@article{collins_mccallum_nordby_aggarwal_griffith_thomas_dunn_2023, title={Enrollment, Engagement, and Effectiveness of a Large-Scale Diabetes Prevention Program Using Synchronous Distance Technology}, volume={4}, ISSN={["2673-4540"]}, DOI={10.3390/diabetology4040051}, abstractNote={The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that individuals with prediabetes are significantly less likely to develop type 2 diabetes if they participate in a lifestyle change program that results in at least 5% weight loss and 150 min of physical activity per week. The CDC recognizes distance learning as an effective delivery mode for lifestyle change programs to prevent type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess enrollment, engagement, and effectiveness of a type 2 diabetes prevention program (DPP) using synchronous distance technology. Eat Smart, Move More, Prevent Diabetes (ESMMPD) is an intensive 12-month DPP delivered using synchronous distance technology. Throughout 26 lessons, participants focused on healthy eating, physical activity, and mindfulness behaviors. Study findings showed a significant decrease in A1C (−0.24 p < 0.0001). Weight loss averaged 5.66% for those who completed the program. Based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, participants demonstrated statistically significant changes in self-reported confidence in their ability to perform all 18 health-promoting behaviors assessed (p < 0.0001). Participation in the program also resulted in the adoption of health promoting behaviors. A DPP using synchronous distance technology is an effective delivery mode to help participants adopt healthy behaviors, increase physical activity, and achieve the weight loss necessary to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.}, number={4}, journal={DIABETOLOGY}, author={Collins, Casey and McCallum, Erin and Nordby, Kelly and Aggarwal, Surabhi and Griffith, Emily and Thomas, Cathy and Dunn, Carolyn}, year={2023}, month={Dec}, pages={574–585} } @article{dunn_haubenreiser_johnson_nordby_aggarwal_myer_thomas_2018, title={Mindfulness Approaches and Weight Loss, Weight Maintenance, and Weight Regain}, volume={7}, ISSN={2162-4968}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13679-018-0299-6}, DOI={10.1007/s13679-018-0299-6}, abstractNote={There is an urgent need for effective weight management techniques, as more than one third of US adults are overweight or obese. Recommendations for weight loss include a combination of reducing caloric intake, increasing physical activity, and behavior modification. Behavior modification includes mindful eating or eating with awareness. The purpose of this review was to summarize the literature and examine the impact of mindful eating on weight management.The practice of mindful eating has been applied to the reduction of food cravings, portion control, body mass index, and body weight. Past reviews evaluating the relationship between mindfulness and weight management did not focus on change in mindful eating as the primary outcome or mindful eating as a measured variable. This review demonstrates strong support for inclusion of mindful eating as a component of weight management programs and may provide substantial benefit to the treatment of overweight and obesity.}, number={1}, journal={Current Obesity Reports}, publisher={Springer Nature}, author={Dunn, Carolyn and Haubenreiser, Megan and Johnson, Madison and Nordby, Kelly and Aggarwal, Surabhi and Myer, Sarah and Thomas, Cathy}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={37–49} } @article{dailey_romo_myer_thomas_aggarwal_nordby_johnson_dunn_2018, title={The Buddy Benefit: Increasing the Effectiveness of an Employee-Targeted Weight-Loss Program}, volume={23}, ISSN={1081-0730 1087-0415}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2018.1436622}, DOI={10.1080/10810730.2018.1436622}, abstractNote={It is well known that significant others (particularly romantic partners) can influence people’s weight management efforts. However, what constitutes effective support—and from which type of individual (e.g., romantic partner, family member, friend)—is unclear. Thus, framed by confirmation theory, we assessed the effectiveness and types of communication of a weight-loss “buddy” through reports of 704 individuals enrolled in a 15-week synchronous online weight-loss program. Roughly 54% of participants chose buddies; and those who did lost more weight and waist inches than those who were involved in the program without buddy support. We also found that a combination of high accepting and high challenging messages from buddies was associated with the greatest decrease in body mass index (BMI) as well as the greatest reduction in waist size. Furthermore, the support by romantic partners paralleled support by other types of buddies. Having a supportive buddy who was not a romantic partner was just as effective as turning to a romantic partner for assistance. This study underscores the important role of a buddy in supporting weight-loss program involvement and encourages individuals to consider enlisting the help of a buddy, as opposed to losing weight alone, in order to maximize weight management effectiveness.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Health Communication}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Dailey, Rene and Romo, Lynsey and Myer, Sarah and Thomas, Cathy and Aggarwal, Surabhi and Nordby, Kelly and Johnson, Madison and Dunn, Carolyn}, year={2018}, month={Feb}, pages={272–280} } @article{wass_hofing_goolsby_haynes-maslow_dunn_2017, title={Color Me Healthy for SNAP-Ed Supplemental Toolkit: A Comprehensive Approach to the Social-Ecological Model}, volume={49}, ISSN={1499-4046}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.JNEB.2017.05.263}, DOI={10.1016/J.JNEB.2017.05.263}, abstractNote={To enhance SNAP-Ed direct education messages with support for change on the interpersonal and organizational levels of the Social-Ecological Model (SEM). This project combines the Color Me Healthy for SNAP-Ed direct education program and the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) model, a research-tested intervention, to influence multiple levels of the SEM. North Carolina Extension educators receive training, on-going support, and an all-inclusive kit for direct education program implementation. Child care centers where Color Me Healthy for SNAP-Ed is delivered are engaged through a comprehensive toolkit for policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change. This includes self-assessment, guided action planning, staff training, connections with local partners, and the provision of resources. Centers receive hands-on support throughout the process, creating personal connections that build trust and allow for greater center buy-in and a high completion rate, currently 82%. Additionally, one-third of centers have participated for at least two years, fostering a long-term relationship. The project encourages short, medium, and long term change on the individual and environmental levels, as defined by the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework. Administered twice in each annual cycle, NAP SACC, a reliable, valid, environmental self-assessment tool, was used to measure adoption and promotion of nutrition and physical activity supports, while surveys of parents and teachers captured childrens’ behavior change. The comprehensive application of the toolkit combined with direct education creates a multi-component, multi-level intervention that enhances the effectiveness and sustainability of PSE change at early child care centers.}, number={7}, journal={Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Wass, Jenelle and Hofing, Gretchen and Goolsby, Lindsay and Haynes-Maslow, Lindsey and Dunn, Carolyn}, year={2017}, month={Jul}, pages={S53} } @article{jones_dunn_foley_burghardt_rhew_van rijn_cialone_andersen_vodika_2017, title={EFNEP's Families Eating Smart and Moving More: Integration of Video, Social Media, and PSE in EFNEP Delivery}, volume={49}, ISSN={1499-4046}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.JNEB.2017.05.267}, DOI={10.1016/J.JNEB.2017.05.267}, abstractNote={To revise a comprehensive curriculum using current evidence in nutrition, physical activity, behavior change, and adult education that integrates participant and partner engagement strategies to meet the national priorities of EFNEP. Target Audience is EFNEP eligible adult audiences with an emphasis on parents and other adult caregivers who have primary responsibility for feeding children in their care and pregnant/lactating women. The curriculum is based on Stages of Change and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) within the framework of the Community Nutrition Education (CNE) Logic Model. The curriculum is designed with a focus on individual, family, or household level change with partner engagement strategies for policy and environmental change informed by the CNE Logic Model. EFNEP's Families Eating Smart and Moving More is an evidence-based curriculum first developed in 2006 and revised once every five years to integrate current research as well as implementer, partner, and participant feedback. This revision includes video and social media strategies to engage participants and contemporary strategies to engage program partners in policy and environmental changes (PSE) that support healthy eating, access to safe, healthy foods, and physical activity of program participants. Partnership strategies are included in each lesson as a guide for educators. Curriculum effectiveness has been measured using required pre and post 24-hour participant recall and food behavior surveys. Anecdotal success stories are collected to report policy and environmental changes. Quantitative data demonstrates consistently high impacts in individual dietary change, physical activity, food resource management, and food safety for each revision of the curriculum. Evaluation of strategies from this revision will be completed over the next five years.}, number={7}, journal={Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Jones, Lorelei and Dunn, Carolyn and Foley, Emily and Burghardt, Mary and Rhew, Lori and van Rijn, Suzanne and Cialone, Josephine and Andersen, Kathy and Vodika, Sheree}, year={2017}, month={Jul}, pages={S54–S55} } @article{thompson_dunn_aggarwal_tchwenko_wang_rushing_thomas_nordby_allision_2016, title={Behaviors Predictive of Weight Loss Maintenance: Six-Month Follow up of an Online Weight Management Program}, volume={2}, ISSN={2380-5528}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.16966/2380-5528.124}, DOI={10.16966/2380-5528.124}, abstractNote={Introduction: The study identifies behaviors associated with weight loss maintenance six months after completing an online weight management program. The findings have potential to inform the promotion and ongoing support of behaviors that foster weight loss maintenance. Methods: A retrospective cohort design was employed for responses submitted between October 2013 and July 2014 to a follow-up survey of participants in an online weight management program. Participants’ weights at the start of the program (W1), at the end of the program (W2) and six months after the program (W3) were used to create three outcome subgroups: Maintenance (W3 ≤ W2 ≤ W1), Post-program loss (W3