Location: Office of The Area Director
2023 Annual Report
Objectives
1. Determine if the association between self-assessed and measured diet quality (based on the Healthy Eating Index) in adolescents is moderated by gender, body mass index, and food related behaviors using the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and associated Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey datasets.
2. Determine if health behavior relationships in families are moderated or mediated by psychosocial constructs related to diet and physical activity, parenting style, and community/neighborhood environments using the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating Study datasets.
3. Measure the different food environments to which children living in the Lower Mississippi Delta region are exposed.
Approach
1. Associations between self-assessed and measured diet quality will be determined for adolescents 16-19 years of age using the 2 most recent cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. Self-assessed diet quality will be based upon the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey item “In general, how healthy is your overall diet?”. Measured diet quality will be computed using dietary intake data collected in the dietary interview component of NHANES, and the Healthy Eating Index, a diet quality scoring system. Moderation analysis will be used to determine if the association between self-assessed and measured diet quality is differentially influenced by gender, body mass index, and food related behaviors.
2. Relationships between adolescent and parent/caregiver dietary and physical activity behavior will be determined using the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating Study (FLASHE) datasets. FLASHE is a cross-sectional, Internet based survey that was administered to dyads of parents and their adolescent child (aged 12-17 years) in 2014. It was designed to examine lifestyle behaviors, including diet and physical activity, that relate to cancer risk. Dietary behavior, related psychosocial constructs, and community/neighborhood food environment characteristics will be based upon data from the Teen Diet and Parent Diet Surveys which contained a 27-item dietary screener. Physical activity, measured as minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and related psychosocial constructs will be based upon data from the Teen Physical Activity and Parent Physical Activity Surveys. Measures of parenting style will be obtained from the Teen Demographic and Parent Demographic Surveys using the 6 items that pertain to the adolescent/parent(s) relationship. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model will be used to measure the influence that parents have on their adolescent's dietary and physical activity behaviors.
3. Food outlets will be measured using tools designed to assess community nutrition environments. Childcare facilities will be measured using tools designed to assess child nutrition environments specific to such facilities. Geographical analyses will be conducted to determine if patterns of food outlets are clustered, dispersed, or random in the geographic areas of interest. Census tract data will be mapped to explore spatial relationships among food outlets, child care facilities, and population demographic characteristics such as age, race/ethnicity, and poverty status.
Progress Report
Progress was made on Objective 3, which falls under National Program 107, Prevention of Obesity and Obesity-Related Diseases. Objective 1 was completed in FY2022, and Objective 2 was completed in FY2021. In support of Objective 3, graphical analysis of community food environment data was completed. Interpretation of the analysis and subsequent reporting of results were conducted in collaboration with the University of Central Arkansas and Mississippi State University. The Mississippi Farm to School (MS F2S) Study involved two online surveys designed for small farmers and school food service directors (SFSD) in Mississippi. The small farmer survey collected data about type, quantity, and seasonality of food grown, raised, or produced; and interest in and experience with farm to school (F2S) activities. The SFSD survey collected data about purchasing practices and interest in and experience with F2S activities, particularly those involving small farmers. Data collection began in October 2021 and was completed in March 2022. Graphical data analysis was completed in in October 2022. These efforts have resulted in 2 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and 1 presentation at a local farmers’ workshop.
Additional analyses, in collaboration with the University of Central Arkansas, were conducted that extended the research completed under Objective 1. Specifically, relationships among acculturation (using 2 different language variables), diet quality, and accuracy of diet quality assessment were explored in Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans. Datasets of participants at least 16 years of age were created from the 2 most recent cycles of National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey (NHANES) datasets with available dietary data, 2015-2018. Diet quality measures based on 2015 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015) scores were computed. Matching algorithms between perceived (self-assessed) diet quality and measured diet quality (HEI-2015 scores/grades) were applied to determine the percentages of Asian Americans and Hispanic Americans who accurately assessed their diet quality. Additionally, two proxy acculturation scales were created using nativity/length of United States residence, immigration age, language spoken in household (home), and language of dietary recall (recall). Differences in diet quality component and total scores by acculturation level were determined using mean group analysis for complex survey designs. Multivariable linear regression was used to model total diet quality scores and to compute group means for explanatory variables including age, gender, education, household food security, accuracy of diet quality assessment, and awareness of federal dietary guidelines (MyPlate). Separate models were run for the 2 acculturation scales and for each of the 3 acculturation levels – low, moderate, and high. These efforts have resulted in 2 papers published in a peer-reviewed journal and 2 abstracts presented at national conferences.
Accomplishments
1. Acculturation classification differences did not affect relationships with diet quality in Asian Americans. Acculturation can increase risks for poor diet and chronic diseases. However, which language measure is best for finding associations between acculturation and diet quality in Asian Americans is not well studied. ARS researchers in Stoneville, Mississippi, with University of Central Arkansas faculty in Conway, Arkansas, determined percentages of Asian Americans categorized with low, moderate, and high acculturation on two scales using language spoken at home and language of dietary recall. Researchers also determined diet quality differences among acculturation groups for the two scales. Using a nationally representative sample of 1,275 Asian Americans, 26% vs 9% were categorized with low, 50% vs 63% with moderate, and 24% vs 28% with high acculturation on home vs recall language scales, respectively. Although percentages of Asian Americans categorized with low, moderate, and high acculturation differed, diet quality differences among acculturation groups were remarkably similar between the two acculturation scales. Hence, use of either language measure may yield comparable results for relationships between acculturation and diet in Asian Americans.
2. Higher acculturation leads to worsening diet quality for most Hispanic Americans. Adopting a Western diet can negatively affect Hispanic immigrants’ health. However, whether relationships between acculturation and diet quality differ in Hispanic American subpopulations is not well studied. ARS researchers in Stoneville, Mississippi, with University of Central Arkansas faculty in Conway, Arkansas, determined diet quality differences among acculturation groups for Mexican Americans and other Hispanic Americans. Based on a nationally representative sample of 2,924 Hispanic Americans, similarities between ethnicities included higher acculturation associated with poorer scores for fruits, vegetables, protein foods, saturated fats, and sodium. Dissimilarities included higher acculturation associated with poorer scores for added sugars but with better scores for refined and whole grains in Mexican Americans and higher acculturation associated with poorer scores for dairy and fatty acids in other Hispanic Americans. Given the dissimilarity findings, collecting country of origin information may help researchers tailor nutrition interventions to address specific diet disparities within subpopulations of Hispanic Americans.
3. Low acculturation is protective against adverse effects of food insecurity on diet in Asian and Hispanic Americans. Worsening dietary habits often results from adoption of a Western diet in immigrants and poorer diet has been seen in individuals with food insecurity. Yet whether individual sociodemographic characteristics interact to affect diet is not often explored. ARS researchers in Stoneville, Mississippi, with University of Central Arkansas faculty in Conway, Arkansas, determined effects of sociodemographic characteristics by acculturation level (low, moderate, and high) on diet quality in Asian and Hispanic Americans. Based on nationally representative samples, higher food insecurity was associated with poorer diet quality only in high acculturation groups for both Asian and Hispanic Americans. Thus, continuing to follow traditional Asian and Hispanic dietary patterns that are plant-based, heavily reliant on grains, and have low inclusion of red meat, may protect immigrants against adverse effects of food insecurity on diet. Recognition of traditional immigrant foods and dishes when designing and promoting dietary recommendations may lead to improved dietary intake for all Americans.
4. Acculturation is not associated with correctly judging diet quality in Asian and Hispanic Americans. Americans have poor diet, and they cannot correctly judge the quality of their diet. Yet whether the ability to correctly assess diet quality leads to better dietary intake or if the ability differs by acculturation level is not known. ARS researchers in Stoneville, Mississippi, with University of Central Arkansas faculty in Conway, Arkansas, evaluated associations between acculturation, diet quality, and correctly assessing diet quality in Asian and Hispanic Americans. Based on nationally representative samples, 16% of Asian Americans, 22% of Mexican Americans, and 20% of other Hispanic Americans correctly assessed their diet quality. Evidence for acculturation level differences in correctly assessing diet quality was not found. However, increases in diet quality (8 to 16 points) were seen for Asian and Hispanic Americans who correctly assessed their diet quality regardless of acculturation level. Hence, the ability to correctly judge the quality of one’s diet may lead to improved dietary intake for all Asian and Hispanic Americans.
Review Publications
Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I. 2022. Can United States adults accurately assess their diet quality? American Journal of Health Promotion. 37(4):499-506. https://doi.org/10.1177/08901171221137056.
Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I., Mcmillen, R. 2023. Mississippi small farm product amounts, seasonality, and proximity to K-12 public schools. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 20:3572. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043572.
Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I. 2023. Relationships among acculturation using 2 different language variables, diet quality, and accuracy of diet quality assessment in non-Hispanic Asians residing in the United States. Journal of Nutrition. 153(5):1577-1586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.03.030.
Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I. 2023. Mississippi school food service directors’ interest and experience with local food procurement and farm to school activities. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399231178543.
Thomson, J.L., Landry, A.S., Walls, T.I. 2023. Similarities and dissimilarities in diet quality differences by acculturation level between Mexican Americans and other Hispanic Americans: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018. Journal of Nutrition. 153:2401-2412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.06.012.
