Interventions addressing racial and ethnic obesity inequities have lower effectiveness in Black adults. Previous literature linking the neighborhood environment to obesity inequities relies on limited food environment measures. Thus, we conducted semi-structured interviews to assess neighborhood-level barriers and facilitators to health behaviors among ethnically diverse Black adults (n = 24). Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis (kappa = 0.70- 0.93; IRR = 83%). Participants reported barriers in the food (cost, transportation, high unhealthy food access) and physical activity environment (safety concerns). Facilitators included community food resources and access to safe areas for physical activity. These results may inform future research and weight loss programs for diverse Black adults.

Full Citation: Anderson, R., Killion, K., Idiong, C. I., Antrum, C., Abdul-Razak, S., Raja, S., Niroula, K., Ray, S., Puglisi, M., Kalinowski, J., Carr, L. T., & Cooksey Stowers, K. (2026). Perceived neighborhood-level assets and barriers to weight-related behaviors among ethnically diverse black adults. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-025-02711-3

Suboptimal breastfeeding in the U.S. carries substantial health and economic costs and is marked by persistent disparities. The 2022 formula shortage coincided with disruptions in infant feeding practices. This study documents changes in breastfeeding during the shortage period and projects associated infant illness and healthcare costs. Using 2017–2022 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data, we applied Bayesian structural time-series models to estimate deviations in breastfeeding initiation and duration during the shortage period relative to prior trends. We then used Monte Carlo simulation to project infant illness and healthcare costs.

During the 2022 formula shortage, breastfeeding for at least four months was higher by 3.43 percentage points (95% credible interval [CrI]: 1.11, 5.74). Breastfeeding at one, two, and three months postpartum was 2.49 to 3.55 percentage points higher, and initiation was higher by 1.54 percentage points (95% CrI: 0.46, 2.59). Estimates varied across sociodemographic groups and were larger among less advantaged mothers, corresponding with smaller observed breastfeeding disparities. The simulation projects annual healthcare costs approximately $420 million lower. In conclusion, during the formula shortage, groups with historically lower breastfeeding rates exhibited higher breastfeeding levels, highlighting the relevance of breastfeeding trends for discussions of infant disease and healthcare costs.

Full Citation: Seoane Estruel, L., & Andreyeva, T. (2026). Breastfeeding patterns during the 2022 United States infant formula shortage and projected infant healthcare costs. Preventive Medicine, 108503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2026.108503.

Environmental cues can guide behavior, which in substance use disorders contributes to maladaptive outcomes. Currently, ultra-processed food (UPF) cues dominate food environments, and growing evidence suggests that their consumption may share characteristics with substance use disorders. The attribution of heightened incentive salience to food cues relative to other highly rewarding stimuli has been linked to food addiction (FA). Here, we investigate whether FA is specifically associated with greater incentive salience for UPF. A remote version of the normative rating procedure for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) was conducted with 212 Brazilians. The arousal dimension of emotion was used as an index of incentive salience and was assessed through the Self-Assessment Manikin scale. We presented 70 pictures from the IAPS (from various emotion categories, including erotic cues due to their rewarding properties) and an additional set of 11 UPF and 11 unprocessed or minimally processed foods (UMPF) pictures. The modified Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 was applied to assess FA. Results indicated that both groups of individuals (with and without FA) attributed greater incentive salience to UPF cues than to UMPF cues. However, only individuals with FA attributed similar incentive salience to UPF and erotic cues. These findings highlight the significance of UPF in the development of FA and could support public policies aimed at overcoming the appealing and potentially addictive aspects of UPF.

Full Citation: Lemos, T. C., Coutinho, G. M., Khandpur, N., Gombi-Vaca, M. F., Volchan, E., Mata-Martín, J. L., & David, I. A. (2026). ‘I can’t resist’: Incentive salience for ultra-processed food cues matches erotic cues in individuals with food addiction. Food Quality and Preference, 139, 105866. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2026.105866

Food pantries are critical for addressing food insecurity, but dietary quality of food offered by pantries and selected by clients is often low. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP) is an evidence-based nutrition labelling strategy (eg, green=choose often; red=choose rarely) that has not been adopted widely due to implementation barriers. Behavioural economics (BE) strategies could help overcome these barriers.

The Be Well Study is testing a multicomponent BE intervention to increase implementation of SWAP in a 12-month cluster randomised controlled trial in 30 pantries affiliated with a large food bank in eastern Massachusetts. Intervention pantries received the BE-enhanced SWAP implementation strategy including: SWAP toolkits, SWAP invoice labelling, dietitian-led learning communities, implementation incentives and the opportunity to earn a seal of approval. Control pantries received basic SWAP information and invoice labelling. Outcomes are assessed at the pantry (n=30) and client (n=3750) levels using pantry audits, food bank ordering data, client surveys and client basket audits and include changes from baseline to 6 and 12 (primary) months in: SWAP implementation, percent green-labelled foods ordered by pantries and selected by clients, and client dietary quality. Be Well is testing strategies to overcome implementation barriers for healthy eating interventions in the charitable food system. Findings will inform future interventions to support pantry clients’ selection and consumption of healthier food.

Leveraging a natural policy variation in state-level USM implementation, we surveyed 1066 middle and high school students from eight US states (four with USM, four without) during the 2022–2023 school year. Stigma was measured as self-reported embarrassment about eating school lunch. We used generalized estimating equations to examine the associations between USM, embarrassment, and lunch participation.

Overall about one in nine students (11.5%) across all surveyed states reported embarrassment, which was associated with 11% less frequent (aRR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.97). School lunch participation overall, especially among those from low-income families. While USM was associated with lower odds of embarrassment among students from low-income families, higher-income students in USM states were more likely to feel embarrassed. USM can alleviate stigma for lower-income students yet may increase embarrassment among higher-income peers, highlighting the need for comprehensive approaches benefiting all socioeconomic groups.

Full Citation: Orta‐Aleman, D., Zuercher, M. D., Chapman, L. E., Schwartz, M. B., French, C. D., Patel, A. I., Ritchie, L., Cohen, J., & Gosliner, W. (2025a). Universal School Meal Policies and perceived stigma: Quantitative evidence from eight US states. Journal of School Health, 96(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.70098

Parental communication plays a critical role in weight-related health of children and adolescents and requires a balanced, thoughtful and supportive approach. The European Childhood Obesity Group (ECOG) convened a panel of experts to discuss the topic of parental communication in the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent obesity, as summarised in this statement. Parental concern about weight is evident, but the lack of parental knowledge about obesity, the impact of weight bias and stigma on their children and adolescents’ health behaviours, and the influences of culture, media, and advertising all make communication challenging and problematic for many families. Parents need support and skill building in order to provide a communication environment that is healthy and accepting. Healthcare professionals can model healthy communication styles by focusing on health, building family strengths and supports, asking youth about what words they prefer using to discuss their weight, and acknowledging the multifactorial causes of obesity that reside in the socioecological environment. While parental communication offers a powerful platform for promoting healthy behaviours in youth, it must be handled with care to avoid the harms of stigmatisation and oversimplification of obesity as a reflection of individual lifestyle choices. With appropriate tools, knowledge, skills, and support, parents can be better equipped to engage in supportive dialogue that empowers their children and promotes their health and wellbeing.

Full Citation: Puhl, R., Hassink, S., Lischka, J., Torbahn, G., Ring‐Dimitriou, S., Braet, C., Vlachopapadopoulou, E., Handjieva‐Darlenska, T., Vania, A., Łuszczki, E., Molnár, D. A., Thivel, D., Weghuber, D., & Nowicka, P. (2025). Parental communication in the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent obesity: A position statement of the European Childhood Obesity Group. Pediatric Obesity, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpo.70052

From October 18–20, 2022, the National Institutes of Health held a workshop to examine the state of the science concerning obesity interventions in adults to promote health equity. The workshop had three objectives: (1) Convene experts from key institutions and the community to identify gaps in knowledge and opportunities to address obesity, (2) generate recommendations for obesity prevention and treatment to achieve health equity, and (3) identify challenges and needs to address obesity prevalence and disparities, and develop a diverse workforce.

Several key themes emerged from the workshop discussions that describe directions to build on the currently limited amount of research on obesity, disparities, and equity. Key themes centered on the determinants of health, leveraging technology, clinical, community, commercial, and policy approaches. Community-engaged work, particularly in populations that have received little focus (e.g., sexual gender minorities, Asian communities), were also discussed.

Full Citation: L. T. Blackman Carr, J. Ard, C. B. Shanks, et al., “ Toward Health Equity: A Workshop Report on the State of the Science of Obesity Interventions for Adults,” Obesity (2025): 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.70035.

What is the impact of federal- and state-level Universal Free School Meal (UFSM) policies on participation rates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic?

In this comparative effectiveness study, the federal UFSM policy during the COVID-19 pandemic increased NSLP and SBP participation, and states maintaining UFSM policies showed sustained participation increases. Limited expansions of free meal access showed no significant outcome. Results suggest that UFSM policies may effectively increase school meal participation and may help reduce diet-related disparities and food insecurity among children, underscoring the need for continued state and federal support.

School meals were served free of charge to all public school students in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some students still did not participate. In this mixed-methods study, surveys and interviews were conducted with food service directors (FSDs) from California (n = 556 surveys; n = 29 interviews) and Maine (n = 43 surveys; n = 20 interviews) during spring 2022. Students’ preference to eat meals from home or elsewhere (81.5%) and negative perceptions of the school food’s taste (67%) were the most common barriers reported. Schools’ prior community eligibility provision (CEP) participation and smaller student enrollment were associated with fewer reported barriers. Inadequate time to eat lunch and stigma were also reported as barriers to participation.

Full Citation: Olarte, D. A., Gosliner, W., Chapman, L. E., Hecht, C., Hecht, K., Ohri-Vachaspati, P., Patel, A. I., Read, M., Ritchie, L. D., Schwartz, M. B., Zuercher, M. D., Orta-Aleman, D., Polacsek, M., & Cohen, J. F. W. (2025). Foodservice Directors’ Perceived Barriers to Student Participation in School Meals When Meals Were Served Free of Charge During the 2021-2022 School Year. The Journal of School Health, 95(8), 575–586. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.70019\

Research Question: What is the amount and type of food and beverage brand exposure young US children (aged 3 to 8 years) experience when viewing YouTube or YouTube Kids on mobile devices?

Key Finding: In this observational study, most children aged 6 to 8 years (75%) and 36% of children aged 3 to 5 years were exposed to branded food and beverages. The majority of brand exposures (61%) were embedded within videos, followed by thumbnails (23%) and ads (17%). Candy, sugar-sweetened drinks, fast food, and sweet or salty snacks represented 74% of exposures, and lifestyle videos (including influencers) contributed 77% of brand exposures within videos. No videos embedded with food or beverage brands disclosed food company-sponsored content.

Full Citation: Fleming-Milici, F., Gershman, H., Agresta, H. O., McCann, M., & Harris, J. L. (2025). Young Children’s (3-8y) food and beverage brand exposure on YouTube and YouTube kids: An observational study and content analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2025.05.010