Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Tuesday, October 28, 2008(1-5p.m.) Dr Robin Orr. Chair, W1005 Multi-State research project, initiated the meeting session with a warm welcome and introductory remarks to the participants. The meeting progressed according to the agenda set for this meeting. Rafida, project secretary collected of meeting registration fees and assisted Dr. Orr with keeping meeting minutes. Brief self- introduction and involvement in W1005 project by the meeting attendees followed. Dr. Linda Kirk Fox presented information on deadlines and format for reports. The Annual Report is due sixty days after this W1005 annual '08 meeting. Individual State research progress inputs and impact statements of each research objective group is required to complete this annual report. Impacts on the economic, social and environmental conditions by W1005 activities should be addressed in the statement (WAAESD Form: impact statement-two page limit); W1005 project has a midterm administrative advisors evaluation/ check up by the third year of its initiation. The project is still on the target. Dr. Orr emphasized on increased communication via tele/ video conferences among research groups to monitor progress of activities, accomplishments, the rate at which work is progressing in a consistent pattern, each year to meet the set goals. Time lines of the project have to be closely monitored. USDA/CSREES update
Dr. Susan Welsh reported on the USDA/ CSREES administrative updates. She discussed and shared information about USDA. She walked the group through a number of USDA/CSREES information updates on Farm Bills, funding sources, administrative structures etc. Dr. Welsh assured that the project is in the right track and encouraged the research groups to continue with their activities, Funding needs were discussed. Continued funding efforts by the subgroups will be supported by the USDA/CSREES administrative team-representatives (Dr. Linda Fox and Ron Pardini) for this project. NIH funding is the goal but alternate sources are also worth trying. Dr. Welsh shared information on the CSREES competitive funding opportunities and Multi-State research funds through HATCH in Nutrition and Food Science. There are special grants in Nutrition and Food Science administered by CSREES also. Dr. Welsh announced that the meeting of the newly appointed 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory committee, appointed by USDA & HHS, is being held in Washington D.C. (October 30-31-08), Dr. Welsh assured that the AES reports are looked at and promoted by the area administrators for W1005 project. Dr. Orr suggested doing USDA news reports on the project and post its publications in future for more visibility, publicity and support from the Secretary. Since W1005 project was originated by the Western region scientists, she encouraged representatives from the west to utilize "Best of the West" to push ideas to decision makers of that region. Extension bulletins, AES reports, integrated reports on project activities are all just as important as research publications to serve as communication vehicles to the decision makers of funding supports. USDA is still a strong supporter of multi-state, integrative approach in research. Administrative report
Dr. Linda Fox passed around the W1005 membership list for participation verification and update. Dr.Fox would update the research membership list for W1005 on the NIMSS (National Information Management System) webite of multi-state projects. . Dr. Key Hongu introduced her co-worker in Arizona, Dr. Barron Orr, who helped her move from bench research to community programs. Literature search shows that only 30% people at risk participate in the community education programs on obesity; therefore research target should focus on the remaining 70% non participants that are at this health risk. Dr. Key mentioned that casual and popular communication through technology, like GPS, can be a viable media among the youngsters for nutrition science education. GPS gets kids engaged; it could serve as an interesting, non-threatening, informed and self directed educational opportunity to them. Use of technology could be an effective approach as opposed to non-formal (extension or expert led) methods. GPS and/or cellophanes with GPS receivers in them, offer lots of flexibility and convenience in an economic way to users; present generation probably would prefer these exciting technological media as their information source, more so than watching TV in a confined environment. Technologies like Google, YouTube, NavBall, GPS Drawing.com, Homeless kids, Graffiti kids etc. offer a variety of choices of informal science information to explore by this generation. Last child in the woods (book), No child left inside, Children and nature network (CN&N): http://childrenandnature.org/,http://gpsdrawing.com/, http://navaball.wardpress.com/ are other examples of modern technology resource outlets for informal education that could be considered. Three goals of this project are: to encourage increased physical activity with opportunities to go outside and facilitate outdoor activities, civic engagements (?) and informal science education. Dr. Robin Orr emphasized that collaboration with Geospecial Extension Specialist (GPS-GIS), NASA, NOAA, USDA with W1005 project would be beneficial both for research and extension partners. They need to leverage land grant to get their information out. Clay Shirkey (economist) stated: "Here comes everybody- organizing without organizations"- a possible positive approach. Objective Group Reports Objective Group 1: Developed individually by Dr. Jamie Dollahite and Dr. Siew Sun Wong. The group developed and pilot tested the interview guide with rural and county extension managers, with SNAP-Ed and EFNEP. Results are being used to further develop the guide. Study A: conducted interviews to identify most important behaviors, barriers, educational strategies and perceived effectiveness. Study B: looked at the strategies at each level of socio-ecological model to address obesity, explore how individual, organizational and community level factors associate with chosen strategies. Study C: Interviews and card sorts done with parents who are prospective participants, focus group with parents graduating from EFNEP childhood prevention class. Interviews with staff in parenting agencies carried out to determine the most salient and effective marketing messages to recruit parents for education to prevent childhood obesity. Data collected so far are incomplete and analyses are preliminary. People were found to be very focused on traditional approaches and everyone had their own education and parenting skills. Objective 1 group needs to plan group interactions through conference calls. After data are merged from surveys and analyses completed the final review of the interview guide will be done. Cognitive pre-testing was suggested as an interactive probe to use in the interview guide. A number of people are interested to review the protocol and the interview guide (Dr Jill Shultz, Jamie and Olga). Group needs leadership. The group saw suggested to have a plan B in place, if needed, to revisit plan A Objective Group 2: Dr. Karen Spears reported on group 2 activities. Objective is to differentiate families by physical assessments. Group 2 had identified assessment methods and tools in three areas: 1) Physical activity/fitness, 2) biochemical, and, 3) anthropometric/body composition. Age groups 4-10 years old children targeted. Anemia and asthma are included in biochemical assessments. Purpose is to provide effective/validated measurement methods and tools for application by extension staff and also to identify strengths and limitations of assessments, research tools and procedures. The group has started literature review of assessment techniques and tools in order to develop a list of resources and hand over to other researchers of the project who need them. Assessment outcomes would differentiate families and children with or without health issues of obesity and therefore resilience. Dr K. Kaye Stanek reported that Extension workers are not comfortable doing anthropometric measurements. 4-H perhaps would do that. IRB permission is crucial to conduct such assessments. This is a study for a study of its acceptability and usefulness. Low cost, low invasive, high precision methods are to be identified. BMI using CDC's cutoffs, BIA measures, foot to foot/arm to arm measures are not excessively costly. There are no good standards for % body fat assessment in children; no consistency in determining % of water and lean muscle mass either. Each prediction equation used is different. Pediatricians are evaluating equations for children. Partnership with YMCA, exercise physiologists would be helpful. Skin fold or circumference measures are not recommended. Dr. Orr indicated that physical education and fitness testing are done in schools. Secondary data could be available as information. Fitness is better for children in general, while anthropometrics works, if there is any observed change in their fitness. President's council of physical fitness program is operational. Arkansas and Illinois data are available on children's height and weight; School districts have data which could be looked at. Dr. Welsh suggested selecting measures that are easy to apply now. Objective Group 3: Dr. Madeline-Sigman-Grant reported for the group. Three mile stones were achieved: Dr. Grant presented the first group 3 pilot study results at SNE 2008 annual meeting. A manuscript has been drafted and distributed for comments and feedback to pilot study participants before submitting for publication. The study applied card sort methodology in interviewing. Findings revealed that the clients did not understand connection between restriction messages and low nutrient food intake. Applying projective technique to do assessment with families was tested to determine how to not prompt message. It proved to be better than self reporting. Interviews were conducted in six states participating in group 3. A proposal has been submitted for NRI funding. Research will take a further look into resiliency and fitness. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Wrap-up of previous day's agenda: Objective Group 1: Schedule conference calls for protocol review; Develop the protocol and arrange protocol training sessions; Focus will be on parent/child interaction; Follow the Social Economic(SE) model in including that aspect; Develop survey tool/method; Publications, one or two; Develop timeline. Objective Group 2: Prepare lists on methods of assessments with references for endpoints for use by the extension agents; Determine clientele, items to measure, age groups; Detect areas missing data; Cultural issues; Adults in the study; Develop publications/ resource manual; Identify journals to publish in; Develop timeline.
Four areas identified: 1) Anthropometric/body composition; Research all methods, highlight ranges, costs and standards, 2) Physiological (PA & fitness) for family together with kids, 3) Biochemical, focused on chronic disease (diabetes, asthma, anemia etc), 4) Special population groups- cultural and pre-k. Objective Group 3: Narrow the focus; Continue with card sort methodology and focus on the one that continues through resiliency data; Attention to family meals/dinners; Determine key factors leading families to do family meals; Investigate an equivalent practice in PA like family meals; Define family meal; Define resilience; Look for tools that clarify parent/child relationship; arrange group conference calls to resolve issues and identify a list of tools. A dose response for family meals study (Harvard and MN) has shown that five to six meals (dinner) a week decreased risk of overweight. Dr.Steve Garasky and Dr.Carol Devine are new comers to this group. Thursday, October 30, 2008

Timelines of Activities Objective 1:Identify behaviors associated with overweight.

• Qualitative review of protocol tools: March '09
  
• Training: April '09
  
• Cognitive pretest: May '09
  
• Conduct interviews/collect data: June - fall '09
  
• Analyze data (Training)- December '09
  
• Quantitative cycle survey emerging from qualitative results- 2010
  
• Survey-late summer '10
  
• Survey analyses and papers for publications- 2011

W1005 Report: Objective 1 - Jamie Dollahite & Carol Devine Conduct an expert field review of key behavioral measures purported to contribute to excessive weight gain in children aged 4-10 years old. All data below are incomplete (number of informants) and analyses are preliminary Study A: Interviews of Cooperative Extension professional nutrition staff to determine most important behaviors, barriers, educational strategies, and perceived effectiveness
(n=4; 2 rural, 2 urban; supervisors of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed; target audience white rural; African American/African, Hispanic urban).

• Behaviors most important to target

1. Portion size
2. Sugar content, especially sweetened beverages; replace with water, low fat dairy
3. Vegetables and fruits
4. Family meal time
5. Physical activity

• Issue to overcome

1. Culture (dairy farms; ethnic; chubby=healthy)
2. Habit; experience
3. Parental modeling; parental resistance to change; parenting skills
4. Expectations (e.g. poor taste)
5. Lack of awareness & skill; misinformation
6. Time/stress (includes multiple jobs, shift work, living conditions, etc)
7. Cost
8. Availability
9. Safety

• Educational strategies

1. Small steps
2. Experiential, i.e. identifying obstacles and trying alternatives

• Effectiveness: small changes with some participants; unsure of retention Insufficient time availability for education is important limiting factor.

Study B: Interviews of Cooperative Extension professional nutrition staff (n=7; rural and urban) regarding strategies at each level of the socio-ecological model to address obesity, to (1) understand strategies using or planning to use, and (2) explore how individual, organizational, and community level factors are associated with chosen strategies.

• Primarily focus on individual education and family/household environment
  
• Collaboration with community partners is primarily for recruitment and referral of participants
  
• Some focus on working with agency partners regarding agency-level environment (e.g. day care providers, school personnel, etc who influence children's environment

Study C: Interviews and card sorts with parents who are prospective participants (n=40); focus groups (n=5) with parents (n=32) graduating from EFNEP childhood obesity prevention class; interviews with staff in partnering agencies (n=14) to determine most salient and effective marketing messages to recruit parents for education to prevent child obesity.

• Most interest

1. Healthy role model
2. Cooking; preparing healthy meals and snacks
3. Teaching children to make healthy choices
4. Helping children feel good about themselves
5. Understanding nutrition information
6. Helping family eat healthier

• Least interest

1. Helping children drink less soda
2. Screen time (½ interested; ½ not)

• Incentives

1. recipes
2. free classes
3. food prep with tasting
4. nutrition and weight counseling

• Barriers

1. Length of classes (barrier to ½ ; not to ½ )
2. Unimportant = number of classes Objective Group 2: Data collection- 2009

• Each section literature review- July '09
  
• Submission of the final listing - September '09
  
• Draft and outline papers (1or2) - 2010

Plans for next year:

Goal Setting: Rejuvenate the team members in each objective group!

• Promote Multi-State, integrated ideas!

Reports:

• Group minutes by Nov. 11 '08
  
• State reports to AES (send to Robin ASAP) by Dec. 1 '08
  
• Final report by Dec. 10 '08
  (li>Forms are available in the NIMMS site

Funding:

• Try for media and internet resources e.g. Google, a potential resource
  
• RFP funding - unconventional money resources
  
• Foundation directory
  
• CDC and other funders around Seattle proximity

Communication: W1005 group conference call- January 29th, 2009 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time Annual Meeting: Next Annual meeting will be held in October 15 & 16th, 2009 in Seattle, WA

Since last we met, the W1005 has accomplished many things. Each objective has narrowed the focus to better position the group for receiving grant funding. Under the leadership of Madeleine Sigman-Grant another NRI proposal was submitted and the group is much better positioned for AFRI granting in the next funding cycle. Several members have been added to the team with perspectives previously not included. Many individuals are working on projects that contribute to the greater project. The whole group communicates best when meeting face to face and the challenge for our final years will be to bring together all the objectives into one overall project that clearly contributes to the research and practice of the Land Grant System.

Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Sydney NY Schools. 2/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Schuyler County. 1/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Delaware County.1/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Lewis Counties and Advantage After School. 1/08. Grobe D, Manore MM, Still E. Trading off fish health and safety: Female decision-making processes toward the risk of methylmercury in fish. Journal of Consumer Affairs. 2007(Winter):41(2):250-264. Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., Garasky, S., Stewart, S., & Eisenmann, J. (2008). Food security, maternal stressors, and overweight among low-income US children: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2002). Pediatrics, 122, 529 - 540. Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., Eisenmann, J., Garasky, S., & Stewart, S. D. (2008). Lack of association between child-specific food insecurity and overweight in a sample of 10-15 year old low-income youth. Journal of Nutrition, 138, 371 - 378. Kam, LC, Manore MM. The Female Athlete Triad: An Update. SCAN Pulse. 2007;26(4):5-8. Nattiv A, Loucks AB, Manore MM, Sanborn CF, Sundgot-Borgen J, Warren MP. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Position Stand. Female Athlete Triad. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. 2007;39(10):1867-1882. Sass C, Eickhoff-Shemek JM, Manore MM, Kruskall L. Crossing the Line: Understanding the scope of practice between registered dietitians and health/fitness professionals. ACSMs Health and Fitness Journal. 2007:11(3):12-19. Yi Lu, Lily R. Liang, "Hierarchical Clustering of Features on Categorical Data for Biomedical Applications", International Society for Computers and Their Applications (ISCA) 21st international conference on Computer Applications in Industry and Engineering (CAINE 2008), pp.26-31, Honolulu, November 12-14, 2008 Yi Lu, Lily R. Liang, "Identify Feature Association on Categorical Data through Hierarchical Clustering", International Journal of Electronics and Computer Science (IJECS), Vol.10 No.2 (will be published Dec 20 2008) Manore MM, Kam LC, Loucks AB. The Female Athlete Triad: Components, Nutrition Issues and Health Consequences. Journal of Sport Sciences 2007;25(S2):S61-S71. Books/Book Chapters:
Beals K, Manore MM. Nutritional Considerations for the Female Athlete. IN: Spurway N, MacLaren D Eds. Advances in Sport and Exercise Science Series: Nutrition and Sport. Elsevier Publ: Philadelphia, PA, 2007, pp.185-204. Thompson JL, Manore MM. Nutrition for Life. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings Publishers, 2007, 485 pages. ISBN: 0-805307968-1. Woolf K, Manore MM. Micronutrients Important for Exercise. IN: Spurway N, MacLaren D Eds. Advances in Sport and Exercise Science Series: Nutrition and Sport. Elsevier Publ: Philadelphia, PA, 2007, pp.117-134.

Research abstracts:

Ourada V, Walker A, Donatelle R, Manore MM, Jabson J, Pilolla K, Bryant T. How Women Negotiate Family and Personal Health Needs. Paper presented at the annual meeting of National Council on Family Relations, Pittsburgh, PA, November, 2007.

Publications (under peer review)

Garasky, S., Gundersen, C., Stewart, S., Lohman, B. J., & Eisenmann, J. (2008). Food insecurity, economic stressors, and childhood overweight. Garasky, S., Stewart, S. D., Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J. & Eisenmann, J. C. (2008). Family stressors and child obesity. Lohman, B. J., Stewart, S., Gundersen, C., Garasky, S., & Eisenmann, J. (2008). Adolescent overweight and obesity: Links to food insecurity, individual, maternal, and family stressors. Maley M, Devine C, Warren B. Perceptions of the environment for eating and exercise in a rural community (In review). Warren B, Devine C, Maley M. Increasing walking steps at small rural worksites using locally determined strategies and web-based reporting (In preparation).

Working Papers or Policy Briefs

Garasky, S., Stewart, S., Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., & Eisenmann, J. (2008). Food insecurity, economic stressors, and childhood overweight. National Poverty Center Working Paper Series, 08-04. Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., Eisenmann, J., Garasky, S., & Stewart, S. D. (2008). Food insecurity and child overweight. College of Human Sciences Policy Brief. Peer-reviewed Abstracts and Invited Presentations

Devine C., Fernandez, I.D. Obesity Prevention in Worksites. Community Based Interventions for the Promotion of Healthy Body Weights. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Satellite Workshop, Calgary, AB, Canada. 5/08. Warren B, Devine C, Maley M Small Steps are Easier Together: a community environment-based intervention to stop weight gain and decrease breast cancer risk. USDA Priester Conference, 4/08. In-Service Education

Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Sydney NY Schools.2/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Schuyler County.1/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in Delaware County.1/08. Devine C, Warren B, Maley M. An environmental approach to obesity prevention for breast cancer risk reduction: an environmental approach. Cornell Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors. Electronic Conference for CCE and partners in St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, Lewis Counties and Advantage After School. 1/08. Orr, R. For Your Family's Health - Eat 5 meals together each week. Fall, 2008. All Nutrition Program staff. Research Grants:

"Going, SB (PI) - U of Arizona, Manore M (Consultant)- Diet Assessment. (2006-2010). Exercise and Bone Development in Young Girls. NIH (Neurological, Aging and Neuroskeletal Epidemiology), $3,840,184. Manore MM (PI), Widrick J, Iwaniec U, Turner R. Multidisciplinary Training in Nutrition and Physical Activity (2006-2010). USDA Food and Agriculture National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant, $252,000 (9% time).

Devine C. (PI) National Cancer Institute, Online Professional Education for Workplace Weight Gain Prevention (in review) Devine C. (PI) USDA NRI, Small Steps are Easier Together: A Worksite Environmental Intervention for Weight Gain Prevention (declined) Going, SB (PI) - U of Arizona, Manore M (Consultant)- Diet Assessment. (2006-2010). Exercise and Bone Development in Young Girls. NIH (Neurological, Aging and Neuroskeletal Epidemiology), $3,840,184. Manore MM (PI), Widrick J, Iwaniec U, Turner R. Multidisciplinary Training in Nutrition and Physical Activity (2006-2010). USDA Food and Agriculture National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grant, $252,000 (9% time). Sigman-Grant, M. (PI), Olson, B. USDA NRI - W1005: An Integrated Approach to Prevention of Obesity in High Risk Families - Family Resiliency (declined) Presentations:

Garasky, S., J., Stewart, S., Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., & Eisenmann, (2008, April). Family stress and childhood obesity. Paper presented at the Population Association of America, New Orleans, LA. Gundersen, C., Lohman, B. J., Garasky, S., Stewart, S., & Eisenmann, J. (2008, August). Food security, maternal stressors, and overweight among low-income U.S. children: Results from NHANES 1999-2002. Paper presented at the 48th Annual National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics Workshop. Nashville, TN. Kuku, Y., Gundersen, C., & Garasky, S. (2008, March). The relationship between food insecurity and childhood obesity: A non-parametric approach. Paper presented at the Midwest Economics Association 72nd Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. Sigman-Grant, M. Participated in the annual 2008 meeting of the Society of Nutrition Education (SNE) in Atlanta, GA and discussed next research agenda with W1005 partners Sigman-Grant, M. Presented a paper introducing W1005 project at the annual 2008 joint ARD/CSREES research conference in Memphis TN, June, 2008