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Lunch is in the Bag! (English)

Dr. Deanna Hoelscher spoke with Mas Mujer Austin about packing healthy lunch for kids for back to school.
Topic(s): Nutrition School Health Obesity
Content Type: Blog
August Healthy Summer Challenge

Each month this Summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living has been focusing on ways to stay healthy while school is out. In June, we shared nutritious challenges and healthy food substitutions for a balanced diet. In July, we challenged you to incorporate more physical activity into your day. For the month of August, we’re focusing on promoting good sleep habits and mental health with our Healthy Summer Challenge calendar. This is the perfect month to build healthy sleep habits before the school year begins, as good sleep is essential to good health!
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Content Type: Blog
Get to Know Center Faculty: Dr. Lindi Chuang

Dr. Ru-Jye (Lindi) Chuang is a Faculty Associate at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston and a member of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. Her journey to public health began in Taiwan, where she grew up and majored in public health in college. Her true interest started when she did an internship with the Health Department at her hometown during her senior year of college.
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Content Type: Blog
July Healthy Summer Challenge: Stretching

This month for our Healthy Summer Challenge, we’re focusing on Physical Activity. Today’s challenge is “stretch with a friend.” Make sure to bring plenty of water to stay hydrated if you plan on stretching outside!
Topic(s): Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
July Healthy Summer Challenge

This Summer, the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living challenges you to complete fun activities with your kids to build healthy habits while school is out. Each month we’re focusing on a new set of challenges, and July’s focus is on physical activity.
Topic(s): Physical Activity Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Association of masking policies with mask adherence and distancing during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic

Dr. Deanna Hoelscher, Raja Malkani, and Kathleen Manuel from the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living collaborated on the Systematic Observation of Mask Adherence and Distancing (SOMAD) Project. Using the SOMAD protocol created by Kaiser Permanente, Studio Ludio, San Diego State University (ret), and RAND Corp, 16 faculty members and their students across the United States observed individuals in public spaces to determine the quantification of the impact of local masking policies to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic.
Topic(s): Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
June Healthy Summer Challenge Recipe

Today, for National Eat Your Veggies Day, we’re sharing a recipe from the “How Good Food Works from Seed to Plate” cookbook, authored by our very own Center faculty. This delicious kale and apple salad is perfect for hot days and getting those veggies in!
Topic(s): Obesity
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know Center Faculty: Dr. Andrew Springer

Dr. Andrew Springer is an associate professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin and a member of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living. He has over 20 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating child and adolescent health promotion programs. His research focuses on child and adolescent health promotion with a specific interest in social-ecological influences on health behavior in young people and participatory community health planning and evaluation methods.
Topic(s): Measurement Nutrition Health Policy Obesity
Content Type: Blog
June Healthy Summer Challenge

Summer break is finally here! We know that without the structure of school, it can be hard to keep healthy routines in place. Kids often spend more time in front of the screen, become less active, and choose unhealthy snacks throughout the day. Each month this summer, we’re advocating for creating healthier habits with our Healthy Summer Challenge calendars.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know Center Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr. Leigh Ann Ganzar

Dr. Leigh Ann Ganzar is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the STREETS project at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, part of the UTHealth School of Public Health. The STREETS (Safe TRavel Environment Evaluation in Texas Schools) project evaluates the effect of the City of Austin Safe Routes to School infrastructure program on the physical activity of elementary school students.
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Content Type: Blog
Get to Know Center Faculty: Dr. Marcia Otto

Interviewing faculty can be a great way to get to know more about them! Learning more about faculty research and interests can be helpful to students forming their own interests and career goals. Dr. Marcia Otto is an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences.
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Content Type: Blog
Publication Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Policies to Improve Geographic and Economic Access to Vegetables among Low-Income, Predominantly Latino Urban Residents: An Agent-Based Model

The publication “Exploring the Impact of Policies to Improve Geographic and Economic Access to Vegetables among Low-Income, Predominantly Latino Urban Residents: An Agent-Based Model” developed an agent-based model to simulate the food environment of Austin, Texas, USA, and tested the impact of different food access policies on vegetable consumption among low-income, predominantly Latino residents. The development of this agent-based model was led by former Center Faculty Member Dr. Deborah Salvo and Dr. Pablo Lemoine and contributed to by Center Faculty Drs. Alexandra van den Berg and Nalini Ranjit, post-doctoral fellow Dr. Katie Janda, and Center staff member Aida Nielsen.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Interview with Dr. Edward Maibach

This year for the Michael & Susan Dell Center Lectureship in Child Health, we are very excited to introduce our keynote speaker, Dr. Edward Maibach. His extensive career as a public health professional has created significant changes in promoting public engagement about climate change.
Topic(s): Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
National Nutrition Month

National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. During the month of March, everyone is invited to celebrate food and learn about healthful eating and physical activity habits. The theme this year is “Celebrate a world of flavors.” The theme emphasizes that all cultures have a place at the table.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Publication spotlight: “School-based gardening, cooking, and nutrition intervention increased vegetable intake”

The publication “School-based gardening, cooking, and nutrition intervention increased vegetable intake but did not reduce BMI: Texas sprouts - a cluster randomized controlled trial” discusses the results of a school-based intervention named Texas Sprouts. Center Faculty Drs. Alexandra van den Berg, Adriana Perez, and Deanna Hoelscher contributed to this study, which was led by Dr. Jaimie Davis of UT Austin.
Topic(s): Nutrition School Health
Content Type: Blog
Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month! The American Dental Association held the first Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. This one-day observance became a weeklong event in 1955 and in 1981, a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month was created.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Project Spotlight: Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey

The Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey, often referred to as Texas SPAN, is an ongoing project conducted by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living and funded by the Child and Adolescent Health Branch of the Maternal and Child Health Unit of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Topic(s): Measurement Nutrition Physical Activity School Health Obesity
Content Type: Blog
American Heart Month 2022

American Heart Month is observed every February to raise awareness about preventing heart disease. Each year, heart disease is the cause of 1 in 4 deaths in the United States and is the leading cause of death in the country. Learning about effective ways to maintain heart health will help lower the risk of developing severe illnesses.
Topic(s): Tobacco Obesity
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know New Michael & Susan Dell Post-Doctoral Fellow: Dr. Hunt

Current Michael & Susan Dell Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Hunt completed his PhD in exercise science at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health in summer 2021. Ethan’s research interests include childhood obesity prevention, health disparities, and obesogenic behaviors.
Topic(s): Physical Activity School Health Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Publication spotlight: “Physical Activity, Sleep, and Sedentary Behavior among Successful Long-Term Weight Loss Maintainers: Findings from a U.S. National Study”

The publication “Physical Activity, Sleep, and Sedentary Behavior among Successful Long-Term Weight Loss Maintainers: Findings from a U.S. National Study” evaluated the relationship between sleep, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors with successful long-term weight loss.
Topic(s): Physical Activity Obesity
Content Type: Blog
Research Spotlight: By age 21, about 1.56 million youth in the U.S. have reported using cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and binge drinking in the past 30 days

Earlier exposure to tobacco and alcohol use increases the odds of substance abuse among youth and young adults.
Topic(s): Tobacco E-cigarettes Age of Initiation (Tobacco)
Content Type: Blog
Publication Spotlight: Food Insecurity Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Food insecurity is by no means a recent development in the US. In fact, this issue is estimated to cost our country over 182 billion dollars a year, mostly due to health care costs.
Topic(s): Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know Center Faculty: Laura Moore

Interviewing faculty can be a great way to get to know more about them! Learning more about faculty research and interests can be helpful to students forming their own interests and career goals.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Winter Holiday Recipes Blog Post

The winter holidays are often a time to reflect on the year, provide gratitude, spend time with family, and pull out those family recipes for the yearly gatherings. Often during the holiday season we may find ourselves making the same dishes and casseroles over and over that we don’t necessarily love and make just for “tradition” sake.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know New Center Faculty: Dr. Lanza

Interviewing faculty can be a great way to get to know more about them! Learning more about faculty research and interests can be helpful to students forming their own interests and career goals. Dr. Kevin Lanza joined the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living after becoming an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental science at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin.
Topic(s): Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
Health and Wellness Gift Guide

It can be very overwhelming during the holiday season to find presents for everyone on your list. We’ve put together the below list of many different ideas for gifts that encourage health for anyone! The different categories for gifts below are physical activity and wellness, nutrition, and sustainably created gifts.
Topic(s): Nutrition Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
Healthy School Lunch Ideas

At this point in the school year, you may be struggling to find healthy, delicious, and easy meal ideas to send with your children for lunch.
Topic(s): Nutrition School Health
Content Type: Blog
Get to Know New Center Faculty: Dr. De Moraes

Interviewing faculty can be a great way to get to know more about them! Learning more about faculty research and interests can be helpful to students forming their own interests and career goals. Dr. Augusto Cesar F. De Moraes recently joined the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living after becoming an assistant professor in the department of epidemiology, human genetics and environmental science at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Austin.
Topic(s): Nutrition Physical Activity Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Fall Fruits and Vegetables

Fall is finally here! With the changing of the seasons brings a new variety of fresh and in-season fruits and vegetables.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Have a Healthy Halloween!

Happy Halloween weekend! This spooky weekend is a fun and festive time for children, families, and adults and is filled with some of our favorite things- decorations, pumpkins, costumes, and candy!
Topic(s): Nutrition Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
World Food Day

October 16 is World Food Day! World Food Day celebrates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Their goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Hispanic Heritage Month: Let's Celebrate!

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15 through October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the achievements, contributions, cultures, and histories of Hispanic Americans.
Topic(s):
Content Type: Blog
Q&A with Dr. Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

This year for the Philip R. Nader Legacy of Health Lectureship, we are very excited to introduce our keynote speaker, Dr. Rafael Pérez-Escamilla. His extensive career in the field of public health has created significant change and better understanding about maternal and child health and the link between nutrition/nutritional interventions and early childhood development.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Child Health Day 2021

Child Health Day is October 4th, 2021 and serves as a day to promote awareness for the protection and development of the health of children.
Topic(s): Nutrition Physical Activity School Health
Content Type: Blog
Hispanic Heritage Month: Interview with Gabriela Gallegos

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Diversity & Inclusion Committee recently sat down with Gabriela Gallegos, JD, MPP, to learn more about how growing up and working in a predominantly Hispanic community has shaped her career path.
Topic(s): Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Climate Change Impacts Children

Climate change is “any change in average weather that lasts for a long period of time, like warming temperatures.” Climate change can cause extreme heat, flooding, wildfires, and other natural disasters. These natural disasters could be flooding, wildfires, heat waves etc.
Topic(s): Health Policy
Content Type: Blog
Hydrating Foods

This summer it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking water is important and eating foods that are high in water content is another way to stay hydrated. Below are 9 foods that are high in water content. Incorporating these foods into your diet can be a great way to make sure you are getting enough water.
Topic(s): Nutrition
Content Type: Blog
Sun Safety

After covering heat safety and water consumption tips in our latest blog, our next summer safety topic is on sun safety. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays are an invisible type of radiation that can come from the sun.
Topic(s): Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
Heat Safety and Water Consumption tips

Our next summer safety topic is heat safety. During the summer months, especially in Texas, heat can be very intense. Remember to follow precautions to protect yourself and others.
Topic(s): Nutrition Physical Activity
Content Type: Blog
Summer Boating Safety Tips

This summer we will be reviewing summer safety topics. The first topic is boater safety. In the summer months boating is a very fun activity especially in the heat, but before you go boating this summer it is important to prepare.
Topic(s):
Content Type: Blog
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