Looking for an interesting undergraduate research opportunity for Fall? If you are a Spanish speaker, a junior with a good GPA (3.0 or more), you may qualify to assist with data collection and analysis for a project involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)!
Contact: Namrata Sanjeevi
PhD student in Nutritional Sciences
Research for Fall Semester
Specifications:
- GPA: 3.0 and above
- Ability to speak, read and write Spanish fluently
- Junior Year
- Expectation from students: Assist with data collection and data analysis
Description of project
Obesity has reached epidemic proportions throughout the world, with the United States (U.S.) reporting the highest rates of obesity among developed nation. Food insecurity is a public health problem that concurs with obesity. Low-income populations are disproportionately burdened by the dual problem of food insecurity and obesity. The Food Stamp Program, now known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was launched to boost the agricultural economy, and reduce food insecurity in the U.S. In 2012, nearly $74.6 billion were distributed in the form of SNAP benefits to 46.6 million Americans. Allotment of SNAP benefits is based on the Thrifty Food Plan, and the average monthly benefit per person was $133.41 in 2012. Given the vast outreach of the SNAP, its effective use may serve as a centerpiece to help improve nutrition among low-income Americans. An understanding of the dietary behaviors of SNAP participants is required to guide the development of effective policy measures. In order to gain an accurate knowledge of dietary behaviors of SNAP participants, this study will investigate food and nutrient intake of this population over the entire month. Individuals participating in SNAP may face barriers that reduce a healthy eating lifestyle. It is hypothesized that individual, environmental, sectors of influence and social and cultural factors will influence food intake patterns in this population. This hypothesis is based on the social ecological model, which posits that health behavior is determined by an interwoven relationship between the individuals and their environment. No study, till date, has evaluated the effect of social-ecological factors on dietary behaviors of SNAP participants. The primary goal of this project is to enhance the understanding of the role of social-ecological factors on monthly food intake patterns, thereby emphasizing the need to address dietary behaviors of SNAP participants at both an individual and societal level.
If you would like to work as a research assistant for this project, you can contact Namrata Sanjeevi at namratas@utexas.edu