CHET Awards Two Pilot Grants
Congratulations to Shuoli Zhao, PhD, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, and Courtney T. Luecking, PhD, MPH, RDN Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Health and Nutrition in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition who received 2021 CHET Pilot Awards.
Dr. Zhao's project was funded through a partnership between CHET and the UNited In True racial Equity (UNITE) Research Priority Area at the University of Kentucky Through his project, “Are There Racial Disparities in Monthly Glucose Cycle? The Role of SNAP Participation, Payment Timing, and Food-Related Hardship on Diabetes Control.” Dr. Zhao will combine both the public-use and restricted National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to estimate the relationship between the participation of SNAP/the number of days since SNAP benefit receipt, diet, and diabetes.
Dr. Zhao will examine the role of changes in food consumption on diabetes management among SNAP participants, including impacts on diabetes management that may differ for individuals with different racial and ethnic backgrounds. To investigate the racial disparity of prevalence and management of diabetes among SNAP participants, this study further investigates the extent to which cyclical food hardship due to SNAP payment schedules may complicate glucose control among SNAP participants of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Dr. Luecking's project, “Evaluating the impact and equity of translating new state-level policies into obesity prevention practices in child care centers in Kentucky.” involves collecting baseline data for a rigorous, prospective evaluation of the equity of implementation and impact of state-level obesity prevention policies for children.
The proposed pilot study will collect critical baseline data to prospectively evaluate the equity of implementation and impact of new regulations on meal planning requirements, active play time, and screen time limits for child care programs that serve more than 139,000 children, many of whom live at or near poverty in rural settings and are at increased risk for childhood obesity.
Results of the project will address unintended consequences of policy changes in child care programs – an important research gap – and contribute new information about strategies to support equitable translation of obesity prevention policies for children into practice.
Congratulations Dr. Zhao and Dr. Luecking, CHET is pleased to support your efforts to advance health equity in Kentucky.
