Rachel Novotny
Biographic Data
| ID | 4299958 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rachel Novotny |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rachel |
| FAMILY NAME | Novotny |
| SIGNATURE | NOVOTNY R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-9503-9471 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 3 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 23 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1995 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Diet quality of Marshallese mothers of young children in Northwest Arkansas
Objective: To characterize the dietary patterns of Marshallese mothers of young children in Northwest Arkansas, informing the cultural adaptation of nutrition education curricula. Design: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted, in which Marshallese women with children under 12 months completed 3 telephone-administered 24-hour dietary recalls with a trained bilingual Marshallese interviewer. Diet quality was characterized using the Hea…
Social determinants of health literacy among parents and caregivers in the US-Affiliated Pacific
Health literacy is understudied in the US-Affiliated Pacific (USAP), where local populations have historically experienced social marginalization and disproportionate health inequities caused by the social determinants of health (SDOH). This cross-sectional study analyzed several SDOH indicators—acculturation, use of food assistance programs and demographic characteristics (race and ethnicity, household income, primary language spoken at home and…
Acculturation and Health Status in the Children’s Healthy Living Program in the Pacific Region
Acculturation/enculturation has been found to impact childhood health and obesity status. The objective of this study is to use cross-sectional data to examine the association between proxies of adult/caregiver acculturation/enculturation and child health status (Body Mass Index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and acanthosis nigricans [AN]) in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Alaska, and Hawai'i. Study participants were from the Chil…
Food Insecurity and Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Population
Food insecurity is a social determinant of health and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for hypertension. Native Hawaiians bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension and known risk factors. Despite this, the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure have yet to be investigated in this population. This study examines the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood press…
Associations between Cultural Identity, Household Membership and Diet Quality among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants in Hawaiʻi
Public health efforts to reduce diet-related health disparities experienced by indigenous peoples could be enhanced by efforts to improve complementary infant feeding practices. The latter is possible through interventions informed by cultural determinants. This cross-sectional secondary analysis explored possible determinants of the complementary feeding practices of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or Filipino infants (NHPIF) in Hawai'i, …
Breastfeeding and risk of overweight in childhood and beyond
Role of social ecological model level on young Pacific children’s sugar-sweetened beverage and water intakes
Objective: To examine children’s sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and water intakes in relation to implemented intervention activities across the social ecological model (SEM) during a multilevel community trial. Design: Children’s Healthy Living was a multilevel, multicomponent community trial that reduced young child obesity (2013–2015). Baseline and 24-month cross-sectional data were analysed from nine intervention arm communities. Implemented i…
Implementation strategies and barriers to Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders community interventions
Challenges and Lessons Learned from Multi-Level Multi-Component Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity
Multi-level multi-component (MLMC) strategies have been recommended to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, but results of such trials have been mixed. The present work discusses lessons learned from three recently completed MLMC interventions to inform future research and policy addressing childhood obesity. B'more Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK), Children's Healthy Living (CHL), and Health and Local Community (SoL) trials had distinct cult…
Dual burden of malnutrition in US Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions in the Children’s Healthy Living Program
National Institutes for Health clinical trial # NCT01881373 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Anthropometric measurement standardization in the US‐affiliated pacific
OBJECTIVES: Anthropometric standardization is essential to obtain reliable and comparable data from different geographical regions. The purpose of this study is to describe anthropometric standardization procedures and findings from the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program, a study on childhood obesity in 11 jurisdictions in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region, including Alaska and Hawai'i. METHODS: Zerfas criteria were used to compare the measur…
Multi-Level, Multi-Component Approaches to Community Based Interventions for Healthy Living—A Three Case Comparison
There is increasing interest in integrated and coordinated programs that intervene in multiple community settings/institutions at the same time and involve policy and system changes. The purpose of the paper is to analyse three comparable cases of Multi Level, Multi Component intervention programs (ML-MC) from across the world in order to give recommendations for research, policy and practice in this field. Through the comparison of three cases: …
Monitoring and accountability for the Pacific response to the non-communicable diseases crisis
The framework for the Pacific Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA) draws together core country-level components of NCD monitoring data (mortality, morbidity, risk factors, health system responses, environments, and policies) and identifies key cross-cutting issues for strengthening national and regional monitoring systems. These include: capacity building; a regional knowledge exchange hub; innovations (monitoring childhood obesity and food …
Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States–Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States
We estimated overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence of children in US-Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions (USAP) of the Children’s Healthy Living Program compared with the contiguous United States. We searched peer-reviewed literature and government reports (January 2001–April 2014) for OWOB prevalence of children aged 2 to 8 years in the USAP and found 24 sources. We used 3 articles from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys for compa…
Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the Pacific region
NIH clinical trial # NCT01881373
A Community Engagement Process Identifies Environmental Priorities to Prevent Early Childhood Obesity
Underserved minority populations in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Hawaii, and Alaska display disproportionate rates of childhood obesity. The region's unique circumstance should be taken into account when designing obesity prevention interventions. The purpose of this paper is to (a), describe the community engagement process (CEP) used by the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the …
Tanning predicts bone mass but not structure in adolescent females living in Hawaii
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between facultative skin pigmentation, which predicts circulating levels of plasma 25-hydroxymitamin D, and several measures of bone mass and structure in a cross sectional sample of adolescent females living in Hawaii. METHODS: Our sample was composed of adolescent females (n = 94) living in Hawaii where seasonal sun exposure is minimal, and who self-identified as either white (n = 16) or Asian (n = 78). …
Puberty, body fat, and breast density in girls of several ethnic groups
OBJECTIVES: We examined breast density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in relation to pubertal maturation and body fatness among girls of several ethnic groups, which may suggest important risk factors for future breast cancer. METHODS: Recruiting 113 girls from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, we determined ethnicity, age at menarche, weight, height; body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-scores, Tanner breast, and pubic hair pubertal stages (and class…
Anaemia, its correlation with overweight and growth patterns in children aged 5–10 years living in American Samoa
Objectives To determine the prevalence of anaemia, identify the predictors of anaemia, compare the prevalence of anaemia among children living in American Samoa to those found in children living in the USA, and compare the growth patterns obtained from this study to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data and data obtained earlier in American Samoan children. Design Cross-sectional. Setting American Samoa, a Pacific Island. Subjects…
Early Weaning Among Japanese Women in Hawaii
This study examined factors associated with early weaning among Japanese women in comparison with Caucasian women in Hawaii. A mailed survey was sent to all women who delivered an infant in Hawaii between January 1st 1989 and March 31st 1989. Only Japanese ( N =228) and Caucasian women ( N =439) were included in this study. All Japanese breast-feeding women in the study introduced formula at some point in time. Cox multivariate regression analysi…
Maternal pelvic size, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, predicts infant birthweight
Indicators of infant birthweight are important because infant birthweight is related to later health outcomes. This study developed and validated new measures of the pelvis from dual energy absorptiometry (DEXA). Predictors of the new measures of maternal pelvic size were examined and the pelvic size measures were examined as predictors of infant birthweight. Data were drawn from a sample of 326 women in Hawaii and their 608 infants. The women we…
Adiposity and blood pressure in a multiethnic population of women in Hawaii
Higher body fat measures, especially BMI, were associated with higher systolic blood pressure. However, higher subscapular skinfold (upper body) thickness was also associated with higher diastolic blood pressure. Subscapular fatness appears to be especially important among women of Asian ethnicity, Filipino women in particular
Nativity and infant feeding patterns among Filipino women in Hawaii
Infant feeding patterns of Filipinas living in Hawaii were studied based on maternal birth in the Philippines versus the United States. Data were obtained from a retrospective mailed survey of Hawaii resident women who gave birth in Hawaii January 1 to March 31, 1989, with a 51% response rate (N = 2,013). Of the 234 women who identified themselves as Filipina, 169 (72%) were born in the Philippines and 65 (24%) in the United States. Seventy perce…
Adiposity and blood pressure in a multiethnic population of women in Hawaii
Higher body fat measures, especially BMI, were associated with higher systolic blood pressure. However, higher subscapular skinfold (upper body) thickness was also associated with higher diastolic blood pressure. Subscapular fatness appears to be especially important among women of Asian ethnicity, Filipino women in particular
Nativity and infant feeding patterns among Filipino women in Hawaii
Infant feeding patterns of Filipinas living in Hawaii were studied based on maternal birth in the Philippines versus the United States. Data were obtained from a retrospective mailed survey of Hawaii resident women who gave birth in Hawaii January 1 to March 31, 1989, with a 51% response rate (N = 2,013). Of the 234 women who identified themselves as Filipina, 169 (72%) were born in the Philippines and 65 (24%) in the United States. Seventy perce…
Adiposity and blood pressure in a multiethnic population of women in Hawaii
Higher body fat measures, especially BMI, were associated with higher systolic blood pressure. However, higher subscapular skinfold (upper body) thickness was also associated with higher diastolic blood pressure. Subscapular fatness appears to be especially important among women of Asian ethnicity, Filipino women in particular
Maternal pelvic size, measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, predicts infant birthweight
Indicators of infant birthweight are important because infant birthweight is related to later health outcomes. This study developed and validated new measures of the pelvis from dual energy absorptiometry (DEXA). Predictors of the new measures of maternal pelvic size were examined and the pelvic size measures were examined as predictors of infant birthweight. Data were drawn from a sample of 326 women in Hawaii and their 608 infants. The women we…
Early Weaning Among Japanese Women in Hawaii
This study examined factors associated with early weaning among Japanese women in comparison with Caucasian women in Hawaii. A mailed survey was sent to all women who delivered an infant in Hawaii between January 1st 1989 and March 31st 1989. Only Japanese ( N =228) and Caucasian women ( N =439) were included in this study. All Japanese breast-feeding women in the study introduced formula at some point in time. Cox multivariate regression analysi…
Anaemia, its correlation with overweight and growth patterns in children aged 5–10 years living in American Samoa
Objectives To determine the prevalence of anaemia, identify the predictors of anaemia, compare the prevalence of anaemia among children living in American Samoa to those found in children living in the USA, and compare the growth patterns obtained from this study to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data and data obtained earlier in American Samoan children. Design Cross-sectional. Setting American Samoa, a Pacific Island. Subjects…
Tanning predicts bone mass but not structure in adolescent females living in Hawaii
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between facultative skin pigmentation, which predicts circulating levels of plasma 25-hydroxymitamin D, and several measures of bone mass and structure in a cross sectional sample of adolescent females living in Hawaii. METHODS: Our sample was composed of adolescent females (n = 94) living in Hawaii where seasonal sun exposure is minimal, and who self-identified as either white (n = 16) or Asian (n = 78). …
Puberty, body fat, and breast density in girls of several ethnic groups
OBJECTIVES: We examined breast density by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in relation to pubertal maturation and body fatness among girls of several ethnic groups, which may suggest important risk factors for future breast cancer. METHODS: Recruiting 113 girls from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, we determined ethnicity, age at menarche, weight, height; body mass index (BMI), BMI Z-scores, Tanner breast, and pubic hair pubertal stages (and class…
Children’s Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the Pacific region
NIH clinical trial # NCT01881373
A Community Engagement Process Identifies Environmental Priorities to Prevent Early Childhood Obesity
Underserved minority populations in the US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Hawaii, and Alaska display disproportionate rates of childhood obesity. The region's unique circumstance should be taken into account when designing obesity prevention interventions. The purpose of this paper is to (a), describe the community engagement process (CEP) used by the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program for remote underserved minority populations in the …
Systematic Review of Prevalence of Young Child Overweight and Obesity in the United States–Affiliated Pacific Region Compared With the 48 Contiguous States
We estimated overweight and obesity (OWOB) prevalence of children in US-Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions (USAP) of the Children’s Healthy Living Program compared with the contiguous United States. We searched peer-reviewed literature and government reports (January 2001–April 2014) for OWOB prevalence of children aged 2 to 8 years in the USAP and found 24 sources. We used 3 articles from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys for compa…
Anthropometric measurement standardization in the US‐affiliated pacific
OBJECTIVES: Anthropometric standardization is essential to obtain reliable and comparable data from different geographical regions. The purpose of this study is to describe anthropometric standardization procedures and findings from the Children's Healthy Living (CHL) Program, a study on childhood obesity in 11 jurisdictions in the US-Affiliated Pacific Region, including Alaska and Hawai'i. METHODS: Zerfas criteria were used to compare the measur…
Multi-Level, Multi-Component Approaches to Community Based Interventions for Healthy Living—A Three Case Comparison
There is increasing interest in integrated and coordinated programs that intervene in multiple community settings/institutions at the same time and involve policy and system changes. The purpose of the paper is to analyse three comparable cases of Multi Level, Multi Component intervention programs (ML-MC) from across the world in order to give recommendations for research, policy and practice in this field. Through the comparison of three cases: …
Monitoring and accountability for the Pacific response to the non-communicable diseases crisis
The framework for the Pacific Monitoring Alliance for NCD Action (MANA) draws together core country-level components of NCD monitoring data (mortality, morbidity, risk factors, health system responses, environments, and policies) and identifies key cross-cutting issues for strengthening national and regional monitoring systems. These include: capacity building; a regional knowledge exchange hub; innovations (monitoring childhood obesity and food …
Dual burden of malnutrition in US Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions in the Children’s Healthy Living Program
National Institutes for Health clinical trial # NCT01881373 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Challenges and Lessons Learned from Multi-Level Multi-Component Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity
Multi-level multi-component (MLMC) strategies have been recommended to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, but results of such trials have been mixed. The present work discusses lessons learned from three recently completed MLMC interventions to inform future research and policy addressing childhood obesity. B'more Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK), Children's Healthy Living (CHL), and Health and Local Community (SoL) trials had distinct cult…
Implementation strategies and barriers to Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders community interventions
Role of social ecological model level on young Pacific children’s sugar-sweetened beverage and water intakes
Objective: To examine children’s sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and water intakes in relation to implemented intervention activities across the social ecological model (SEM) during a multilevel community trial. Design: Children’s Healthy Living was a multilevel, multicomponent community trial that reduced young child obesity (2013–2015). Baseline and 24-month cross-sectional data were analysed from nine intervention arm communities. Implemented i…
Breastfeeding and risk of overweight in childhood and beyond
Associations between Cultural Identity, Household Membership and Diet Quality among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Filipino Infants in Hawaiʻi
Public health efforts to reduce diet-related health disparities experienced by indigenous peoples could be enhanced by efforts to improve complementary infant feeding practices. The latter is possible through interventions informed by cultural determinants. This cross-sectional secondary analysis explored possible determinants of the complementary feeding practices of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or Filipino infants (NHPIF) in Hawai'i, …
Food Insecurity and Blood Pressure in a Multiethnic Population
Food insecurity is a social determinant of health and is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for hypertension. Native Hawaiians bear a disproportionate burden of hypertension and known risk factors. Despite this, the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood pressure have yet to be investigated in this population. This study examines the relative effects of food insecurity and financial instability on blood press…
Social determinants of health literacy among parents and caregivers in the US-Affiliated Pacific
Health literacy is understudied in the US-Affiliated Pacific (USAP), where local populations have historically experienced social marginalization and disproportionate health inequities caused by the social determinants of health (SDOH). This cross-sectional study analyzed several SDOH indicators—acculturation, use of food assistance programs and demographic characteristics (race and ethnicity, household income, primary language spoken at home and…
Acculturation and Health Status in the Children’s Healthy Living Program in the Pacific Region
Acculturation/enculturation has been found to impact childhood health and obesity status. The objective of this study is to use cross-sectional data to examine the association between proxies of adult/caregiver acculturation/enculturation and child health status (Body Mass Index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and acanthosis nigricans [AN]) in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Alaska, and Hawai'i. Study participants were from the Chil…
Diet quality of Marshallese mothers of young children in Northwest Arkansas
Objective: To characterize the dietary patterns of Marshallese mothers of young children in Northwest Arkansas, informing the cultural adaptation of nutrition education curricula. Design: An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted, in which Marshallese women with children under 12 months completed 3 telephone-administered 24-hour dietary recalls with a trained bilingual Marshallese interviewer. Diet quality was characterized using the Hea…
Medicine (22 works) · Environmental health (14 works) · Demography (12 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (10 works) · Child Nutrition and Water Access (8 works) · Overweight (8 works) · Population (8 works) · Demography (7 works) · Psychology (7 works)