Does worksite social capital enhance retention into a worksite weight-loss programme?

Objective

To determine if worksite social capital predicted retention in a worksite‐based weight‐loss programme using structural equation modelling. A secondary aim was to determine if worksite social capital was related to changes in weight at 6 months.

Methods

Overweight or obese employees from 28 worksites enrolled in a larger 12‐month worksite weight‐loss trial. Workplace social capital was assessed using an eight‐item scale specific to the workplace. Weight was measured using a HealthSpot^tm, and change in weight was computed from weigh‐ins at baseline and 6 months and reported as pounds (lbs) lost. Retention was defined as those employees who completed a weigh‐in at 6 months.

Results

Across the trial, N = 1,790; age = 46.6 ± 11; 73% women; 73% White overweight or obese employees participated. The odds of participant attrition were 1.12 times greater with each unit decrease in social capital score at baseline (p < 0.05), and while the model testing the direct effect of social capital at baseline on weight loss at 6 months demonstrated acceptable fit, social capital was not a significant predictor of weight loss (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Increased worksite social capital was predictive of retention in a worksite weight‐loss programme. To maximize return on investments for employee wellness and weight‐loss programmes, employers may benefit from understanding the facets of the ‘social’ environment such as social capital that may increase the likelihood of sustained participation.

"Socioeconomic inequalities in children's accessibility to food retailing: Examining the roles of mobility and time"

Childhood overweight and obesity rates in Canada are at concerning levels, more apparently so for individuals of lower socioeconomic status (SES). Accessibility to food establishments likely influences patterns of food consumption, a contributor to body weight. Previous work has found that households living in lower income neighbourhoods tend to have greater geographical accessibility to unhealthy food establishments and lower accessibility to healthy food stores. This study contributes to the literature on neighbourhood inequalities in accessibility to healthy foods by explicitly focusing on children, an understudied population, and by incorporating mobility and time into metrics of accessibility. Accessibility to both healthy and unhealthy food retailing is measured within children's activity spaces using Road Network and Activity Location Buffering methods. Weekday vs. weekend accessibility to food establishments is then compared. The results suggest that children attending lower SES schools had almost two times the density of fast food establishments and marginally higher supermarket densities in their activity spaces. Children attending higher SES schools also had much larger activity spaces. All children had higher supermarket densities during weekdays than on weekend days.

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The loss in performance of MoS₂ as a catalyst due to exposure to air can be reversed by electrochemical reduction of thiosulfate.

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Synthetic carbons with hierarchical mesopores are promising for developing new catalysts for intensified continuous-flow catalysis in structured reactors.

"We don't have such a thing, that you may be allergic": Newcomers' understandings of food allergies in Canada

Food allergies are emerging as important public health risks in Canada, affecting 3-4% of adults and 6-7% of children. Despite much lower prevalence rates among recent immigrants (i.e. in the country less than 10 years), evidence has shown this population to be more concerned about the risks of food allergies than the general population and have unique experiences around purchasing foods for allergen-free environments. As a substantial and growing segment of the Canadian population, it is important to understand newcomers' perceptions and knowledge of food allergies and related policies developed to protect allergic children (e.g. nut-free schools and or classrooms). This paper draws upon the results of focus groups conducted with newcomers from food allergic households (i.e. directly affected), as well as those with school-aged children who have to prepare or buy foods for allergen-controlled classrooms or schools (i.e. indirectly affected) living in Mississauga, Ontario. Results indicate unique challenges and understandings of food allergies as a new and unfamiliar risk for most newcomers, particularly as the indirectly affected participants negotiate the policy landscape. The directly affected group highlights the supportive environment in Canada resulting from the same policies and increased awareness in the general population.