Search

This study aimed to evaluate the association of the overall nutritional quality and the weight share of specific types of foods received by food pantry clients with food pantry size and distribution method. Data on healthy food weights using the gross weight share (GWS) of select foods and the validated Food Assortment Score Tool (FAST) were collected from 75 food pantry clients in Baltimore, Maryland. The average FAST score across the study population was 63.0 (SD: 10.4). Overall, no statistically significant differences in average FAST scores by pantry size and distribution method were found. However, among client-choice pantries, clients of small pantries had higher scores (p &lt, 0.05) while among medium pantries, clients of traditional pantries had higher scores (p &lt, 0.01). Subgroup analysis of GWS was stratified by pantry size and distribution methods. Findings suggested multi-level, multi-component interventions combining environmental strategies are needed to enhance the healthfulness of foods received by clients. Our analysis provided data to consider further refinements of pantry interventions and planning of more rigorous research on factors influencing the effectiveness of pantry interventions.

This study was to investigate the association of long-term fruit and vegetable (FV) intake with all-cause mortality. We utilized data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), a prospective cohort study conducted in China. The sample population included 19,542 adult respondents with complete mortality data up to 31 December 2011. Cumulative FV intake was assessed by 3 day 24 h dietary recalls. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of all-cause mortality. Covariates included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, health-related factors, and urban index. A total of 1409 deaths were observed during follow-up (median: 14 years). In the fully adjusted model, vegetable intake of the fourth quintile (327~408 g/day) had the greatest negative association with death compared to the lowest quintile (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.53&ndash, 0.76). Fruit intake of the fifth quintile (more than 126 g/day) had the highest negative association (HR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15&ndash, 0.40) and increasing general FV intake were also negatively associated with all-cause mortality which demonstrated the greatest negative association in the amount of fourth quintile (HR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49&ndash, 0.70) compared to the lowest quintile. To conclude, greater FV intake is associated with a reduced risk of total mortality for Chinese adults. High intake of fruit has a stronger negative association with mortality than differences in intake of vegetables. Our findings support recommendations to increase the intake of FV to promote overall longevity.

Supermarkets are natural and important settings for implementing environmental interventions to improve healthy eating, and governmental policies could help improve the nutritional quality of purchases in this setting. This review aimed to: (1) identify governmental policies in the United States (U.S.), including regulatory and legislative actions of federal, tribal, state, and local governments, designed to promote healthy choices in supermarkets; and (2) synthesize evidence of these policies’ effects on retailers, consumers, and community health. We searched five policy databases and developed a list of seven policy actions that meet our inclusion criteria: calorie labeling of prepared foods in supermarkets; increasing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; financial incentives for the purchase of fruit and vegetables; sweetened beverage taxes; revisions to the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package; financial assistance for supermarkets to open in underserved areas; and allowing online purchases with SNAP. We searched PubMed, Econlit, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Business Source Ultimate to identify peer-reviewed, academic, English-language literature published at any time until January 2020; 147 studies were included in the review. Sweetened beverage taxes, revisions to the WIC food package, and financial incentives for fruits and vegetables were associated with improvements in dietary behaviors (food purchases and/or consumption). Providing financial incentives to supermarkets to open in underserved areas and increases in SNAP benefits were not associated with changes in food purchasing or diet quality but may improve food security. More research is needed to understand the effects of calorie labeling in supermarkets and online SNAP purchasing.

Social determinants are closely related to health and play a significant role in shaping the quality of life of a population. This study aimed to explore the differences in HRQoL (health-related quality of life) scores of residents in the eastern province of Zhejiang and the western province of Qinghai and probe factors affecting the HRQoL among the two populations. A sample of 4210 residents from a cross-sectional survey was included in the analysis. The EQ-5D-3L instrument was used to measure the HRQoL of residents. A Chi-square test and a t-test were used to examine the differences between different variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with interaction effects was used to analyze factors associated with the HRQoL between the two provinces. Residents&rsquo, EQ-5D index score (EQ VAS score) was 0.963 (82.71) and 0.962 (81.51), respectively, in Zhejiang and Qinghai. Generally, residents in Qinghai displayed significantly worse HRQoL scores than those in Zhejiang. The differences between the two regions lay on mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depressions. In both regions, an increased education level and being employed were most strongly associated with a positive HRQoL, increased age and presence of chronic diseases were most strongly associated with a negative HRQoL. When formulating health policies, the significant health disparities between western and eastern provinces must be given greater consideration. The health of vulnerable groups should be particularly focused on to improve the observed health disparities.

China is facing challenges in caring for older adults. This paper aimed to understand knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding the quality of caregivers for the elderly in long-term care institutions in Zhejiang Province, and also to find related factors to improve the quality of caregivers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2016 in Zhejiang Province. In total, 84 caregivers were interviewed face-to-face with questionnaires on KAP towards elderly care. Multiple linear regression was used to find the related factors to KAP. A conceptual model was made to process path analysis among KAP and influencing factors using structural equation modeling. The study found that most caregivers in Zhejiang Province were middle-aged, female, and with a diploma below middle school. Many caregivers had not received any pre-employment training. Their salary was low although they undertook high-intensity work. Education and working years had a positive effect on knowledge and practice scores, and pre-employment training had a positive effect on knowledge and attitude scores. Knowledge and attitude regarding elderly care could positively affect elderly care practices. The quality of caregivers in Zhejiang Province was at a low level compared to developed countries. Continuous and regular elderly care training should be provided for caregivers to improve their elderly care knowledge and hence the quality of elderly care.