Neal Malik

Purpose: This study explored how social media influences dietary choices and perceptions of nutrition information among young adults. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study involving a total of 360 students aged 18–24 years from a mid-sized, minority-serving university in Southern California. Participants responded to a 23-question survey assessing demographic information, social media habits and attitudes toward nutrition-related content. Pearson correlation analyses were used to evaluate associations between social media use and dietary behaviors. Findings: Most respondents identified as female (n = 314, 75.5%), of which 86.3% (n = 341) were between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Approximately 44% of respondents reported that health and fitness content on social media motivated them to adopt healthier habits, with recipe and meal preparation content cited as most influential (83.7%). Significant positive correlations were observed between following nutrition accounts and trying new diet trends (r = 0.283, p < 0.001), feeling pressured to change one’s diet or appearance (r = 0.207, p < 0.001) and confusion about healthy eating (r = 0.104, p = 0.050). A moderate correlation was found between frequent exposure to influencer content and attempts to follow new diets (r = 0.534, p < 0.001). Additionally, a negative correlation emerged between time spent viewing nutrition-related content and confidence in its accuracy (r = −0.250, p < 0.001), suggesting increased skepticism with greater exposure. Research limitations/implications: One limitation of this research is the cross-sectional design. This research design does not allow cause and effect to be determined. Second, since the data were self-reported, recall bias may have altered participants’ responses. Third, the survey used was not validated, which may have affected its validity and reliability. Lastly, the study focused primarily on college students between the ages of 18–24 and was restricted to a single university, which may reduce the generalizability of these results. Practical implications: These findings highlight the need for enhanced media literacy and greater visibility of qualified nutrition professionals online to promote credible, evidence-based information and support healthier decision-making. Social implications: Social media serves as both a motivator and a source of confusion regarding dietary behaviors among young adults. Originality/value: More nutrition professionals promoting evidence-based information online can help mitigate confusion, debunk myths, and use social media as a tool to spread nutritional awareness and promote healthier eating habits on a larger scale.

Objective: The goal of this research was to examine the effects of COVID-19 on health seeking behaviors among students attending a minority-serving institution (MSI). Participants: Students [N = 580, M_age (SD) = 27.7 ± 9.1 years] from a midsized university in the U.S. Methods: Cross-sectional survey, distributed between February-March 2021, assessing visits with a healthcare professional before and during the pandemic. Comparison by time and between groups using McNemar's test and ordinal logistic regression. Results: In-person medical care decreased during the pandemic (p = 0.096). Higher frequency of doctor visits pre-pandemic resulted in less contact with students' healthcare providers during the pandemic (p < 0.001). Those that indicated their health status as Excellent were mostly likely to visit their healthcare provider in-person during the pandemic (p = 0.026). Virtual contacts with their healthcare provider increased during the pandemic (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed health seeking behaviors among students attending an MSI.

The study aimed to examine whether registered dietitians' (RDs') practice areas were associated with their confidence regarding integrative medicine (IM) modalities. An online survey was completed by 5164 members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Post hoc analyses revealed that when compared with other practice areas, RDs practicing within IM reported the highest self-rated confidence when recommending high-quality supplements (84.2%, P < .01), disease-specific supplements (73.7%, P < .001), herbal supplements (73.7%, P < .001), and functional foods (84.2%, P < .001). RDs who utilize IM are most confident incorporating IM modalities into their practice, while those employed in other practice areas are significantly less confident.

Public health policies aimed at obesity reduction are more often directed toward adults than children. This is alarming given that rates of childhood obesity have been steadily increasing, and, if not treated early, adolescents with obesity may develop comorbidities into adulthood. Lifestyle-based interventions are the cornerstone of childhood obesity treatment. Recently, extended-reality (XR)-based interventions have been incorporated into the treatment of obesity, and parents and adolescents perceive virtual reality (VR) interventions as a promising approach to increasing physical activity levels and improving eating habits. VR is a tool that fits perfectly with contemporary adolescent culture, which is radically different from that of just two generations ago. It is plausible that an XR-based intervention for treating adolescents with obesity could have a profound influence on obesity management over the long-term. An understanding of adolescents’ preferences, wants, and needs must be considered in the development of new interventions. We suggest that VR interventions can provide a new approach to weight management for children and adolescents and provide recommendations to assess adolescents’, caregivers’, and primary care providers’ needs. These needs could then be used for the development of an XR-based intervention aimed at inducing sustained lifestyle changes in adolescents with obesity.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 may influence healthcare seeking behaviors among university students due to their beliefs about the virus, disruptions in access to care, or both. This has not been studied among university students, particularly those attending a minority-serving institution (MSI). OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare seeking behaviors among students attending an MSI. METHODS An online survey was sent to all registered students at a public MSI between February and March 2021. Frequency of in-person and virtual contacts with a healthcare professional across a sample of months in 2019 and 2020 were compared using Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests. RESULTS Approximately 52.5% reported no in-person visits during the pandemic compared to 47.8% pre-pandemic (Z = -1.800, P = .07). Approximately 47.7% reported no virtual contact during the pandemic compared to 77.5% reporting no virtual contact with a medical provider pre-pandemic (Z = 11.011, P < .001). When in-person and virtual contacts were combined, 43.5% of respondents reported no virtual or in-person contact with medical providers pre-pandemic compared with 34.1% during the pandemic (Z = 3.918, P <.001). CONCLUSIONS Among university students attending a public MSI, in-person visits and contact with their respective healthcare providers decreased during the current COVID-19 pandemic. These results are of particular importance given the relationship between seeking healthcare and the maintenance of health behaviors.

Purpose: To describe the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Brazilian adolescents with obesity, and to compare anthropometric and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements in relation to the presence of MS. Methods: Sixty-seven adolescents (13–18 years, 36 girls) with obesity (body mass index z-score ≥2.0) were enrolled. The following were assessed for each participant: anthropometrics, body composition, lipid profile, glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, blood pressure (BP), and cardiorespiratory fitness. Results: The presence of MS was found in 47.76% of the sample. The following abnormal measurements were most frequently reported: waist circumference (WC) (100.0%), BP (85.07%), and triglycerides (TG) (50.75%). Boys with obesity were more likely to meet MS criteria when compared to girls (P = 0.040; odds ratio = 2.80 [1.04–7.56]). Conclusion: The presence of MS in Brazilian adolescents with obesity in this study was 47.76%. Among this sample, the most frequently reported MS variables above the established cutoffs were WC (100%), followed by altered BP (85%) and TG (50%). These data further support previously published studies that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness may increase the risk of MS among adolescents with obesity.

Obesity does not modulate men’s eating behavior after a high intensity interval exercise session: an exercise trial - The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 2021 February;61(2):280-6 - Minerva Medica - Journals