Individuals who are disadvantaged by low-income and/ or minority status face a number of barriers to experiencing optimal health and eating well. Twenty Aboriginal and 29 non-Aboriginal participants (N = 49) from Ottawa, Canada took part in a cross-sectional, mixed methods study and completed one questionnaire and single in-depth interview that verified: 1) food security status and household eating habits, 2) fruit and vegetable purchase and consumption, and 3) knowledge about or participation in the Good Food Box [GFB] Program. Ottawa GFB staff (n = 5), site coordinators (n = 6) and steering committee members (n = 3) took part in separate discussion groups to identify challenges and strengths related to program coordination, management and delivery. Within an ecological framework, qualitative data is discussed using a social phenomenological and thematic approach. Using χ2 analyses, results suggest a medium effect size and association between food security status and Aboriginal identity (χ2(1) = 8.04, p < 0.01; φ = 0.4) and satisfaction with how stores meet household food needs and gender (χ2(1) = 5.86, p < 0.05; φ = 0.36). A relationship between participation in the GFB Program and food security status (χ2(1) = 11.13, p < 0.01; φ = 0.48) is also shown where estimates suggest that GFB customers are 9.9 times more likely to be food secure compared to non-affiliates. ANOVA results and post-hoc tests demonstrate a significant mean difference in frequency of fruit consumption between GFB customers and non-program users (F(2, 46) = 11.29, p = 0.00) where 29.6% of the variance (ω2 = 0.296) is explained by program participation. Results-based and community-driven recommendations to improve access to healthy food, food security and the GFB Program are discussed as shared responsibilities between different levels of government across sectors and the community since these are public and social health issues, determinants of health and economic concerns. Implications of findings are also discussed.

Mobile produce markets (MPM) are a community-based strategy to improve produce access in areas with few fruits and vegetables (FV) retail options. The purpose of this thesis is to assess the functionality of MPM in low-income urban neighborhoods. This thesis includes three studies. Study 1 investigates FV availability in areas around MPM locations (n=13). We found limited fresh FV availability in stores, but high prevalence of 100% juice, and canned FV and beans. Study 2 applied questionnaire data from MPM shoppers (n=143) to assess MPM experiences. Chi Square was used to compare shopping behaviors between older (≥ 60) and younger (18-59.9 years) adults. Separate logistic regression models were used to predict Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) use, money spent, shopping frequency, and distance travelled to MPM, with age, race/ethnicity, sex, living alone/with others, and EBT in models. Participants indicated positive experiences with five dimensions of access: availability (variety), accessibility (location), affordability (price), acceptability (freshness), and accommodation (EBT use). Older shoppers were more likely to be long-term shoppers (P=0.002) and use EBT (P=0.012). Living alone predicted EBT use (P=0.03), shopping weekly (P=0.03), and traveling < 1 mile (P=0.02). In Study 3, we interviewed 16 farmers to investigate experiences and perceptions of local markets including MPM. Income and community interaction were prominent themes. Farmers identified community organizations as important liaisons to coordinate MPM distribution and communicate community needs. MPM offer a promising strategy for serving low-income and minority populations—to be organized by communities themselves and to bring needed food directly to neighborhoods.

This thesis deals with self-rated health and consumption of fruits and vegetables in the Czech part of the HAPIEE study. The recommended amount of 400 g of fruit and vegetable consumption was met at 49,2% of men and 70,1% of women participating in the study. In the case of a higher 600 g recommendation it was 23,3% men and 42,6% women. The relationship between self-rated health and fruit and vegetable consumption was analyzed using the logistic regression method. Health was better assessed by those who consumed fruits and vegetables in the interval of 258-549g (2nd and 3rd quintiles of fruit and vegetable consumption). Those who consumed less or more fruits and vegetables rated their health worse. There were no differences in the relationship between self-rated health and consumption of fruits and vegetables among the sexes, although men had a higher chance of rating their health as bad than women. Key words: self rated health, fruit and vegetable intake, fruit, vegetable, regression

Due to the short time the updated National School Lunch Program standards have been in place since fall of 2012, few research studies have explored what effect these new standards have had on fruit and vegetable (F/V) consumption, particularly among elementary school students. Because the new standards require schools to offer students more F/V than before, researchers are interested to know if F/V consumption has indeed increased. The participants in the study were enrolled in a program to motivate students to eat more F/V – the Food Dudes program. The results of the data analysis found that most students, regardless of grade, were eating less F/V initially after the new standards were in place. However, the group of students receiving prizes from the Food Dudes program actually ate more F/V over time instead of less. Also, F/V consumption for the first spring under the new standards did not decrease as much as it had during the spring under the old standards. These results indicate that, despite initial declines in F/V consumption, students could be adjusting to the updated standards. Also, students who have participated in the incentives group of the Food Dudes program did not show a drop in F/V consumption, even during the first semester the new standards were in place. Future studies should look at the current F/V intake of students under the updated guidelines now that they have been in place for several school years, as well as at additional intervention programs to increase F/V consumption among this population.

No description available.

Background: Loneliness, a feeling of distress, has aggravated due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and reduced social interactions. The objective of this study was to explore whether increased loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with various eating and activity behaviours in adolescence, a critical period for the development of lasting lifestyle habits. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used self-reported data from 43,588 and 40,521 Canadian adolescents aged 12-19 years (collected between November 2020 and June 2021) for eating habits and the 24-hour movement behaviours, respectively. Binary and multinomial logistic regression were used to predict the odds of various lifestyle behaviours among adolescents with increased loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: We found higher odds of skipping breakfast [boys: OR 1.41 (95% CI: 1.33, 1.50), girls: OR 1.64 (95% CI: 1.56, 1.74)], fast food consumption [1-2 days in the past week: girls - OR: 1.14 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.21); ≥3 days in the past week: boys - 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.24), girls - OR: 1.42 (95% CI: 1.29, 1.57)], not meeting screen time [boys: OR 1.43 (95% CI: 1.24, 1.66), girls: OR 1.72 (95% CI: 1.54, 1.92)], and sleep duration guidelines [boys: OR 1.38 (95% CI: 1.28, 1.48), girls: OR 1.36 (95% CI: 1.27, 1.45)] among adolescents that reported increased loneliness due to the pandemic (versus those in the decreased/stayed the same loneliness group). Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies in adolescents are needed to confirm the directionality of these associations. It is important to raise awareness of these findings among public health practitioners, policymakers, physicians, schools and parents to promote healthier eating habits and increase adherence to the 24-hour movement behaviours. Recovery efforts post-pandemic are needed to reduce loneliness levels to support adolescent social health and establish healthy behavioural habits across the lifespan.

Yes / Food loss is one of the significant threats to sustainable development. Although various studies investigating food loss drivers disclosed that logistics is a significant reason for food loss, logistics-related food loss drivers have not been thoroughly studied. Thus, this paper aims to identify, classify and rank the logistics-related food loss drivers, having more influence on the amount of food loss in the fruit and vegetable supply chain, with the help of a mixed-method approach. First, a literature review was conducted to identify potential logistics-related food loss drivers. A total of 49 articles were analyzed. Second, 21 semi-structured interviews were conducted with industry experts to finalize the drivers. Third, the analytical hierarchy process was employed to rank the drivers having more influence on the amount of food loss. Five main drivers and nineteen sub-drivers were identified at the end of the literature review and interview process. Categorization of main drivers is based on the logistics activities. According to results, warehousing-related drivers and transportation-related drivers are the two most influential drivers on the amount of food loss, while lack of coordination and improper packaging material are the two most influential sub-drivers. Following the ranking of drivers and sub-drivers, mitigation strategies to diminish food loss are also discussed. The findings of this study are intended to guide fruit and vegetable supply chain actors in tackling food loss.

Yes / While studies indicate that collaboration between stakeholders plays a prominent role in reducing food loss and waste (FLW), they have not specified which stakeholder group's collaboration will be more effective in reducing FLW. To fill this gap in the literature, this paper aims to identify and classify fruit and vegetable supply chain (FVSC) stakeholders according to their salience level and offer mitigation strategies for different salient stakeholder groups to tackle FLW. The study was conducted in Turkish FVSC because fruit and vegetable loss accounted for 53% of the total food loss. A multi-method approach was utilised to achieve the aim. First, 26 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Turkish FVSC experts to determine FVSC stakeholders and FLW drivers. Second, to identify and classify salient stakeholders, stakeholder mapping was undertaken. Collaboration-related mitigation strategies are offered high salient stakeholders and other stakeholder groups to reduce the amount of fruit and vegetable loss and waste. According to content analysis results, 25 supply chain actors are identified as stakeholders, and 15 are classified as salient stakeholders who can be more effective in tackling FLW. In addition, based on the results, 26 FLW drivers are identified according to different supply chain stages. Collaboration-based mitigation strategies were developed to diminish the impact of FLW causes at different stages. This study is one of the early attempts to classify food supply chain stakeholders according to saliency level. This study offers collaboration-related mitigation strategies to eliminate FLW drivers that cause loss and waste between specific stages of the FVSC. / The research was supported by The Scientific & Technological Research Council of Turkey (Tübitak 2211-A project no: 1649B031503919).

Kinder und Jugendliche in Deutschland essen laut der bundesweiten KiGGS-Untersuchung weniger Obst und Gemüse als von den Fachgesellschaften empfohlen. Ein höherer Verzehr geht mit einem geringeren Risiko für ernährungsassoziierte Erkrankungen wie Krebs, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen, Übergewicht/Adipositas oder Bluthochdruck einher. Basierend auf der Kampagne „5-a-day“, wurde von der Deutschen Krebsgesellschaft das Projekt „5 am Tag für Kids“ für 3. und 4. Klassen als Maßnahme der Verhaltensprävention entwickelt. Ziel der Intervention war die Steigerung des Obst- und Gemüsekonsums bei den Kindern. Mit Hilfe einer prä-post Befragung von 1.376 Schülern, deren Eltern und 69 Lehrkräften von 35 niedersächsischen Grundschulen, wurde das Konzept evaluiert. Die Akzeptanz und Bewertung durch Schüler und Lehrer war hoch, eine nachhaltige Steigerung des Obst- und Gemüseverzehrs konnte jedoch nicht festgestellt werden. Um weitere Erkenntnisse darüber zu gewinnen, welche Bausteine schulischer Interventionen erfolgsversprechend sind, sind auch Ergebnisse der Befragung zum Projekt „Entdeckungsreise Essen“ in die Dissertation eingeflossen. Dieser praktisch orientierte, partizipative und explorative Ansatz richtet sich an 5. und 6. Klassen. Erste Ergebnisse scheinen vielversprechend, dass die Schüler die Lerninhalte auch auf ihr Lebensumfeld übertragen haben, indem Sie häufiger neue Lebensmittel probierten und zu Hause selbst Rezepte nachkochten. Insgesamt existiert nach wie vor großer Handlungsbedarf hinsichtlich der Konzeptionierung und flächenweiten Implementierung erfolgsversprechender verhaltens- und verhältnispräventiver Maßnahmen zur Förderung des Obst- und Gemüsekonsums bzw. eines gesunden Ernährungsverhaltens in geeigneten Settings wie Kindertageseinrichtungen und Schulen. In Kombination mit einer gesteigerten Inanspruchnahme von Früherkennungsuntersuchungen könnten so die persönlichen, gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Belastungen, die aus chronischen Erkrankungen resultieren, reduziert werden.

Rowe and Kahns theory of successful aging identifies three main components of aging successfully: reducing the risk of disease and disability, maintaining high cognitive and physical function, and engagement with life. While there is compelling evidence that suggests the legitimacy of this concept in the 50-75 year old community dwelling population, three areas of expansion are necessary: 1.) programmatic research; 2.) extending the existing research samples to include older samples and those living in continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs); and 3.) the integration of data collection and analysis to move beyond investigation of just one successful aging outcome to include elements of all three components of successful aging. Longitudinal analysis utilizing hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was conducted on a convenience sample of 136 older adults (mean age = 80.8 years at baseline) participating in a pilot community-wide successful aging program over a 26-month period. Results indicate the sample reported exercising frequently, ate recommended levels of fruits and vegetables, had healthy BMIs, had positive ratings of health, were highly involved in productive activities, and were satisfied with their ability to give and receive social support at baseline. High levels of mobility were measured in the sample. Participants maintained this picture of successful aging over time for the majority of outcome variables, though significant declines in self-reported health were observed. Participants also reported improvements in their satisfaction with receiving social support. Results support four major conclusions: 1.) The three criteria of successful aging identified by Rowe and Kahn (1997) were observed among older adults living in CCRCs who were enrolled in a successful aging program. 2.) Stability was observed on a number of the outcomes over 26 months in this convenience sample, which has implications for intervention/programmatic research. Despite the traditional improvement-oriented focus of programmatic research, stability or maintenance of well-being over time should be viewed as a positive outcome in older age, particularly when compared to national data depicting trends of decline. 3.) The interdependence of current results support the notion that successful aging programming needs to include multi-disciplinary intervention strategies, as supported by the finding that modifiers of physical, social, and intellectual well-being include constructs from each of the components of successful aging. 4.) Participants of the current study were largely in the precontemplation and contemplation stages of change. Readiness to change needs to be factored into the design of any successful aging program, as the Transtheoretical Model could be a powerful tool for the identification of readiness to change and the development of appropriate and effective successful aging programming.