBD. METHODS:This cross-sectional study recruited adult patients with IBD from an ambulatory clinic. ARFID risk was measured using the Nine-Item ARFID Screen. Nutritional risk was measured with the Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between clinical characteristics and a positive ARFID risk screen. Patient demographics, disease characteristics, and medical history were abstracted from medical records. RESULTS:Of the 161 participants (Crohn's disease, 45.3%; ulcerative colitis, 51.6%; IBD-unclassified, 3.1%), 28 (17%) had a positive ARFID risk score ( ‡24). Most participants (92%) reported avoiding 1 or more foods while having active symptoms, and 74% continued to avoid 1 or more foods even in the absence of symptoms. Active symptoms (odds ratio, 5.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-15.01) and inflammation (odds ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-10.29) were significantly associated with positive ARFID risk. Patients with a positive ARFID risk screen were significantly more likely to be at risk for malnutrition (60.7% vs 15.8%; P < .01).

The dose given (400 IU/day) was not enough to achieve 25(OH)D concentration, considered optimal for bone health.

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Objective: To compare and evaluate the dietary quality of young and older sedentary Mexican-American women. Understanding key dietary concerns, while considering developmental transition periods and cultural relevance, can provide insight for developing appropriate nutrition interventions. Design: Cross-sectional dietary data were collected using unannounced 24 h diet recalls to assess nutrient intake adequacy (Estimated Average Requirement cut-point method) and dietary quality (Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2010). Setting: Mujeres en Acción and Madres para la Salud, two community-based physical activity interventions. Subjects: Participants were 139 young (28 (SD 6) years) and 124 older (55 (SD 7) years) overweight/obese sedentary Mexican-American women (BMI = 25·0-35·0 kg/m 2 ) of low socio-economic status. Results: Older women consumed less Ca, Fe, folate, empty calories and energy from carbohydrate, but more fruit, vegetables, greens and beans, and fibre than younger women (all P < 0·05). Over 60 % of all participants had an intake below recommendations for fibre, Ca, vitamin E, vitamin C and folate. Both groups had low total HEI-2010 scores (62 for older and 63 for younger women; NS), with 57 % of older and 48 % of younger women classified as having a poor diet. Conclusions: Despite differences in nutrient requirements according to developmental transition periods (childbearing v. perimenopausal), overall, older and younger Mexican-American women generally had low-quality diets and may benefit from dietary quality improvement.

Despite their low cost and high nutrient density, the contribution of eggs to nutrient intake and dietary quality among Mexican-American postpartum women has not been evaluated. Nutrient intake and dietary quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), were measured in habitually sedentary overweight/obese (body mass index (BMI) = 29.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2) Mexican-American postpartum women (28 ± 6 years) and compared between egg consumers (n = 82; any egg intake reported in at least one of three 24-h dietary recalls) and non-consumers (n = 57). Egg consumers had greater intake of energy (+808 kJ (193 kcal) or 14%; p = 0.033), protein (+9 g or 17%; p = 0.031), total fat (+9 g or 19%; p = 0.039), monounsaturated fat (+4 g or 24%; p = 0.020), and several micronutrients than non-consumers. Regarding HEI-2010 scores, egg consumers had a greater total protein foods score than non-consumers (4.7 ± 0.7 vs. 4.3 ± 1.0; p = 0.004), and trends for greater total fruit (2.4 ± 1.8 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7; p = 0.070) and the total composite HEI-2010 score (56.4 ± 12.6 vs. 52.3 ± 14.4; p = 0.082). Findings suggest that egg intake could contribute to greater nutrient intake and improved dietary quality among postpartum Mexican-American women. Because of greater energy intake among egg consumers, recommendations for overweight/obese individuals should include avoiding excessive energy intake and incorporating eggs to a nutrient-dense, fiber-rich dietary pattern.

Participation in the social-support PA intervention resulted in slightly increased HDL cholesterol concentrations and a modest and beneficial shift toward larger, less atherogenic LDL particles.

Objectives College students in the US tend to have low diet quality due to a confluence of interpersonal, intrapersonal, and environmental factors. Restrictive dieting is commonly used for weight management but often ineffective in the long term and can lead to dangerous eating behaviors. Intuitive eating is an adaptive form of eating that has gained interest as an alternative to restrictive dieting due to its successful use in eating disorder recovery and correlation with decreased body mass index in healthy populations. The objective of the current study was to identify if higher intuitive eating, as measured by the intuitive eating scale (IES-2), correlated with increased diet quality, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) in a college sample. Methods In this cross-sectional study, participants completed an online survey containing the IES-2 questionnaire which provides a total score for intuitive eating and four subscale scores representing the main behaviors of intuitive eating. The dietary intake of participants was assessed with up to three 24-hour diet recalls, which were completed over the phone. A total of 55 participants (40 females and 15 males) completed the survey and a minimum of two 24-hour diet recalls, which were used to calculate the HEI-2015. Independent sample t-test and Pearson's correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results The total IES-2 scores were higher for males than females (82.9 ± 8.1 vs. 76.3 ± 11.2, P = 0.04). The average total HEI-2015 score was 59.5 ± 15.1 and did not differ between gender (P = 0.93). The total IES-2 score was not significantly correlated with the total HEI scores (r = −0.218, P = 0.11), and one subscale of the IES-2, the Unconditional Permission to Eat subscale, was negatively correlated with the total HEI score (r = −0.418, P &lt; 0.01) and BMI (r = −0.335, P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions The results of the study do not support that intuitive eating is correlated with diet quality, furthermore, increased scores of the Unconditional Permission to Eat subscale of intuitive eating was correlated with a lower diet quality suggesting that intuitive eating and diet quality may be separate constructs that should be addressed individually. Funding Sources None.