UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Marlene Schwartz discusses how COVID-19 changed the school foodservice environment with JAND Editor-in-Chief Linda Snetselaar, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, including challenges, innovations, and lessons learned that could impact school foodservice and policy in the future.

Full citation: Stowers KC, Martin KS, Read M, et al. Supporting Wellness at Pantries (SWAP): changes to inventory in six food pantries over one year. Journal of Public Health. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01350-8

Full Citation: Fleming-Milici F, Harris JL. Food marketing to children in the United States: Can industry voluntarily do the right thing for children’s health?. Physiol Behav. 2020;227:113139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113139

Full citation: Schwartz MB, Piekarz-Porter E, Read MA, Chriqui JF. Wellness School Assessment Tool Version 3.0: An Updated Quantitative Measure of Written School Wellness Policies. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2020;17:E52. Published 2020 Jul 2. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190373

Many health care professionals are concerned about their patients’ weight, but unsure how to best discuss this topic with their patients. After first identifying any potential lifestyle behaviors that may be contributing to body weight, health care professionals can use motivational interviewing techniques to support patients in making health behavior changes.

In situations where health care providers deem it necessary to discuss weight with their patients, using the following guidelines may help both patients and providers feel more comfortable with these conversations, and may increase patients’ receptivity to providers’ messages.

Sugary drink consumption by children and teens is a significant public health concern, with teens and young adults consuming more sugary drinks than other age groups. Consumption is also higher among low-income and Black non-Hispanic and MexicanAmerican youth, raising additional concerns about health disparities affecting low-income and communities of color. Utilizing the same methods as previous FACTS reports, researchers collected data on the nutrition quality of 48 sugary drink brands (those with $100,000 or more in 2018 advertising spending). This report summary explains the findings.

This infographic summarizes key findings from the Rudd Center’s Sugary Drink FACTS 2020 report, which assesses nutrition content and 2018 advertising spending, TV advertising exposure, and targeted advertising for sugary drinks.

Beverage companies spent $1.04 billion to advertise sugary drinks and energy drinks in 2018, a 26% increase compared to 2013, according to Sugary Drinks FACTS 2020, a new report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. The report documents continued extensive targeted advertising of sugary drinks by beverage companies directed to Black and Hispanic youth, which contributes to health disparities affecting communities of color. 

All sugary drinks have a nutrition facts panel. Use this sheet as a guide to help you navigate the information it contains.