Science Spotlight with Dr. Carolyn Gunther
What are the primary research questions addressed by your program?
We’re working to identify the environmental and behavioral factors that are either protective or detrimental in determining risk for poor nutritional health (obesity) among systemically marginalized children and youth. Research findings from my lab have direct implications in child nutrition policy and programmatic reform to reduce and ultimately eliminate nutritional health disparities and promote health equity.
Under this broad umbrella, one thing we’ve been studying is the protective effect of healthy family mealtime routines (e.g., serving healthy meals, limiting mealtime distractions, having positive conversations, etc.) in families with low-income on their diet and nutritional health. We developed a family meals intervention (i.e., an 8-week program, “Simple Suppers”) using the Intervention Mapping Protocol, which aligns intervention strategies with primary outcomes and key mediators of behavior change, according to existing evidence and theory. Coupled with continuous feedback from the community, we tested Simple Suppers in a quasi-experimental trial. Results demonstrated positive impacts among participating children and caregiver’s diet quality, weight status, and blood pressure. Based on these findings, we recently completed a 5-year scale-out study of Simple Suppers to a new community setting and population, and mode of delivery (in-person, online, hybrid). In doing so, we were poised to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis to identify the mode of delivery of Simple Suppers that produces the best outcomes for the dollar (hint=hybrid!) poising us to conduct a more rigorous trial of the hybrid version.
What innovative methodology are you using in your research?
We employ methods to engage with the community via continuous feedback throughout every step of the research process, from: gathering formative feedback related to needs, assets, intervention design; collecting data; interpreting data; and presentation/dissemination of findings. We have found that it is in this space, where members of the community and researchers come together often, that feasible and innovative solutions arise, and where lasting change can occur.
What are the challenges related to this type of research?
Building trusted relationships with the community is essential to conducting high quality, impactful community-based research. However, this takes time and patience (not an easy task, especially considering the tenure clock !). It involves showing up consistently and being true to your word. Exercising humility and listening with compassion and understanding are also critical. All effortful traits, though worth the investment to produce the best (highest quality) science, change the nutritional health trajectories of children and youth, and become better human beings.
What excites you most about this research?
Along with identifying the most cost-effective mode of delivery of Simple Suppers (hybrid), we have observed trickle down effects of Simple Suppers on weight status and cardiometabolic health (blood pressure). The thought of systematically scaling up Simple Suppers – a community-based Food is Medicine intervention – to achieve a broader public health in marginalized children and their caregivers is super exciting … to think we could play a role in meaningfully moving the needle.
Who are your primary collaborators?
Related to the family meals research, Head Start (Southside Columbus) and Columbus Urban League are primary collaborators, along with members of my research team, past/present students and staff. OSU faculty members Dr. Julie Kennel (dietetic intern training) and Dr. Sanja Ilic (food safety) are also long-time key collaborators, along Dr. Chyongchiou Lin (health economist).
What other projects are you working on related?
For many years now, we’ve been studying the effects of extended school closings, like the summer and COVID-19, (and the loss of USDA’s school-based child meal programs) on children and teens nutritional health and well-being. My lab published seminal data demonstrating that the diet quality of children during the summer vs school year is lower, as well as their physical environments relating to foods/nutrition and physical activity. We also conducted one of the first group (school) RCTs during the summertime and, in alignment with the emerging Structured Days Hypothesis, demonstrated the protective effect of schools, coupled with the USDA Summer Food Service Program, on children’s weight status (i.e., prevention of accelerated weight gain during the summer months).
As part of a USDA multistate project, we’re also examining independent eating occasions in pre-teens, and the role of caregivers in promoting healthy choices. This team of investigators has worked together for more than 10 years, collecting formative data (little is known about what teens eat when they’re away from their caregivers), and now (many years later!) are at the stage of intervention development, where we’re combining traditional (e.g., Intervention Mapping Protocol) and unconventional (e.g., AI) methods.