Fitness assessments are commonly used as a motivational tool in exercise classes and fitness training. However, there is little research on their actual effect. This study explored how the feedback from a fitness assessment may affect intrinsic motivation for physical activity in college students. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design where 430 college students were assigned to either an intervention or one of two control groups. The fitness assessment was only distributed to the subjects in the intervention group. Students were surveyed at four-time points to examine subjects’ competence, autonomy and intrinsic motivation. A repeated measures general linear model measured differences between those who did and did not receive the fitness assessment. Intrinsic motivation (F(6,848)=2.33 p=.031) and competence (F(6, 848)=3.81, p=.001) diminished significantly in the group receiving fitness assessment feedback as compared to either control group. Additionally, for those in the intervention group that perceived their feedback as negative there was a significant decrease in competence (F(1,155)=15.59, p<.001), intrinsic motivation (F(1, 155)=6.41, p=.012), and physical activity (F(1,155)=7.46, p=.007). Fitness assessment feedback may hinder intrinsic motivation toward physical activity at least among those dissatisfied with the feedback.

Stereotypical and prejudicial attitudes towards people considered overweight or obese are documented in professionals ranging from physicians, nurses, fitness and general nutrition professionals, and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) and may introduce barriers to equitable care. To identify the prevalence of anti-fat attitudes (AFA); fat phobia (FPS); and body appreciation scores (BA) in nutrition and dietetics’ students (ND) and non-nutrition and dietetics’ students (NND) through a cross-sectional design. During 2018, students (n=297) from two California State Universities completed a survey including three validated instruments. Additionally, height, weight, and waist circumference were collected using NHANES procedures. A series of ANCOVA’s and correlation coefficients were computed. Significant differences existed in BA between ND (M=3.61, SD=0.66) and NND students (M=3.81, SD=0.70); t(288) = 2.49, p=0.013. Scores indicated existing anti-fat attitudes and fat phobia. Significant positive correlations existed between FPS and anthropometrics. Weight related perceptions were identified. A need exists for a fundamental evidence-based training specifically focused on knowledge and awareness related to health metrics and social justice pedagogy to help RDN work unbiasedly with patients of all shapes.

With an increase in longevity, many studies have explored the influences of different lifestyle factors on successful aging. This study hypothesizes that older rats fed with a nutritionally balanced standard diet would perform better on learning tasks than rats fed with either a high-sucrose or a high-saturated fat. It also hypothesizes that older rats fed with a high-sucrose diet would perform better than those fed with a high-saturated fat. The learning abilities of the 15-month-old rats (N = 36) were assessed by conducting forward and reverse learning tasks using a T-maze apparatus. The results showed that rats on a nutritionally balanced diet performed significantly better on both learning tasks than those on either the high-sucrose or the high-saturated fat (p’s < .05). This may be due to the fact that the high-sucrose and high-saturated fat diets exacerbated a cognitive decline in geriatric rats. There was no significant difference between the learning abilities of the rats on a high-sucrose or high-saturated fat diet (p’s > .05). This finding suggests that, at an older age, both high-sucrose and high-saturated fat diets have a similarly detrimental influence on cognitive health.

Background and Program: Secure email messaging is used to provide timely communication between healthcare providers and patients with medical information and education. There have been increasing rates of overweight and obesity among military healthcare patients. To address this issue, we utilized a secure email messaging system that is primarily used for medication refills. This commentary demonstrates the extent to which the message was viewed and how much the message was liked. Preliminary Results: Of the 16,020 individuals emailed, 7,011 participants (43.8%) opened the email, and 1,023 patients (14.6% of those who opened it) completed the survey. Satisfaction rate for the health promotion message was 77.2%. Participants reported an intent to eat more fruit and vegetables (49.6%), decrease portion sizes (38.8%), and increase physical activity (51.1%), while 33.6% reported having no intent to change. Conclusion: The majority were satisfied with the health promotion message. This email method enables a single provider to have increased contact with patients. It is unknown if this message reached higher risk or harder to reach participants, a patient subset that could benefit most from this type of communication. This study is unique in that to our knowledge it is the first one to use secure email messaging in the military healthcare system for health promotion.

Background and Purpose: Mindful eating approaches encourage paying purposeful attention on purpose to body sensations, thoughts and emotions related to food and eating. The current study examined the impact of Foodie U, a mindful-eating intervention, among elementary school children and their families. Methods: A total of 178 third- through fifth grade children and their parents in rural northern California participated in Foodie U. The quasi-experimental intervention included two parent workshops, six monthly in-class mindful eating lessons and activities, and mindful eating activities to complete at home. Outcomes included food consumption, mindful-eating practices, emotional eating, and cue-elicited food craving among children. Results: T-tests and linear regression results revealed that students who received the intervention reported significantly less intense craving responses, especially among female and Hispanic students. The impact of the intervention on food craving was significant after controlling for gender and ethnicity. Fruit consumption significantly increased among intervention students. The mindful eating awareness score significantly increased among female intervention students. Conclusions: Foodie U had a positive impact on some food-related behaviors among elementary school-aged students. Further research is needed to examine the effectiveness of each element of the intervention.

Background and Purpose: Young adults who are 18 to 25 years old have the highest prevalence of depression (10.9%). Depression is a risk factor for suicide. Mental health literacy (MHL) is a key component in assessing recognition and help-seeking for depression with suicidal ideation. This study investigated MHL as it relates to help-seeking for depression with suicidal ideation. Methods: A crosssectional survey design was used. Participants were young adults (n= 430, ages 18 to 24 years old) who lived, worked, and/or attended school in San Francisco, California. Reavley and colleagues’ MHL survey was modified and made available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Results: Several background factors were positively, though weakly, correlated to MHL, based on the r coefficient. Significant factors were: being female [r=.12, p

Background and Purpose: Aging is associated with cognitive impairment, which interferes with safe driving ability. Cognitively-impaired drivers may present as confused and belligerent, creating challenges in differentiating these drivers from intoxicated or metabolically-impaired drivers. The Driver Orientation Screen for Cognitive Impairment (DOSCI) was developed to assist identification of disorientation and was piloted in the Iowa Department of Transportation. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of the DOSCI at licensing agency offices, and to investigate the association between DOSCI performance and driver licensing outcomes. Methods: A sample of 2,510 DOSCI screens from 2,399 individuals was assessed. Data included the acceptability of the DOSCI among staff and clients, time to complete assessments, DOSCI outcomes, and final driver license status. Results: On a 5-point scale, mean score was 4.76 (SD=0.67) for Ease of Administration, 4.67 (SD=0.80) for Acceptance by Client, and 3.81 (SD=1.57) for Useful in Assessment. Clients who failed the assessment had significantly higher odds of not receiving a driver’s license than clients who passed (OR=2.556). Conclusion: The DOSCI was quick to administer, well-accepted, and was associated with licensing outcome. The tool has potential to contribute to traffic injury prevention by identifying potentially impaired drivers requiring closer examination in a licensing agency setting.

Background and Purpose: Latino children are more likely to be overweight than non-Latino whites. Family food context research is relevant to the prevention of overweight. The purpose of the study was to identify patterns in Latino family food decisions related to the dinner routine. Methods: In 2013-2014, thirty-four in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-two Latina mothers with children age 5-10 in California’s Central Valley. Previously published research informed the semi-structured interview guide. A grounded theory methodology was used to identify themes. Results: Four salient food decision approaches emerged. Families exhibited six combinations of these approaches. Mothers’ explicit health goals guide the health approach. The traditional approach emphasizes eating favorite recipes. In the developmental approach, parents modify the main meal for children based on the belief children will develop an adult’s taste over time. The path of least resistance favors expediency over other concerns. Conclusion: While the path of least resistance and health approaches have previously been observed among other populations, this paper provides findings on these categories among Latinos. Additionally, our findings on the developmental and traditional approaches expand the body of knowledge on food decisions. The guiding approaches provide a framework that can be sensitive to diverse food schemas.