Telehealth programs have long held promise for addressing rural health disparities perpetuated by inadequate healthcare access. The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying social distancing measures have hastened the implementation of telehealth programs in hospital systems around the globe. Here, we provide specific examples of telehealth efforts that have been implemented in a large rural healthcare system in response to the pandemic, and further describe how the massive shift to telehealth and reliance on virtual connections in these times of social isolation may impact rural health disparities for those without access to necessary broadband to deploy digital technologies. Finally, we provide recommendations for researchers and policy makers to ensure that telehealth initiatives do not amplify existing health disparities experienced by those living in rural communities.

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A weight loss program administered by trained lay volunteers was effective in producing significant and clinically meaningful weight loss among African-American women who often do not benefit from typical weight loss programs. Ongoing research is focusing on whether the weight loss can be maintained or enhanced through monthly reinforcement sessions.

The identification of common dietary patterns among free-living persons is promising for characterizing high-risk groups at the US population level. The dietary patterns identified here are similar to those reported in other nonrepresentative samples and are associated with biomarkers of CVD risk, which confirms that dietary pattern analysis can be a valuable method for assessing dietary intakes when predicting CVD risk.

In this cross-sectional and population-based study, egg consumption made important nutritional contributions to the American diet and was not associated with high serum cholesterol concentrations.

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The purpose of this pilot quasi-experimental study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of using Facebook in a 10-week lifestyle intervention with Head Start caregiver-preschooler dyads to improve healthy behaviors and reduce body mass index. Sixty-nine dyads participated with 39 in the intervention group. Average preschooler attendance rate for the Head Start center-based program was 77%, and caregiver participation rate was 87%. About 94% of the caregivers were satisfied with the program, and 97% would recommend the program to others and/or participate again. The intervention decreased preschoolers' body mass index z score (Cohen's d = -.30) and screen time ( d = -.21), and increased their fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ( d = .42). The intervention increased caregivers' fruit and vegetable intake ( d = .40). The intervention is feasible, and preliminary efficacy is encouraging, but further investigation using a rigorous study design is warranted.

This study evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 12-week Guys/Girls Opt for Activities for Life (GOAL) intervention on 10- to 13-year-old adolescents' body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, physical activity (PA), diet quality, and psychosocial perceptions related to PA and healthy eating. Parent-adolescent dyads from two schools were enrolled. Schools were assigned to either GOAL (38 dyads) or control (43 dyads) condition. The intervention included an after-school club for adolescents 2 days/week, parent-adolescent dyad meeting, and parent Facebook group. Intervention adolescents had greater autonomous motivation for PA and self-efficacy for healthy eating than control adolescents (both p < .05). Although between-group differences were not significant, close-to-moderate effect sizes resulted for accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA and diet quality measured via 24-hr dietary recall ( d = .46 and .44, respectively). A trivial effect size occurred for percent body fat ( d = -.10). No differences emerged for BMI. Efficacy testing with a larger sample may be warranted.