2004 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? There is a growing interest in nutrition monitoring research at the community level. Development of cost-effective, user-friendly methods to translate data from national surveys to community databases in order to conduct analyses to assess community healthfulness and food security is needed. This requires a thorough understanding of survey data through statistical modeling, and development of methodologies and other user-friendly tools to assess the nutritional and food secure status and healthful practices of individuals, households, and communities. Moreover, community-based interventions may have fallen short on meeting their objectives because they failed to fully understand and consider environmental and socio-demographic disparities. Research is needed to (1) examine the influence of social and economic contexts on the interpretation of risk associated with health-related behaviors; and (2) further develop conceptual foundations and analytical methods for generating population dietary recommendations. Three specific objectives have been identified:. 1)to develop comprehensive databases [i.e., FoodLink, Community Nutrition Mapping Project(CNMap)] and conduct analyses to be used for community assessments, nutrition program planning, implementation and evaluation, and food safety research;. 2)to identify practical diet, behavior, household, and other environmental indicators for healthful practices and food security within communities to guide the development of urban, rural, and agriculture interfaces; and. 3)to determine correlations between diet, physical activity, and other behaviors to address health outcomes such as obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other high risk factors in the U.S. among diverse population groups. The Community Nutrition Research Group (CNRG) falls under ARS National Program 107 Goal 3: A Healthy and Well-Nourished Population Who Have Knowledge, Desire, and Means to Make Health Promoting Choices. The objectives of CNRG research address Performance Goal 3.1.2 - Component 3 Nutrition Monitoring: Monitor food and nutrient consumption of U.S. population and develop and transfer effective nutrition intervention strategies. Some of the research conducted at CNRG assesses food and nutrient consumption of U.S. population groups and will help identify potential areas and target these groups for nutrition intervention. Other research includes the development of enhanced databases (FoodLink, CNMap) that reflect food choices of growing ethnic and underserved population subgroups in the U.S. Research findings will be useful to professionals interested in (1) assessing nutrition, health, and agriculture linkages at the community level; (2) identifying areas in need of dietary and other health-promoting intervention, program planning, design and evaluation at the community level; (3) identifying potential indicators of dietary status and health-promoting behavioral characteristics of diverse population groups; and (4) using databases to facilitate additional research in dietary analysis, nutrition education, or food safety. Research findings will be useful in the preparation of user-friendly, Web-based applications and other educational materials on healthful diet and behavior choices for the public. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. Objective 1: Year 1 (FY 2004) FoodLink: Update Pyramid Servings database for Nutrient Database (NDB) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999/2000 codes. Expand Pyramid Servings Search tool for new foods and weight-measures and nutrients by food codes. Identify options for making FoodLink data through Pyramid-FoodLink Search more user-friendly. Write methods report. CNMap: Update Community Nutrition Mapping Project (CNMAP) with available research results. Develop scoring method and pattern. Finalize simulation procedure. Year 2 (FY 2005) FoodLink: Beta release of multiple level database with pyramid, dietary nutrient sources, and ARS commodity data. Update FoodLink databases for NHANES 2001 and Delta Nutrition Intervention and Research Inititative (NIRI) codes. Initiate extensive review of FoodLink food-ingredient recipe database. CNMap: Update CNMap with available research results. Test reliability of scoring method. Year 3 (FY 2006) FoodLink: Update FoodLink databases and search tool with NHANES 2002 codes. Expand FoodLink database for portion size grouping variables. Review, develop, and implement additional FoodLink search tools. CNMap: Update CNMap with available research results. Test reliability of scoring method. Develop regression procedure and compute quantitative measure. Year 4 (FY 2007) FoodLink: Update FoodLink databases and search tool with NHANES 2003 codes. Expand FoodLink databases for USDA commodity codes from ERS, AMS, FNS, CSREES. CNMap: Update CNMap with available research results. Document quantitative process. Year 5 (FY 2008) FoodLink: Update FoodLink databases and search tool with NHANES 2004 codes. Beta release of expanded FoodLink databases with Agency specific commodity data. Review, develop, and implement additional FoodLink search tools. CNMap: Update with available research results. Document quantitative process. Objective 2: Year 1 (FY 2004) Identify indicator variables of healthy practices (data source: CSFII 1994-1996) and develop Healthy Practices Index (HPI). Validate and fine-tune HPI using Delta NIRI FOODS2000 data and USDA-DHHS Integrated survey data, if data is available. Map Delta NIRI Grocery Store Survey. Year 2 (FY 2005) Develop Household Index and validate using Delta NIRI FOODS2000 data and USDA-DHHS Integrated survey data. Write scientific manuscripts. Map data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations. Year 3 (FY 2006) Write scientific manuscripts. Map data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations. Year 4 (FY 2007) Compute Healthy Practices Index and Household Index for other USDA-DHHS Integrated survey data and write scientific manuscripts. Map data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations. Year 5 (FY 2008) Compute Healthy Practices Index and Household Index for new data obtained through collaborators and write scientific manuscripts. Map data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations. Objective 3: Year 1 (FY 2004) Identify dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments, and write scientific manuscripts. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. Year 2 (FY 2005) Identify dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments, and write scientific manuscripts. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. Year 3 (FY 2006) Identify dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments, and write scientific manuscripts. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. Year 4 (FY 2007) Identify dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments, and write scientific manuscripts. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. Year 5 (FY 2008) Identify dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments, and write scientific manuscripts. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. 3.Milestones: A. List the milestones (from the list in Question #2) that were scheduled to be addressed in FY 2004. How many milestones did you fully or substantially meet in FY 2004 and indicate which ones were not fully or substantially met, briefly explain why not, and your plans to do so. The milestones listed under Year 1 (FY 2004) were not completed. The CNRG OSQR Research Plan was scored and returned for revision in September 2003. The revised Project Plan was submitted in October 2003 and final approval was received April 2004. B. List the milestones (from the list in Question #2) that you expect to address over the next 3 years (FY 2005, 2006, & 2007). What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years under each milestone? With the mid-year approval of a new Research Plan, there will be some overlap of milestones. Those milestones originally scheduled for FY 2004 will be completed during FY 2005. In addition, as many of the milestones scheduled for FY 2005 also will be completed. Objective 1 Year 1 (FY 2004) - Now will be done in FY 2005. FoodLink: Pyramid Servings database for NDB and NHANES 1999/2000 codes will be updated. Pyramid Servings search tool for new foods and weight-measures and nutrients by foodcodes will be expanded. Options for making FoodLink data through Pyramid-FoodLink Search more user-friendly will be identified. Methods report will be written. CNMap: CNMAP with available research results will be updated. Scoring method and pattern will be developed. Simulation procedure will be finalized. Year 2 (FY 2005) FoodLink: Beta release of multiple level database with pyramid, dietary nutrient sources, and ARS commodity data will be completed. FoodLink databases for NHANES 2001 and Delta NIRI codes will be updated. Extensive review of FoodLink food-ingredient recipe database will be initiated. CNMap: CNMap with available research results will be updated. Reliability of scoring method will be tested. Year 3 (FY 2006) FoodLink: FoodLink databases and Search tool with NHANES 2002 codes will be updated. FoodLink database for portion size grouping variables will be expanded. Additional FoodLink search tools will be reviewed, developed, and implemented. CNMap: CNMap with available research results will be updated. Reliability of scoring method will be tested. Regression procedure and compute quantitative measure will be developed. Objective 2 Year 1 (FY 2004) - Now will be done in FY 2005. Indicator variables of healthy practices (data source: CSFII 1994-1996) and develop Healthy Practices Index (HPI) will be identified. HPI using Delta NIRI FOODS2000 data and USDA-DHHS Integrated survey data, if data is available, will be validated and fine-tuned. Delta NIRI Grocery Store Survey will be mapped. Year 2 (FY 2005) Household index and validate, using Delta NIRI FOODS2000 data and USDA-DHHS Integrated survey data, will be developed. Scientific manuscripts will be written. Data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations will be mapped. Year 3 (FY 2006) Scientific manuscripts will be written. Data on access to healthful food and physical activity obtained through HBCU collaborations will be mapped. Objective 3 Year 1 (FY 2004) - Now will be done in FY 2005. Dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments will be identified, and scientific manuscripts written. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period.] Year 2 (FY 2005) Dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments will be identified, and scientific manuscripts written. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. Year 3 (FY 2006) Dietary practices and non-dietary behaviors that correlate well with healthful diets or healthy weight in specific population segments will be identified, and scientific manuscripts written. [Study population, research question, and/or data source will vary for each milestone period]. 4.What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? A. Single most significant accomplishment during FY 2004: Final approval for the new Research Plan in April 2004. B. Other significant accomplishments: CNRG Web site was converted to the new ARS format. FoodLink team released the Dietary Sources Nutrient Database for USDA Survey Food Codes 1994-96, 1998. Data collected through project with Alabama A&M University was added to CNMap. "Food Counts in the African American Community" chartbook, continued to be distributed to individuals and at annual meetings for the American Public Health Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the Society for Nutrition Education. Efforts to establish community based studies continued. First year of data collected completed for "Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Diabetes: A Community Model Study," collaboration with six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and one Tribal College. Food outlets and physical activity outlets in the seven communities surrounding the schools were identified and mapped by students participating in the project. A second year of data collection was completed for the Nutrition and Physical Activity Kids Project, collaboration with Howard University. Physical activity, dietary and anthropometric measurements were collected from low-income children, ages 10-16, who participate in a national summer youth sports program at the University. Comparable data collection was initiated and completed at Alabama A&M University. CNRG staff completed several secondary data analyses on dietary sources and physical activity of children; influence on TV watching on weight gain among pre-school aged children; and fast food consumption adult and children's diets in the U.S. Results from these research studies were submitted to scientific journals for publication. Four manuscripts were published and one database was released on the web. Two manuscripts on research conducted in Africa have been accepted for publication. C. Significant activities that support special target populations: The sixth USDA Food and Nutrition Summer Institute (FNSI) was held at North Carolina Central University in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Lab, the Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service, and the Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative. Seventy-two participants from six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Government agencies, and community representatives participated. FNSI is designed to (a) foster research partnerships between ARS and the HBCUs, (b) position food and nutrition programs at HBCUs to meet research, education, and work force challenges of the 21st Century, and (c) create stronger voices and vehicles for action for nutrition education, research, and policy within communities served by HBCUs. The primary target audience for the Summer Institute is faculty and students. This also was the second year that Salish Kootenai, a Tribal College in Montana, participated. D. Progress Report: Research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement (58-1235-2-0023) between ARS and Alabama A&M University represents CNRG's first attempt at collecting community level data for CNMap. The dataset delivered to CNRG at the end of FY 2003 was added to the Community Nutrition Mapping Project (CNMap) in FY 2004. Through a Reimbursable Agreement (02-1235-0-0028) between ARS and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), support was provided to the USDA Food and Nutrition Summer Institute since 1999. The Summer Institute is a collaborative program between ARS and several other Government agencies, and fosters nutrition research partnerships between ARS and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In 2004, FDA did not provide support for the program. A Specific Cooperative Agreement (58-1235-4-0106) has been established between ARS and North Carolina Central University (NCCU). The most significant accomplishment to date was the planning and conduct of the USDA Food and Nutrition Summer Institute, held at NCCU in Durham, NC, June 27 - 30. The Summer Institute is a collaborative program between ARS and several other Government agencies, and fosters nutrition research partnerships between ARS and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Under a new Trust Fund Agreement (58-1235-4-0015) between ARS and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) technical assistance and collaboration on writing manuscripts on results from the Nigeria Food Consumption Survey will be done. The most significant accomplishment to date was the submission and acceptance of two abstracts for the International Vitamin A Consultative Group and the International Consultative Group meetings, which will be held in Lima, Peru, November 2004. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. CNRG research focuses on translating data from national databases and community databases for comparable use and comparison at national, state, and local levels. Research findings will be useful to professionals interested in. 1)assessing nutrition, health, and agriculture linkages at the community level;. 2)identifying areas in need of dietary and other health-promoting intervention, program planning, design and evaluation at the community level;. 3)identifying potential indicators of dietary status and health-promoting behavioral characteristics of diverse population groups; and. 4)using databases to facilitate additional research in dietary analysis, nutrition education, or food safety. Research findings also will be useful in the preparation of user-friendly, Web-based applications and other educational materials on healthful diet and behavior choices for the public. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? All databases and research results are publicly released through the CNRG Web site. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. Research Leader interviewed by USDA radio and North Carolina Public TV about Group's research program. Research on fast food consumption and added sugars generated several popular press articles. A few of them are listed below. Science News, Weekly News magazine of Science. 2004. Americans eat faster, and more. June 12. v.165(24). p.381-382. Perrine, S., 2004. How the low-carb craze is making us fat. Men's Health, May 2004. The Associated Press. U.S. study links kids, fast food and weight. January 5, 2004.