Bordetella pertussis infection following relaxation of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions in 2021-2023 in Vancouver metropolitan area, British Columbia, Canada.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported a near disappearance of B. pertussis and a decline in anti-B. pertussis antibodies during the peak implementation of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) in 2021 in British Columbia (BC), Canada. During 2021-2023, incidence of reported B. pertussis cases remained low in BC at < 1/100,000 population. This study determined how serological evidence of B. pertussis changed after the gradual relaxation of NPI between 2021-2023. METHODS: Randomly selected blood samples from school staff 25-51 years old (n = 65) were collected yearly between 2021-2023 in the Vancouver metropolitan area, BC, Canada, and tested for anti-pertussis toxin (PT) IgG levels. Serological evidence of B. pertussis infection (thereafter "seroconversion") was defined as a quantifiable anti-PT IgG levels in subjects with anti-PT IgG levels below lower limit of quantification in the preceding year or a > 4-fold increase in anti-PT IgG levels between two subsequent years. Samples were also tested for anti-diphtheria toxoid (DT) IgG, and similar seroconversion criteria were applied to exclude seroconversion due to vaccination with tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (Tdap). RESULTS: Three subjects met seroconversion criteria for anti-PT IgG between 2021 and 2022 and 9 between 2022 and 2023, yielding a seroconversion rate of 4.6 /100 person-years and 14.9/100 person-years, P = 0.127, respectively. None of the subjects met the criteria for vaccination with Tdap. The geometric mean concentration of anti-PT IgG showed a statistically significant decrease in 2022 compared with 2021, 4.8 IU/mL IU/ml (95 % confidence interval [CI], 3.8-5.9) vs. 6.4 IU/ml (95 % CI, 4.9-8.2; p = 0.001), followed by a statistically significant increase in 2023 compared with 2022 6.5 IU/ml (95 % CI, 4.9-8.5) vs. 4.8 IU/ml (95 % CI, 3.8-5.9; p = 0.0006), respectively. DISCUSSION: Serological evidence of B. pertussis increased between 2022 and 2023 despite low reported cases, which suggests that B. pertussis circulation resumed after relaxing of COVID-19 NPI.

A Novel Anti-nucleocapsid Antibody Avidity Method for Identifying SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections.

Detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfections is challenging with current serology assays and is further complicated by the marked decrease in routine viral testing practices as viral transmission increased during Omicron. Here, we provide proof-of-principle that high-avidity anti-nucleocapsid (N) antibodies detects reinfections after a single infection with higher specificity (85%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 80%-90%) compared to anti-N antibody levels (72%; 95% CI, 66%-79%) in a vaccinated cohort. This method could be used to retroactively investigate the epidemiology and incremental long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections.

SARS-CoV-2 cross-sectional seroprevalence study among public school staff in Metro Vancouver after the first Omicron wave in British Columbia, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school workers within the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia, Canada, after the first Omicron wave. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study by online questionnaire, with blood serology testing. SETTING: Three main school districts (Vancouver, Richmond and Delta) in the Vancouver metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Active school staff enrolled from January to April 2022, with serology testing between 27 January and 8 April 2022. Seroprevalence estimates were compared with data obtained from Canadian blood donors weighted over the same sampling period, age, sex and postal code distribution. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody testing results adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity, and regional variation across school districts using Bayesian models. RESULTS: Of 1850 school staff enrolled, 65.8% (1214/1845) reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside the household. Of those close contacts, 51.5% (625/1214) were a student and 54.9% (666/1214) were a coworker. Cumulative incidence of COVID-19 positive testing by self-reported nucleic acid or rapid antigen testing since the beginning of the pandemic was 15.8% (291/1845). In a representative sample of 1620 school staff who completed serology testing (87.6%), the adjusted seroprevalence was 26.5% (95% CrI 23.9% to 29.3%), compared with 32.4% (95% CrI 30.6% to 34.5%) among 7164 blood donors. CONCLUSION: Despite frequent COVID-19 exposures reported, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff in this setting remained no greater than the community reference group. Results are consistent with the premise that many infections were acquired outside the school setting, even with Omicron.

Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K-12 Schools, British Columbia, Canada April to June 2021.

We prospectively studied SARS-CoV-2 transmission at schools in an era of variants of concern, offering all close contacts serial viral asymptomatic testing up to 14 days. From the 69 primary cases detected in schools, 392 close contacts were identified and offered asymptomatic testing. A total of 229 (58%) were close school contacts, and of these, 3 tested positive (1.3%), 2 of which were detected through asymptomatic testing. This is in contrast to the 117 household contacts, where 43 (37%) went on to become secondary cases. Routine asymptomatic testing of close contacts should be examined in the context of local testing rates, preventive measures, programmatic costs, and health impacts of asymptomatic transmission. IMPORTANCE There is concern that schools may be a setting where asymptomatic infections might result in significant "silent" transmission of SARS-CoV-2, particularly after the emergence of more transmissible variants of concern. After the programmatic implementation of a strategy of asymptomatic testing of close COVID-19 contacts as part of contact tracing in the school setting, the majority of the secondary cases were still found to have occurred in home or social contacts. However, for the 6.2% of secondary cases that occurred in close school contacts, the majority were detected through asymptomatic testing. The potential added yield of this approach needs to be considered within the overall setting, including consideration of the local epidemiology, ongoing goals of case and contact management, additional costs, logistical challenges for families, and possible health impacts of asymptomatic transmission.

COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions and Perceptions Among Public School Staff of the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area, British Columbia, Canada.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine intentions among school staff as high vaccine uptake is essential to ensure schools return to normal activities. Methods: Staff (e.g., teachers, administrators, student support workers) from three urban school districts in the Greater Vancouver Area of British Columbia, Canada completed a survey between February and June 2021 (n = 2,393) on COVID-19 vaccine intentions and perceptions (i.e., acceptance of routine vaccines, benefits and risks of vaccination, susceptibility to, and severity of COVID-19, recommendation by authority figures, information mistrust and conspiracy beliefs) as part of a COVID-19 seroprevalence study. Confirmatory factor analysis followed by multiple logistic regression models adjusting for relevant covariates were used to identify vaccine perceptions uniquely associated with (a) intention to get the COVID-19 vaccine (intention), and (b) intention to get vaccinated right away (urgency). Results: In total, 95.4% of participants of the seroprevalence study completed the vaccine questionnaire, corresponding to 17.7% of the target population. Vaccine intention was associated with staff who valued expert recommendations (AOR = 10.5, 95% CI = 7.39-14.90) accepted routine vaccines (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.26-2.98) and perceived higher benefits (AOR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.01-1.65) and lower safety risks of vaccination (AOR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.29-0.54). Comparable associations were found with vaccine urgency. Perceived susceptibility to the COVID-19 virus was uniquely associated with vaccine urgency (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.05-1.61). A significant interaction effect (p = 0.01) revealed that staff who expressed mistrust in COVID-19 information intended to get vaccinated only if they also perceived high benefits of vaccination. Conclusions: Education about the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines from a trusted source had the strongest relationship with vaccine intentions among this occupational group. Notably, those who expressed mistrust in information still intended to get vaccinated if they also perceived strong benefits of the vaccine.

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among Vancouver public school staff in British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies reported COVID-19 cases in schools during the 2020/21 academic year in a setting of uninterrupted in-person schooling. The main objective was to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff in Vancouver public schools. DESIGN: Cumulative incident COVID-19 cases among all students and school staff based on public health data, with an embedded cross-sectional serosurvey among a school staff sample that was compared to period, age, sex and geographical location-weighted data from blood donors. SETTING: Vancouver School District (British Columbia, Canada) from kindergarten to grade 12. PARTICIPANTS: Active school staff enrolled from 3 February to 23 April 2021 with serology testing from 10 February to 15 May 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among school staff, based on spike (S)-based (unvaccinated staff) or N-based serology testing (vaccinated staff). RESULTS: Public health data showed the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 among students attending in-person was 9.8 per 1000 students (n=47 280), and 13 per 1000 among school staff (n=7071). In a representative sample of 1689 school staff, 78.2% had classroom responsibilities, and spent a median of 17.6 hours in class per week (IQR: 5.0-25 hours). Although 21.5% (363/1686) of surveyed staff self-reported close contact with a COVID-19 case outside of their household (16.5% contacts were school-based), 5 cases likely acquired the infection at school based on viral testing. Sensitivity/Specificity-adjusted seroprevalence in 1556/1689 staff (92.1%) was 2.3% (95% CI: 1.6% to 3.2%), comparable to a sex, age, date and residency area-weighted seroprevalence of 2.6% (95% CI: 2.2% to 3.1%) among 5417 blood donors. CONCLUSION: Seroprevalence among staff was comparable to a reference group of blood donors from the same community. These data show that in-person schooling could be safely maintained during the 2020/21 school year with mitigation measures, in a large school district in Vancouver, Canada.

School staff and teachers during the second year of COVID-19: Higher anxiety symptoms, higher psychological distress, and poorer mental health compared to the general population.

Background: The aim of this study was to: 1) assess mental health symptoms in Canadian school staff during the second year of the pandemic (Spring 2021) and compare these same outcomes to national representative samples, and 2: examine whether the number of hours of direct contact with students was a significant predictor of anxiety symptoms. Methods: Online data on anxiety symptoms, psychological distress, overall mental health, and demographic information was collected from 2,305 school staff in the greater Vancouver area between February 3 and June 18, 2021, as part of a seroprevalence study. Results: School staff reported significantly higher anxiety symptoms than a national representative survey in Spring 2021 and higher exposure contact time with students was significantly associated with anxiety symptoms, in addition to sex and age, but not level of education and ethnicity. School staff also reported poorer mental health and higher levels of psychological distress compared to pre-pandemic population measures. Limitations: Cross-sectional design, self-report measures. Conclusions: These results show that priorities to reduce mental health challenges are critical during a public health crisis, not only at the beginning, but also one year later. Ongoing proactive prevention and intervention strategies for school staff are warranted.

Acculturation and ethnic group differences in well-being among Somali, Latino, and Hmong adolescents.

Research addressing the linkages between acculturation and markers of adolescent well-being across multiple ethnic minority groups is limited in scope and breadth, even though children of immigrant origin are the fastest growing population. We examined cross-sectional relationships between acculturation and substance use, socioemotional well-being, and academic achievement. Somali, Latino, and Hmong adolescents in Minnesota provided data as part of the EAT 2010 (Eating and Activity in Teens) cohort study (N = 1,066). Acculturation was based on nativity, language usually spoken at home, and length of residence in the United States. Chi-square, ANOVA, and regression models were used to test for differences in adolescent well-being by acculturation and ethnic group, and interaction terms were added to models to test effect modification by ethnicity. Hmong adolescents had the highest mean acculturation scores (4.4 ± 1.5), whereas Somali adolescents (2.2 ± 1.8) were the least acculturated. Independent of ethnicity, acculturation was positively associated with marijuana (OR: 1.38; CI [1.25, 1.53]) and alcohol use (OR: 1.12; CI [1.02, 1.22]), and was negatively associated with academic achievement, based on grade point average (ß = -0.07; CI [-0.12, -0.03]). Interaction effects indicated significant differences by ethnicity only for academic achievement; significant associations between acculturation and academic achievement were evident only for Somali and Latino youth. Prevention programming should include supports for multilingual and multicultural learners and account for cultural assets within immigrant origin families that maintain and nurture protective factors as adolescents acculturate and transition into young adulthood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

What parenting practices do US and Canadian parents use to encourage or discourage healthy eating among their 5-12 year-old children?

This study explored the parenting practices that parents of 5-12 year-old children report using to encourage or discourage children's healthy eating and examined sex differences in parent's responses. A stratified sample of 135 parents in the US and Canada completed a semi-qualitative online survey (Jan-Feb 2014) (stratified by parents' sex, income, and ethnicity of each country). Parents provided short answers to questions regarding the strategies they or other parents used to encourage or discourage their children's healthy eating (5-12 year-old). The 2389 parent responses were coded by two coders with discrepancies triangulated. Data was qualitatively reviewed and log-linear analysis assessed whether responses varied by types of encouragement (encourage, discourage), sex of parent (male, female), and six dimensions of parenting practices (autonomy promotion, structure of the food environment, behavioral and educational, control, responsiveness, and consistency of the food environment). Parenting practices that were controlling or promoted structure were predominantly mentioned as a way to regulate children's eating behavior. Strategies that support children's self-regulatory processes, such as autonomy promotion and responsiveness, were infrequently mentioned. Sex differences in parenting practices emerged. Mothers mentioned autonomy promoting practices more often than fathers did. Fathers mentioned controlling practices more often than mothers did as a practice that discouraged healthy eating among children. The findings highlighted that parents need to gain a greater understanding of the practices that nurture healthy eating in children, such as autonomy supportive and responsive parenting practices, to better support children as they grow.

A yoga-based therapy program designed to improve body image among an outpatient eating disordered population: program description and results from a mixed-methods pilot study.

Poor body image is a critical barrier to eating disorder recovery. This pilot project was designed as a feasibility study to examine a novel group-based, therapeutic yoga and body image program (YBI) for addressing negative body image in those clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and other specified feeding or eating disorder) receiving outpatient level treatment at an eating disorder treatment center located in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 67 participants at the beginning and end of the 8-week series, to better understand the acceptability of the YBI program and its potential effects on body image and self-worth during outpatient eating disorder treatment. Quantitative survey questions assessed participants' body image concerns, while open-ended questions probed participants' experiences and the perceived impact of the yoga program on their body image. After completion of the yoga program, mean item scores on the body image concern survey improved: increases ranged from 0.3 to 0.8 points on a 5-point scale. In open-ended questions, participants described many positive changes to their body image. Participants reported that the yoga program improved their self-acceptance, self-awareness, confidence, emotional and physical strength, and was a positive form of release. Participants also discussed physical and emotional challenges of the yoga program and how they contributed to self-judgment, vulnerability, and confrontation of uncomfortable feelings. The results of this pilot study are promising and warrant consideration of more rigorous study designs to explore the potential of a body image specific therapeutic yoga program to aid those in eating disorder treatment to improve body image disturbances.

Yoga and body image: How do young adults practicing yoga describe its impact on their body image?

This study explored the perceived impact of yoga on body image. Young adults (n= 34 female, 12 male; Mage = 30.6 [SD = 1.6]) practicing yoga were interviewed and data were analyzed for emerging themes across weight status. In general, participants discussed the positive impact of yoga on their body image, but some described both a positive and negative impact. Yoga was perceived as having a positive impact on body image via perceived physical changes, gratitude for one's body, a sense of accomplishment within one's yoga practice, self-confidence, and witnessing different types of bodies practicing yoga. Yoga was perceived to have a negative impact on body image via comparative critique (e.g., upward comparisons with others) and inner critique (e.g., negative self-talk). Themes were generally similar across weight status; exceptions were that participants at higher weight status were more likely than those at lower weight status to discuss accomplishment within one's yoga practice as a positive impact on body image and comparative critique as a negative impact on body image. Yoga studios and instructors can take steps to further enhance the positive impact of yoga and to provide environments that are inclusive of participants with diverse body shapes and sizes.

Comparison of OCT Angiography Review Strategies to Identify Vascular Abnormalities in the AVATAR Study.

PURPOSE: To compare review strategies for optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) for multiple disease features found in common diseases of the choroid and retina. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with macular disease undergoing routine spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT). METHODS: Eyes were imaged with the Avanti RTVue XR HD (Optovue, Fremont, CA), and the split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography (SSADA) algorithm software was utilized for OCT-A performance. Scans were reviewed by 2 masked expert reviewers. A third masked reviewer was utilized in cases of reviewer disagreement. A single report using automated segmentation within the Avanti software to represent the superficial retina capillary plexus, deep retina capillary plexus, outer retina, and choroid capillary layer was generated. A continuous slab descent video export was also reviewed for each OCT-A scan. This video consisted of a continuous (e.g., line-by-line) review of the en face OCT- data. Each dataset was reviewed for the presence of three pathologic features: choroidal neovascularization, microaneurysms, and macular ischemia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of identification rates of retinal and choroidal microvascular abnormalities using different review strategies. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-one eyes were included in the study. Of those, 350 eyes had reports that were deemed sufficient quality for interpretation and analysis by both reviewers. Identification rates of choroidal neovascularization, microaneurysms, and macular ischemia on the report were 90.5%, 84.5%, and 95.4% respectively compared to the overall presence. Likewise, rates of identification in the continuous slab descent review video were 88.1%, 96.4%, and 95.4% for choroidal neovascularization, microaneurysms, and macular ischemia respectively compared to the overall presence. Cohen's kappa values ranged from 0.80 to 0.96, corresponding to very good agreement between the report and continuous slab descent review for each variable. CONCLUSIONS: Defining an optimal reporting strategy for OCT-A is important for diagnostic accuracy and optimizing workflow in retina clinics. In this study, OCT-A report using automated segmentation was comparable to continuous slab descent review for identifying microvascular abnormalities of the retina and choroid.

Yoga's potential for promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among young adults: a mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: A regular yoga practice may have benefits for young adult health, however, there is limited evidence available to guide yoga interventions targeting weight-related health. The present study explored the relationship between participation in yoga, healthy eating behaviors and physical activity among young adults. METHODS: The present mixed-methods study used data collected as part of wave 4 of Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults), a population-based cohort study in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Young adults (n = 1820) completed the Project EAT survey and a food frequency questionnaire, and a subset who reported practicing yoga additionally participated in semi-structured interviews (n = 46). Analyses of survey data were used to examine cross-sectional associations between the frequency of yoga practice, dietary behaviors (servings of fruits and vegetables (FV), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and snack foods and frequency of fast food consumption), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Thematic analysis of interview discussions further explored yoga's perceived influence on eating and activity behaviors among interview participants. RESULTS: Regular yoga practice was associated with more servings of FV, fewer servings of SSBs and snack foods, less frequent fast food consumption, and more hours of MVPA. Interviews revealed that yoga supported healthy eating through motivation to eat healthfully, greater mindfulness, management of emotional eating, more healthy food cravings, and the influence of the yoga community. Yoga supported physical activity through activity as part of yoga practice, motivation to do other forms of activity, increased capacity to be active, and by complementing an active lifestyle. CONCLUSIONS: Young adult yoga practitioners reported healthier eating behaviors and higher levels of physical activity than non-practitioners. Yoga should be investigated as an intervention for young adult health promotion and healthy weight management.

Multicontextual correlates of adolescent sugar-sweetened beverage intake.

PURPOSE: To examine personal, home, peer, school, neighborhood, and media correlates of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake in a diverse sample of adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional, population-based study (EAT 2010: Eating and Activity in Teens) of 2793 adolescents (54% female, mean age [SD] = 14.5 [2.0], 80% nonwhite) attending public secondary schools in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Adolescents completed a food frequency questionnaire and answered survey questions about their diet/health perceptions and behaviors. Socio-environmental data were collected from parents/caregivers, peers, school personnel, Geographic Information Systems (e.g., distance to food outlet), and a content analysis of favorite TV shows. Individual and mutually adjusted mixed-effects regression models examined associations between multi-contextual factors and estimated daily servings of SSB, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS: The contextual factors examined accounted for 24% of the variance in adolescents' SSB consumption. The proportion of variance explained by each context was 13% personal, 16% home/family, 3% peer, 1% school, 0.1% media, and 0% neighborhood. The strongest correlate of SSB intake was home soda availability (adjusted for covariates: ß = 0.26, p < 0.01; adjusted for all multi-contextual factors: ß = 0.18, p < 0.01). Other significant correlates of SSB intake included personal behaviors (e.g., fast food intake, sleep), home/family factors (e.g., parent modeling) and peer influences (e.g., friends' SSB intake). CONCLUSIONS: Public health policies and programs to reduce adolescent SSB intake should target personal behaviors (e.g., limit fast food, encourage adequate sleep), address the home setting (e.g., help parents to reduce SSB availability and model healthy eating habits) and involve peers (e.g., identify and enable peers to model healthy eating behaviors).

The DISCOVER Study 3-Year Results: Feasibility and Usefulness of Microscope-Integrated Intraoperative OCT during Ophthalmic Surgery.

PURPOSE: To report the 3-year assessment of feasibility and usefulness of microscope-integrated intraoperative OCT (iOCT) during ophthalmic surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, consecutive case series. PARTICIPANTS: Adult participants undergoing incisional ophthalmic surgery with iOCT imaging who consented to be enrolled in the Determination of Feasibility of Intraoperative Spectral-Domain Microscope Combined/Integrated OCT Visualization during En Face Retinal and Ophthalmic Surgery (DISCOVER) study. METHODS: The DISCOVER study is a single-site, multisurgeon, institutional review board-approved investigational device prospective study. Participants included patients undergoing anterior or posterior segment surgery who underwent iOCT imaging with 1 of 3 prototype microscope-integrated iOCT systems (i.e., Zeiss Rescan 700, Leica EnFocus, or Cole Eye iOCT systems). Clinical characteristics were documented, iOCT was directed by the operating surgeon at predetermined surgical time points, and each surgeon completed a questionnaire after surgery to evaluate the usefulness of iOCT during surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility of iOCT based ability to obtain an OCT image during surgery and usefulness of iOCT based on surgeon reporting during surgery. RESULTS: Eight hundred thirty-seven eyes (244 anterior segment cases and 593 posterior segment cases) were enrolled in the DISCOVER study. Intraoperative OCT demonstrated feasibility with successful image acquisition in 820 eyes (98.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 96.8%-98.8%). In 106 anterior segment cases (43.4%; 95% CI, 37.1%-49.9%), the surgeons indicated that the iOCT information impacted their surgical decision making and altered the procedure. In posterior segment procedures, surgeons reported that iOCT enabled altered surgical decision making during the procedure in 173 cases (29.2%; 95% CI, 25.5%-33.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The DISCOVER iOCT study demonstrated both generalized feasibility and usefulness based on the surgeon-reported impact on surgical decision making. This large-scale study confirmed similar findings from other studies on the potential value and impact of iOCT on ophthalmic surgery.

The home food environment and associations with dietary intake among adolescents presenting for a lifestyle modification intervention.

BACKGROUND: The home food environment may be an important target for addressing adolescent obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between aspects of the home food environment and the diets of adolescents who present for obesity treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional baseline data were collected from 167 overweight/obese adolescent-parent pairs participating in an e-health lifestyle modification intervention. Adolescent intake of specific foods (fruit and vegetables, total fat, sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts/treats, and snacking occasions) was assessed by three 24-h dietary recalls, while household factors were collected from adolescent and parent questionnaires. Structural Equation Modeling, controlling for relevant covariates, was used to examine the relationship between adolescent diet and the following household factors: parent modeling, parenting style, family meal practices, and home food/beverage availability. RESULTS: Findings reveal that few characteristics of the home food environment were associated with adolescent dietary intake. Greater home availability of high-fat foods was moderately associated with adolescent snack intake (ß = 0.27, p < .001). Associations with fruit/vegetables and fat intake were small and some were in unexpected directions. Parent modeling of healthful food choices and healthier family meal practices were associated with lower availability of high-fat foods and treats in the home, but were not directly associated with adolescent diets. CONCLUSIONS: Parent modeling of healthy foods and positive mealtime routines might contribute to the healthfulness of foods offered in the homes of adolescents who are overweight/obese. Additional research is needed to better characterize the complex aspects of the household environment that influence adolescent diet.

Yoga and body image: Findings from a large population-based study of young adults.

This study explored the potential for yoga to promote body satisfaction in a general population of young adults. The sample included 1664 participants (M age: 31.1, SD=1.6years) in Project EAT, a 15-year longitudinal study. Data from the third and fourth waves (EAT-III and EAT-IV), collected five years apart, were utilized. Practicing yoga (≥30min/week) was reported by 16.2% of young adults. After adjusting for EAT-III body satisfaction and body mass index, yoga practitioners had higher concurrent body satisfaction at EAT-IV than those not practicing yoga (difference: 1.5 units [95% CI: 0.1-2.8], p=.03). Among participants within the lowest quartile of prior (EAT-III) body satisfaction, there was preliminary evidence that body satisfaction at EAT-IV was higher among yoga practitioners than in other young adults. Findings suggest that yoga may be associated with improved body satisfaction, particularly among young adults with low prior body satisfaction.

The Transmission of Family Food and Mealtime Practices From Adolescence to Adulthood: Longitudinal Findings From Project EAT-IV.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether family food and mealtime practices experienced in adolescence are carried forward into parenthood. DESIGN: Baseline (Project Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults [EAT]-I) and 15-year follow-up (EAT-IV) survey data from a population-based cohort study (Project EAT). PARTICIPANTS: Cohort members identified as parents at follow-up (n = 727). To gain additional data about the practices of both parents in the household, significant others completed surveys at EAT-IV (n = 380). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency of family meals, healthfulness of foods at home, frequency of meals in front of the television, and expectations of being home for dinner. ANALYSIS: Linear regression models tested associations between parent food and mealtime practices reported at baseline and follow-up controlling for demographics. RESULTS: Healthy and unhealthy home food availability, expectations to be home for dinner, and eating in front of the television in adolescence predicted similar outcomes 15 years later among female parents (effect sizes range: ß = .2-.3; P < .001), and to a lesser extent among males. Families ate more frequent family meals when either 1 or both parents reported frequent family meals as an adolescent compared with when neither parent reported frequent family meals as an adolescent. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: It is important to invest in parenting interventions that target healthful family food and mealtime practices because of the potential long-term impact on their own children's parenting practices.

Intergenerational transmission of family meal patterns from adolescence to parenthood: longitudinal associations with parents' dietary intake, weight-related behaviours and psychosocial well-being.

OBJECTIVE: The present study examined longitudinal associations between four family meal patterns (i.e. never had regular family meals, started having regular family meals, stopped having regular family meals, maintained having regular family meals) and young adult parents' dietary intake, weight-related behaviours and psychosocial well-being. In addition, family meal patterns of parents were compared with those of non-parents. DESIGN: Analysis of data from the longitudinal Project EAT (Eating and Activity in Adolescents and Young Adults) study. Linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between family meal patterns and parents' dietary intake, weight-related behaviours and psychosocial well-being. SETTING: School and in-home settings. SUBJECTS: At baseline (1998; EAT-I), adolescents (n 4746) from socio-economically and racially/ethnically diverse households completed a survey and anthropometric measurements at school. At follow-up (2015; EAT-IV), participants who were parents (n 726) and who were non-parents with significant others (n 618) completed an online survey. RESULTS: Young adult parents who reported having regular family meals as an adolescent and as a parent ('maintainers'), or who started having regular family meals with their own families ('starters'), reported more healthful dietary, weight-related and psychosocial outcomes compared with young adults who never reported having regular family meals ('nevers'; P<0·05). In addition, parents were more likely to be family meal starters than non-parents. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that mental and physical health benefits of having regular family meals may be realized as a parent whether the routine of regular family meals is carried forward from adolescence into parenthood, or if the routine is started in parenthood.