UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Full citation: Lessard LM, Watson RJ, Puhl RM. Bias-Based Bullying and School Adjustment among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: The Role of Gay-Straight Alliances [published correction appears in J Youth Adolesc. 2020 Apr 20;:]. J Youth Adolesc. 2020;49(5):1094-1109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-020-01205-1

Full citation: Pearl RL, Puhl RM, Himmelstein MS, Pinto AM, Foster GD. Weight Stigma and Weight-Related Health: Associations of Self-Report Measures Among Adults in Weight Management. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2020;54(11):904-914. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaaa026

Full citation: Asada Y, Harris JL, Mancini S, Schwartz MB, Chriqui JF. Food and beverage marketing in schools: school superintendents’ perspectives and practices after the healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Public Health Nutrition. 2020;23(11):2024-2031. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019004804

Full citation: Choi YY, Ludwig A, Andreyeva T, Harris JL. Effects of United States WIC infant formula contracts on brand sales of infant formula and toddler milks. J Public Health Policy. 2020;41(3):303-320. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-020-00228-z

Marketing claims promote benefits of providing infant formula and toddler milks that are not supported by scientific evidence, yet 60% of caregivers surveyed mistakenly believe these products provide nutrition not present in breastmilk, whole milk or other healthy foods, according to a new paper published in Maternal and Child Nutrition from researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut. Relatedly, caregivers who participated in the study who believe these unsupported claims are significantly more likely to serve infant formula and toddler milk to their children, despite expert recommendations that toddler milks are not necessary for toddlers and that breastmilk is superior to infant formula for infants up to 12 months.

Full citation: Rubino F, Puhl RM, Cummings DE, et al. Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity. Nature Medicine. 2020;26(4):485-497. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x

Full citation: Romo-Palafox MJ, Pomeranz JL, Harris JL. Infant formula and toddler milk marketing and caregiver’s provision to young children. Maternal & Child Nutrition. 2020;16(3):e12962. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12962

Full citation: Asada Y, Hughes A, Read M, et al. “On a Positive Path”: School Superintendents’ Perceptions of and Experiences With Local School Wellness Policy Implementation and Evaluation [published online ahead of print, 2020 Mar 2]. Health Promot Pract. 2020;1524839920907559. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839920907559

National rates of obesity in American youth and adults remain high and yet many societal messages tell us that you should be ashamed of being larger than certain standards suggest. Studies bear out that this form of discrimination hinders many people’s chances in this society and can result in some very harmful effects, like depression, eating disorders, reduced self esteem and other chronic diseases. Dr. Rebecca Puhl joins the America Trends Podcast to help sort through the messaging in our culture.

Formula companies quadrupled their advertising of toddler milk products over a ten year period, contributing to a 2.6 times increase in the amount of toddler milk sold, according to a new paper published in Public Health Nutrition from researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut. This rapid increase in sales occurred despite recommendations from health and nutrition experts. Recently, an expert panel representing the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association issued guidance recommending that parents do not serve toddler milks, as young children do not need them and the added sugars in these drinks raise concerns.