TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24
Poster Session: Wellness and Public Health
In Support of SNAP: Children Who Participate in SNAP Have Better Diets than
Children Who Do Not
Author(s): J. Vernarelli, M. Zimmer; Fairfield University
Learning Outcome: Support for our federal nutrition programs is essential,
particularly in today’s political climate. Efforts to promote program enroll-
ment may lead to improvements in childhood nutrient intake, prevent
overweight and obesity, and promote better health among low income
Americans.
Improving diet quality of low-income US children is a priority. Participation
in the Supplemental Nutrition Program (SNAP) can influence eating habits of
low-income youth. Little is known about the impact of SNAP on diet quality in
children at a population level. Data from a nationally representative sample
of children ages 2 e 5 who participated in the 2011-2014 National Health and
Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) was used for this study. The
NHANES is uniquely suited to evaluate the impact of federal assistance pro-
gram participation on dietary intake. Data regarding SNAP utilization was
collected at the household level during the NHANES. Dietary intake was
collected via 24-hour recall using a proxy. Food group consumption as well as
dietary energy density, a known risk factor for obesity, were assessed during
the study. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.4 survey procedures to account
for the unequal sampling probability and complex survey design of the
NHANES. Compared to non-SNAP participants, children who are currently
receiving SNAP benefits had diets lower in energy density (1.63 vs. 1.87 kcal/g,
p¼0.02), and consumed more servings of fruit (2.3 vs. 1.3, p¼0.0007), as well
as significantly more fiber, protein, and whole grains after controlling for age,
sex, race, and household income. Future evaluation and promotion of the
benefits of federal nutrition programs may assist in improving the diets of
low income children in the US.
Funding Disclosure: None
Socio-demographic Correlates and Predictors of Food Insecurity among First Year
College Students
Author(s): A. El Zein1, K. Shelnutt1, S. Colby2, M. Olfert3, K. Kattelmann4,
O. Brown5, T. Kidd6, T. Horacek7, A. White8, W. Zhou2, M. Vilaro1, G. Greene9,
J. Morrell10, K. Riggsbee2, A. Mathews1,5; 1University of Florida, 2University of
Tennessee, 3West Virginia University, 4South Dakota State University, 5Auburn
University, 6Kansas State University, 7Syracuse University, 8University of
Maine, 9University of Rhode Island, 10University of New Hampshire
Learning Outcome: Participants will understand the prevalence of food inse-
curity and its sociodemographic correlates and predictors among first year
college students.
The prevalence of food insecurity and its sociodemographic correlates and
predictors were assessed among college students (N¼ 859) from eight uni-
versities at the end of their first academic year (April-May 2015). Participants
completed a questionnaire that included questions from the USDA Adult Food
Security Survey as well as questions related to sociodemographic character-
istics. Of the total sample, 19% (N¼163) were classified as food insecure with
11.9% (n¼102) and 6.9% (n¼59) reporting low and very low food security
respectively. Another 25.4% (n¼ 218) were at-risk of food insecurity. Significant
associations were found between food insecurity and race, Pell Grant, parental
education, place of residence, and grade point average (GPA). Compared to
those who were food secure, food insecure students more frequently identified
as Black (22% vs. 10%), Hispanic/Latino (16.7% vs 8.9%), living off campus (24% vs
13%), being Pell grant recipients (58% vs 35%), having one or both parents not
educated above high school (57% vs 41%) and having a GPA < 3.0 (29% vs 18%).
Based on multivariate logistic regressions, students reporting father’s educa-
tion as high school were 2 times more likely to be food insecure compared to
those reporting father’s education of some college or higher (p <.01). Similarly,
students living off campus were 1.7 times more likely to be food insecure
compared to those living on campus (p <.01) and those receiving a Pell Grant
were 1.9 times more likely to be food insecure compared to those who do not
(p <.01). The impact of food insecurity on college academic success should be
studied, and administrators should investigate practical solutions.
Funding Disclosure: Supported by the National Institute of Food and Agricul-
ture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2014-67001-21851.
A-146 JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
The Daily Calcium Intake and Food Sources among Chinese Adults Aged 18-49
Years Old from 15 Provinces in 2015
Author(s): F. Huang, Y. Wang; National Institute of Nutrition and Health,
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Learning Outcome: We would like to share this research abstract with pro-
fessors who focus on the area both of Chinese micronutrients intake and
Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes.
Objective: To understand the daily calcium intake and food sources among
Chinese adults aged 18-49 years old from 15 provinces in 2015.
Methods: The participants aged 18-49 years old were from the 10th wave of
the China Health and Nutrition Survey who were not pregnant or lactating
women. The data of oil and condiment consumption obtained by weighing
method and food consumption obtained by consecutive 3d24h dietary recall
were used to describe the daily calcium intake and food sources across
gender and stratum groups and then the estimated average requirement
(EAR) was used to assess the extent of calcium intake meeting the nutritional
needs.
Results: The daily calcium intake of study participants was 304.5mg. There
were significant differences of daily calcium intake both on gender (male
320.3mg, female 289.0mg) and stratum (city 355.6mg, suburb 326.3mg, town
303.7mg, rural 283.2mg). The gender-specified and stratum-specified per-
centages of study participants with daily calcium intake below the EAR were
from 94.1%-98.0%. The sources of dietary calcium were mainly from vegeta-
bles, cereals and legumes, accounting for 63.6% of the average daily intakes.
Conclusion: The daily calcium intake among Chinese adults aged 18-49 yearls
old from 15 provinces in 2015 is at low level. The percentage of participants
whose daily calcium intake is higher than EAR is also low. Calcium-rich food,
such as milk and legumes, were under-comsumed.
Funding Disclosure: None
Adaptation of Content Validity Index Methodology to Review a Resource Guide for Food
Pantries
Author(s): A. Bush-Kaufman1, M. Walsh2, M.C. Aragón1, K. Barale1; 1Washington State
University -Extension, 2Colorado State University e Extension
Learning Outcome: This poster presentation will contribute to attendees understanding
of an adaptation of a survey validation methodology, as well as the adaptation’s utility in
reviewing resource materials for the public. After this presentation, attendees will be able
to apply similar methodology adaptations to systematically review the clarity, relevance,
and usefulness of how-to guides and resource materials intended for the public.
Background: Access to healthy food is critical for low-income populations facing a double
burden of chronic disease and food insecurity. It is important to improve the healthfulness
of food pantries where low-income populations receive food. While many resources for
pantries exist, there is not a comprehensive set of resources, reviewed specifically for a
public audience, intended for improving pantries overall healthfulness.
Objectives: 1) Adapt a survey validation method for a resource guide and 2) Review the
“Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Resource Guide” for content validity using the adapted
survey method.
Methods: Using the adapted Content Validity Index (CVI) methodology, reviewers ranked
the degree that each resource was useful and relevant for application in food pantry settings.
Expert reviewers (N¼15) used a 4-point scale to rate the clarity of each item description (66
descriptions) and the usefulness and relevance of each corresponding online resource (81
online resources). Reviewers’ ratings were dichotomized and averaged to generate CVI
scores. Decision thresholds for items were set: 0.75 accept; 0.75 e 0.5 revise; <0.5 remove.
Results: CVI methodology was adapted for a resource guide for food pantries. Out of 81 online
resources, 20 were omitted, 7 were replaced, 8 were revised, and 47 were kept without
revision. The final guide contains 66 item descriptions matched with 63 online resources.
Conclusion: The CVI methodology was adapted to rank usefulness and relevancy for a
resource guide. The adapted methodology was used to review content of the guide. This
guide can be shared throughout the United States by food pantry managers and their low-
income nutrition education partners.
Funding Disclosure: This project was supported by Regional Nutrition Education and
Obesity Prevention Centers of Excellence Initiative of the USDA National Institute of Food
and Agriculture, grant number 2014-48757-22607.
October 2017 Suppl 2—Abstracts Volume 117 Number 10