Differences in Measured and Self-Categorized Food Security Status and Related Coping Strategies among College Students.

Qualitative studies suggest that college students with food insecurity (FI) experience stigma and misinterpret some of the USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module (AFSSM) questions, leading to misclassification of food security (FS) status. We aimed to evaluate differences in AFSSM-measured FS status and self-categorized FS status (based on USDA descriptions of the four FS levels) among college students, and to identify differences in the coping strategies and BMI of these students. Data were collected cross-sectionally from a convenience sample via web-based, self-reported surveys. Measured FS, self-categorized FS, coping strategies, and self-reported BMI were key variables of interest. Participants were 1003 undergraduate and graduate students (22.2 ± 4.6 years; 65.7% female). Of the participants measured as food insecure (40.0%), 57.8% self-categorized as food secure (MFI-SFS) and 42.2% self-categorized as food insecure (MFI-SFI). Significantly more MFI-SFI participants were AFSSM-categorized as having very low FS when compared to MFI-SFS participants (71.6% vs. 46.6%, p < 0.05). MFI-SFI participants reported significantly higher BMI (M = 24.7, SD ± 6.0 kg/m2) and coping strategies scores (M = 49.8, SD ± 7.5) when compared to MFI-SFS participants (M = 23.1, SD ± 3.6 kg/m2; M = 46.9, SD ± 7.5, respectively, p ≤ 0.01). Assessment of and interventions to address FI among college students should consider the potential influence of self-perception and students' interpretation of survey questions.

Multiple regression analyses to determine the effect of sweating rate and tattoo characteristics on sweat outcome measures during exercise.

PURPOSE: To compare local sweating rate (LSR) and local sweat sodium ([Na+]), chloride ([Cl-]), and potassium ([K+]) concentrations of tattooed skin and contralateral non-tattooed skin during exercise. METHODS: Thirty-three recreational exercisers (17 men, 16 women) with ≥ 1 unilateral permanent tattoo on the torso/arms were tested during cycling, running, or fitness sessions (26 ± 4 °C and 54 ± 13% relative humidity). Forty-eight tattoos with a range of ink colors, ages (3 weeks to 20 years), and densities (10-100%) were included. Before exercise, the skin was cleaned with alcohol and patches (3 M Tegaderm + Pad) were placed on the tattooed and contralateral non-tattooed skin. LSR was calculated from sweat mass (0.80 ± 0.31 g), patch surface area (11.9 cm2), and duration (62 ± 14 min). Sweat [Na+], [Cl-], and [K+] were measured via ion chromatography. RESULTS: Based on the analysis of variance results, there were no differences between tattooed and non-tattooed skin for LSR (1.16 ± 0.52 vs. 1.12 ± 0.53 mg/cm2/min; p = 0.51), sweat [Na+] (60.2 ± 23.5 vs. 58.5 ± 22.7 mmol/L; p = 0.27), sweat [Cl-] (52.1 ± 22.4 vs. 50.6 ± 22.0 mmol/L; p = 0.31), or sweat [K+] (5.8 ± 1.6 vs. 5.9 ± 1.4 mmol/L; p = 0.31). Multiple regression analyses suggested that younger tattoos were associated with higher sweat [Na+] (p = 0.045) and colorful tattoos were associated with higher sweat [Cl-] (p = 0.04) compared with contralateral non-tattooed skin. Otherwise, there were no effects of LSR or tattoo characteristics on regression models for LSR or sweat electrolyte concentrations. CONCLUSION: There were no effects of tattoos on LSR and sweat [K+] during exercise-induced sweating, but tattoo age and color had small effects on sweat [Na+] and sweat [Cl-], respectively. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFIERS: NCT04240951 was registered on January 27, 2020 and NCT04920266 was registered on June 9, 2021.

Sweating Rate and Sweat Chloride Concentration of Elite Male Basketball Players Measured With a Wearable Microfluidic Device Versus the Standard Absorbent Patch Method.

The purpose of this study was to compare a wearable microfluidic device and standard absorbent patch in measuring local sweating rate (LSR) and sweat chloride concentration ([Cl-]) in elite basketball players. Participants were 53 male basketball players (25 ± 3 years, 92.2 ± 10.4 kg) in the National Basketball Association's development league. Players were tested during a moderate-intensity, coach-led practice (98 ± 30 min, 21.0 ± 1.2 °C). From the right ventral forearm, sweat was collected using an absorbent patch (3M Tegaderm™ + Pad). Subsequently, LSR and local sweat [Cl-] were determined via gravimetry and ion chromatography. From the left ventral forearm, LSR and local sweat [Cl-] were measured using a wearable microfluidic device and associated smartphone application-based algorithms. Whole-body sweating rate (WBSR) was determined from pre- to postexercise change in body mass corrected for fluid/food intake (ad libitum), urine loss, and estimated respiratory water and metabolic mass loss. The WBSR values predicted by the algorithms in the smartphone application were also recorded. There were no differences between the absorbent patch and microfluidic patch for LSR (1.25 ± 0.91 mg·cm-2·min-1 vs. 1.14 ±0.78 mg·cm-2·min-1, p = .34) or local sweat [Cl-] (30.6 ± 17.3 mmol/L vs. 29.6 ± 19.4 mmol/L, p = .55). There was no difference between measured and predicted WBSR (0.97 ± 0.41 L/hr vs. 0.89 ± 0.35 L/hr, p = .22; 95% limits of agreement = 0.61 L/hr). The wearable microfluidic device provides similar LSR, local sweat [Cl-], and WBSR results compared with standard field-based methods in elite male basketball players during moderate-intensity practices.

The Role of Alcohol-Related Proactive Dietary Restriction to Feel the Psychoactive Effects of Alcohol Faster on Binge Drinking Frequency among Freshmen College Students.

BACKGROUND: There is a positive cross-sectional relationship between alcohol-related proactive dietary restriction to feel the effects of alcohol faster (APDR) and binge drinking, a health and safety issue impacting college students. Objective: To examine: 1) the longitudinal predictive ability of varying levels of APDR on binge drinking frequency; and 1a) the strength of the relationship between varying levels of APDR and binge drinking frequency during freshman year of college (n = 1,149). METHODS: Ordinal logistic regression was used to model the relationship between APDR and binge drinking frequency. RESULTS: Main findings suggest APDR of students who reported eating less than usual (low APDR) prior to drinking to feel the effects of alcohol faster was a significant predictor of binge drinking frequency (1.27 (95% CI, 0.06 to 0.42), Wald χ2 (1) = 8.46, p=.009) at baseline, but not at 7-month follow-up (1.02 (95% CI, -0.18 to 0.23), Wald χ2 (1) = .51, p=.83). APDR for students who reported skipping one or more meals (high APDR) to feel the effects of alcohol faster was not a significant predictor of binge drinking frequency at baseline nor at 7-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Low APDR is a significant predictor of binge drinking frequency that is established early in the first semester of college with no significant change occurring in binge drinking frequency over the course of students' freshman year at 7-month follow-up. Campus health professionals are urged to emphasize the detrimental health effects of low APDR early in the first semester of college.