UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity

This study evaluates messages about infant feeding on breastmilk substitute (BMS) manufacturer websites directed at US caregivers and compares information and portrayals of breast-feeding/breastmilk with that of infant formula (IF) feeding. A codebook was created through an iterative process to identify messages and images about breast-feeding/breastmilk and IF feeding, including benefits or issues associated with each, and direct-to-consumer marketing practices that could discourage breast-feeding.

Full citation: Pomeranz JL, Chu X, Groza O, Cohodes M, Harris JL. Breastmilk or infant formula? Content analysis of infant feeding advice on breastmilk substitute manufacturer websites [published online ahead of print, 2021 Sep 14]. Public Health Nutr. 2021;1-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980021003451

Toddler milk (ie, a nutrient-fortified milk-based drink marketed for children aged 12 to 36 months) has been marketed increasingly in the United States with structure/function claims on product packaging that are potentially misleading. This study examined how structure/function claims impact parents’ beliefs and perceptions about a toddler milk product.

Full citation:  Richter APC, Duffy EW, Taillie LS, Harris JL, Pomeranz JL, Hall MG. The impact of toddler milk claims on beliefs and misperceptions: A randomized experiment with parents of young children [published online ahead of print, 2021 Aug 12]. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2021;S2212-2672(21)01197-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.08.101 

This editorial discusses recent research on junk food consumption and makes recommendations for strategies to reduce purchases and consumption of foods high in sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.

Unhealthy weight control and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among adolescents who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority (SGM). The current study examined how perceptions of school safety contribute to reduced negative weight control and eating behaviors across adolescents with diverse sexual and gender identities.

Educators’ negative weight biases toward students with high body weight have been well-documented. The present investigation examined whether inclusion of body weight in school anti-bullying policies is associated with lower levels of weight bias among educators.

A multi-level county-wide campaign to reduce sugary drink consumption was associated with significant decreases in retail sales of soda and fruit drinks. The aim of the current study was to examine changes in adolescent beverage consumption during the campaign by race/ethnicity and neighborhood food environment.

Full citation:  Boehm R, Cooksey-Stowers K, Schneider GE, Schwartz MB (2021). Race, Ethnicity, and Neighborhood Food Environment are Associated with Adolescent Sugary Drink Consumption During a 5-Year Community Campaign. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-021-01074-9

A county-wide campaign targeting sugary drinks was associated with overall decreases in youth consumption, according to a new study from researchers at the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. However, the neighborhood food environment was found to be especially important for Black and Hispanic youth. Black and Hispanic students who live near large numbers of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores did not report significant decreases in calories from sugary drinks between 2012 and 2017, while those who live in healthier food environments did.

Changes in school meal programs can affect well-being of millions of American children. Since 2014, high-poverty schools and districts nationwide had an option to provide universal free meals (UFM) through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The COVID-19 pandemic expanded UFM to all schools in 2020–2022. Using nationally representative data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study: Kindergarten Class of 2010–2011, we measured CEP effects on school meal participation, attendance, academic achievement, children’s body weight, and household food security.

Full citation: Andreyeva, T.; Sun, X. Universal School Meals in the US: What Can We Learn from the Community Eligibility Provision? Nutrients 2021, 13, 2634. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082634

Incentivizing fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchases may help address barriers to healthy eating among populations with low income. In a repeated measures natural experiment study, we examined whether participation in the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) program increased F&V consumption among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.

Full citation: Atoloye, A.T.; SavoieRoskos, M.R.; Durward, C.M. Higher Fruit and Vegetable Intake Is Associated with Participation in the Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) Program. Nutrients 2021, 13, 2607. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13082607

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased attention to the proliferation of pediatric obesity amidst significant changes in weight-related health functioning (e.g., compromised physical activity, limited food access, increased stress). The present cross-sectional study investigated adolescents’ feelings about their bodies and perceived changes in weight stigma from peers, parents, and social media during the pandemic.

Full citation: Lessard LM, Puhl RM. Adolescents’ Exposure to and Experiences of Weight Stigma During the COVID-19 Pandemic [published online ahead of print, 2021 Jul 27]. J Pediatr Psychol. 2021;jsab071. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsab071