UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

Full citation: Puhl RM, Liu S. A national survey of public views about the classification of obesity as a disease. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015;23(6):1288-1295. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.21068

Full citation: Schwartz DL, Gilstad-Hayden K, Carroll-Scott A, et al. Energy drinks and youth self-reported hyperactivity/inattention symptoms. Acad Pediatr. 2015;15(3):297-304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2014.11.006

A new multi-­national study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut found similar levels of weight bias across four Western countries, with the strongest negative biases expressed by men and individuals who believe obesity stems from a lack of willpower.

Full citation: Puhl RM, Latner JD, O’Brien K, Luedicke J, Danielsdottir S, Forhan M. A multinational examination of weight bias: predictors of anti-fat attitudes across four countries. Int J Obes (Lond). 2015;39(7):1166-1173. https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.32

Emerging evidence shows that highly-caffeinated, often sugar-laden energy drinks can harm children and adolescents, and supports physicians groups and policymakers calling for restrictions on marketing and sales of these drinks to children under 18, according to a new study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut.

Despite public health messages about the importance of reducing consumption of sugary drinks, many parents believe that some drinks with high amounts of added sugar – especially fruit drinks, sports drinks and flavored water – are healthy options for children, according to a new study from the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at the University of Connecticut published today in Public Health Nutrition.

After the U.S. Department of Agriculture's healthier school meal standards went into effect, students ate more fruit and threw away less of their entrees and vegetables than before the changes, according to a study published today in Childhoold Obesity.

Full citation: Schwartz MB, Henderson KE, Read M, Danna N, Ickovics JR. New school meal regulations increase fruit consumption and do not increase total plate waste. Child Obes. 2015;11(3):242-247. https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2015.0019

Full citation: Munsell CR, Harris JL, Sarda V, Schwartz MB. Parents’ beliefs about the healthfulness of sugary drink options: opportunities to address misperceptions. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19(1):46-54. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980015000397

Full citation: Henderson KE, Grode GM, O’Connell ML, Schwartz MB. Environmental factors associated with physical activity in childcare centers. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015;12:43. Published 2015 Mar 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-015-0198-0