Nutrition Science

December 19, 2023

Increasing Statewide Support for Eating Disorders Among Adolescents

Partnered with the Washington State Department of Health to create a healthcare provider-facing informational handout about adolescent eating disorders to increase awareness and share resources. Detailed types of eating disorders, signs and symptoms, risk factors, potential long-term consequences, recommendations for providers, screening tools, and treatment centers. Community Partner: Washington State Department of Health, Children and…

October 10, 2023

Dietary Inflammatory Index Scores of the 3-Week Habitual Diet at a State Hospital

This project assessed the inflammatory potential of patients’ diets at a state hospital. The findings showed that their daily nutrient intake was inversely associated with a risk of depression and depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and specific cancers.

August 14, 2023

Effect of Cocoa Extract Supplementation on Mental Health and Risk of Incident Late-Life Depression: A Secondary Analysis of the COSMOS Trial

A secondary analysis of the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) Trial investigating the effects of cocoa extract supplementation on subjective mental health and incident late-life depression in older adults.

June 26, 2023

Investigation of the Correlation Between Food Science and Oral Health

The purpose of this internship was to investigate the bidirectional relationship between nutritional and oral health by critically examining information gained through clinical observations, the results of patient dietary interviews, and access to patient demographic data. Community Partner: Bellevue Dental Oasis

August 18, 2022

Is a Traditional Mexican Diet Better Suited for Mexican-Descent Women?

This study evaluates whether the the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including the USDA-provided Spanish translation, are effective for adopting and maintaining a healthy diet aimed at improving health outcomes in US women of Mexican decent, or if a more culturally tailored approach might be warranted.

Healthy Food, As Told by TikTok: A Thematic Analysis of the Most Liked #healthyrecipes on TikTok

Thematic analysis revealed that the most popular TikTok creators of “healthy” recipes characterize healthy food as some combination of utilizing practical skills to maintain a home cooking routine, incorporating functional or plant-based ingredients, delivering on exciting sensory experiences, and providing permission to eat certain foods based on specific health parameters.

Effect of Low vs High Eating Frequency on Perceived Appetite, Plasma Appetite Hormones, and Appetite Relationships: A Component of the Frequency of Eating and Satiety Hormones (FRESH) Study

This study concludes that three versus six eating frequencies per day did not have an independent effect on appetite measures through a randomized cross-over trial that controlled for various factors, including caloric intake. Concordance, or predictability, of the relationships between hormonal measures of appetite and perceived measures of appetite was weak, which warrants future research…

Changes in Eating Habits Among Eating Competent and Non-Eating Competent College Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent research reveals that eating context, as well as underlying stress, were the primary drivers of changes in eating habits experienced by U.S. undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study highlights the benefit of qualitative analysis for expanding our understanding of theoretical frameworks like the Satter Eating Competence model.

Eating Competence and Gender Identity Are Significantly Associated with Weight-And-Body Shame-And-Guilt, Eating Concerns, and Weight Satisfaction in Undergraduate Students

This study, which surveyed a large sample of undergraduates at the University of Washington, determined that eating competence and gender identity are significantly associated with: weight-and-body shame-and-guilt, weight satisfaction, and eating concerns. These associations demonstrate the emotional components of food, eating behaviors, and body-related perceptions, and may be helpful in future interventions aimed at improving these characteristics…

Disordered Eating and Eating Competence in Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Symptom Severity

This study seeks to assess the frequency at which disordered eating impacts patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), evaluate the level of Eating Competence (EC) among patients with IBS, and determine whether EC and eating disorder (ED) risk varies according to IBS symptom severity and IBS subtype.