Nalini Ranjit
Biographic Data
| ID | 5130221 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nalini Ranjit |
| GIVEN NAMES | Nalini |
| FAMILY NAME | Ranjit |
| SIGNATURE | RANJIT N |
| AFFILIATIONS | The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1771-9084 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 38 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 146 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 38 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The Differential Associations Between Passive and Interactive Screentime and Sleep Duration Among 8th and 11th Grade Adolescents
Background: Although several studies have reported associations between screentime and shortened sleep duration among adolescents, contextual relationships between different forms of screentime are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to examine how television (TV) watching (passive media use) and video/computer gaming (interactive media use) are associated with short sleep duration among 8th and 11th grade adolescents. Methods: We …
Associations between inclusive community coalition leadership and use of evidence‐based practices
Community coalitions have the potential to elicit diverse participants' perspectives on complex issues and generate shared commitment to adaptive strategies. Ideally, these approaches have been found effective elsewhere. Despite evidence that leadership plays a generally important role in coalitions, there have been limited prior findings about how leadership may support the use of evidence‐based practices. The purpose of the current study was to…
Community-involved economic evaluation and development of a cost-effectiveness calculator for two peer-driven substance use interventions
Introduction: While peer-driven substance use interventions have proliferated across the U.S., economic evaluations of these interventions have lagged behind. A key characteristic of these interventions is the centrality of the "nothing about us without us" ethos, which should extend into economic evaluation research. To that end, this study sought to take a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to conducting a cost-effectiveness…
Examining associations between physical activity context and children meeting daily physical activity guidelines
Background: Less than one-quarter of US children meet physical activity (PA) guidelines. Understanding the context in which PA occurs and how these contexts may play a role in meeting PA guidelines is an essential step toward developing effective behavioral interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between PA context (sports participation, participation in other organized physical activities, active travel to school, an…
Association of Social Vulnerability and Covid-19 Mortality Rates in Texas between 15 March 2020, and 21 July 2022
This study provides further evidence of disparities in COVID-19 mortality by social vulnerability and can inform decisions on the allocation of social resources and services as a strategy for reducing COVID-19 mortality rates and similar pandemics in the future
Associations between variety of fruits and vegetables consumed, diet quality and socio-demographic factors among 8th and 11th grade adolescents in Texas
Objective: To examine demographic and dietary correlates of consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables (FV) among Texas adolescents. Different types of FV are needed for adequate dietary intake of vitamins and phytochemicals for proper development and functioning throughout the lifespan. Design: Cross-sectional analysis from the Texas Surveillance of Physical Activity and Nutrition (Texas SPAN) data comparing consumption of a variety of fr…
Prenatal Exposure to Tobacco and Childhood Cognition and Behavior
In this exploratory analysis, we assessed whether nutrition modified the association between prenatal exposure to tobacco and childhood cognition/behavior among 366 Colorado-based mothers and their offspring (born ≥ 37 weeks with birthweights ≥ 2500 g). Interaction by folate ( 5 months, but not for shorter durations. Our findings support the need for smoking cessation campaigns throughout pregnancy and throughout the postpartum period breastfeedi…
Role of Dental Nutrition Knowledge and Socioecological Factors in Dental Caries in Low-Income Women
Dental caries is a chronic oral condition that disproportionately affects low-income women. The aim of this research was to investigate relationships between dental nutrition knowledge, socioecological factors, and prevalence of dental caries in low-income women. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved 220 women who were recruited from Central Texas. Participants completed demographics, the Dental Nutrition Knowledge Competency Scale, Un…
Food Insecurity among Low-Income Households with Children Participating in a School-Based Fruit and Vegetable Co-Op
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition intervention on food insecurity among low-income households with children. Data were collected from 371 parent−child dyads in a quasi-experimental evaluation study of a 1-year intervention (n = 6 intervention schools receiving Brighter Bites, n = 6 wait-list control schools), and longitudinal follow-up of the intervention group 2 years post-intervention in Houston, Texas. Data we…
Coordinated Health in Texas Elementary Schools’ Campus Improvement Plans
Schools signal health priorities through policies. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we compare the presence and strength of policies related to four topics-physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and bullying-described in elementary school Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs; also called school improvement plans) within Texas, across four Texas Public Health Regions (PHRs), and between 2016 and 2020. CIPs were collected using a mult…
Examining Geographic Food Access, Food Insecurity, and Urbanicity among Diverse, Low-Income Participants in Austin, Texas
The purpose of this study was to explore the association between geographic food access and food insecurity and the potential role of race/ethnicity, income, and urbanicity among a low-income, diverse sample in Central Texas. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design, secondary data analysis of an existing cohort was used to examine the association between food insecurity; geographic food access; and sociodemographic factors of race/ethnicity, inc…
Change in Depression and Its Determinants during the Covid-19 Pandemic
This study examined longitudinal data to identify changes in the occurrence of depressive symptoms, and to explore if such changes were associated with socio-demographic, movement behaviors, and health variables during the COVID-19 pandemic, among a diverse sample of central Texas residents. Participants who completed two online surveys in 2020 (in June and November) from an on-going longitudinal study were included. Depressive symptoms were meas…
Validation of the FRESH Austin food frequency questionnaire using multiple 24-h dietary recalls
Objective: The purpose of the current study was to examine the validity of an FFQ utilised in the Food Retail: Evaluating Strategies for a Healthy Austin (FRESH Austin) study, designed to evaluate changes in the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV) in diverse low-income communities in Austin, TX. Design: The FRESH Austin FFQ was validated against three 24-h dietary recalls (24hDR). All dietary assessments were administered (in-person or by t…
Efficacy of various prescribed vitamin D supplementation regimens on 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels in long-term care
Objective: The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy among various vitamin D supplementation regimens on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and determine the minimal dose rate required to achieve sufficient serum concentrations (≥75 nmol/l) among older adults in long-term care (LTC). Design: A 1-year medical history was abstracted from medical records, and a one-time blood draw to measure serum 25(OH)D concentrations was…
Interweaving Adult Fitness Classes Into Community Settings Via Stronger Austin's Community Partnership Model
The lack of environmental supports for healthy lifestyles is a potent factor in the high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases among communities experiencing economic disadvantage. Stronger Austin aimed to increase access to free physical activity (PA) and fitness programming (eg, Zumba) in underserved communities in Austin, Texas, via a partnership and interweaving into context approach in which classes are interwoven into settings with widespr…
Associations between perceived racial discrimination, racial residential segregation, and cancer screening adherence among low-income African Americans
Racism has a nuanced association with cancer screening among low-income, medically underserved African Americans. Specifically, discrimination appears to be associated with lower odds of screening, while segregation may be associated with higher odds of screening in certain situations. Future research is needed to better explicate relations between indicators of racism and cancer screening among African Americans
Mapping Food Insecurity-Related 2-1-1 Calls in a 10-County Area of Central Texas by Zip Code
A Multi-Pronged Evaluation of a Healthy Food Access Initiative in Central Texas
Food insecurity and limited healthy food access are complex public health issues and warrant multi-level evaluations. The purpose of this paper was to present the overall study design and baseline results of the multi-pronged evaluation of a healthy food access (i.e., Fresh for Less (FFL)) initiative in Central Texas. The 2018-2021 FRESH-Austin study was a natural experiment that utilized a cluster random sampling strategy to recruit three groups…
Racism and Cancer Screening among Low-Income, African American Women
Although racism is increasingly being studied as an important contributor to racial health disparities, its relation to cancer-related outcomes among African Americans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to help clarify the relation between two indicators of racism-perceived racial discrimination and racial residential segregation-and cancer screening. We conducted a multilevel, longitudinal study among a medically underserved populati…
A Simulation of the potential impact of restricting tobacco retail outlets around middle and high schools on tobacco advertisements
Students can be exposed to a great deal of tobacco advertising in TROs around their schools. The implementation of a 1000 ft ban of TROs, or at minimum a ban on tobacco advertising outside and within these outlets, is one way to prevent or reduce the use of tobacco among adolescents
Factors Associated with Use of Recreational Facilities and Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adults
Parental and peer social support is associated with healthier physical activity behaviors in adolescents
Parental and peer social support is associated with positive physical activity behaviors in adolescents. Strategies to focus on parent and peer support should be integral to intervention programs designed to increase physical activity in adolescents in middle and high schools
Parent packs, child eats
Self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents
Objective The study aimed to examine nutrition label use and dietary behaviours among ethnically diverse middle- and high-school students, in Texas, USA. Design The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey is a cross-sectional statewide study using a self-administered questionnaire to assess nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Height and weight measurements were used to determine BMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used…
Impact of school-based vegetable garden and physical activity coordinated health interventions on weight status and weight-related behaviors of ethnically diverse, low-income students
The TGEG study targets a population of students and parents at high risk of obesity and related chronic conditions, utilizing a novel and collaborative approach to program formulation and delivery, and a rigorous, randomized study design
Incomplete reporting of men’s fertility in the united states and britain
We evaluate men;s retrospective fertility histories from the British Household Panel Survey and the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Further, we analyze the PSID men’s panel-updated fertility histories for their possible superiority over retrospective collection. One third to one half of men’s nonmarital births and births within previous marriages are missed in estimates from retrospective histories. Differential survey underrepresenta…
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of neighborhood characteristics with inflammatory markers
Circadian rhythm of cortisol and neighborhood characteristics in a population-based sample
The Health of Poor Women Under Welfare Reform
Objectives. We compared the health of single mothers affected by welfare reform with the health of a nationally representative sample of women to document the prevalence of poor health as single mothers experience the effects of welfare reform. Methods. We compared risk factors and measures of health among women randomly sampled from the welfare rolls with similar data from a nationally representative sample of women. Results. Women in our welfar…
Associations between perceived racial discrimination, racial residential segregation, and cancer screening adherence among low-income African Americans
Racism has a nuanced association with cancer screening among low-income, medically underserved African Americans. Specifically, discrimination appears to be associated with lower odds of screening, while segregation may be associated with higher odds of screening in certain situations. Future research is needed to better explicate relations between indicators of racism and cancer screening among African Americans
Racism and Cancer Screening among Low-Income, African American Women
Although racism is increasingly being studied as an important contributor to racial health disparities, its relation to cancer-related outcomes among African Americans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to help clarify the relation between two indicators of racism-perceived racial discrimination and racial residential segregation-and cancer screening. We conducted a multilevel, longitudinal study among a medically underserved populati…
Incomplete reporting of men’s fertility in the united states and britain
We evaluate men;s retrospective fertility histories from the British Household Panel Survey and the U.S. Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Further, we analyze the PSID men’s panel-updated fertility histories for their possible superiority over retrospective collection. One third to one half of men’s nonmarital births and births within previous marriages are missed in estimates from retrospective histories. Differential survey underrepresenta…
The Health of Poor Women Under Welfare Reform
Objectives. We compared the health of single mothers affected by welfare reform with the health of a nationally representative sample of women to document the prevalence of poor health as single mothers experience the effects of welfare reform. Methods. We compared risk factors and measures of health among women randomly sampled from the welfare rolls with similar data from a nationally representative sample of women. Results. Women in our welfar…
Association of Salivary Cortisol Circadian Pattern With Cynical Hostility
OBJECTIVE: To determine if cynical hostility is associated with alterations in diurnal profiles of cortisol. Hostility has been linked to cardiovascular disease but the biological mechanisms mediating this association remain unknown. METHODS: Up to 18 measures of salivary cortisol taken over 3 days were obtained from each of 936 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Cynical hostility was measured using an eight-item su…
Hopelessness, Depression, and Early Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction in U.S. Adults
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the psychological traits of hopelessness and depressive symptoms are related to endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: Data are derived from a subsample of 434 respondents in the 2001 to 2003 Chicago Community Adult Health Study, a population-based survey designed to study the impact of psychological attributes, neighborhood environment, and socioeconomic circumstances on adults aged ≥18 years. Circulating biomarkers of e…
Association of Optimism and Pessimism With Inflammation and Hemostasis in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (Mesa)
Objective: To investigate the association between optimism/pessimism and concentrations of seven inflammation and hemostasis markers. Optimism and pessimism are associated with cardiovascular disease mortality and progression; however, the biological mechanism remains unclear. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a study of 6814 persons aged 45 to 84 years with no history of clinical…
Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of neighborhood characteristics with inflammatory markers
Circadian rhythm of cortisol and neighborhood characteristics in a population-based sample
Physical Activity During Recess in Low-Income Third-Grade Texas Students
Findings underscore the importance of scheduled recess time for children's physical activity
Examining How Adding a Booster to a Behavioral Nutrition Intervention Prompts Parents to Pack More Vegetables and Whole Gains in Their Preschool Children's Sack Lunches
Data from a five-week intervention to increase parents' packing of vegetables and whole grains in their preschool children's sack lunches showed that, although changes occurred, habit strength was weak. To determine the effects of adding a one-week booster three months post-intervention, children's (N = 59 intervention and 48 control) lunches were observed at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 6), pre-booster (week 20), and post-booster (…
Method of assessing parent–child grocery store purchasing interactions using a micro-camcorder
Impact of school-based vegetable garden and physical activity coordinated health interventions on weight status and weight-related behaviors of ethnically diverse, low-income students
The TGEG study targets a population of students and parents at high risk of obesity and related chronic conditions, utilizing a novel and collaborative approach to program formulation and delivery, and a rigorous, randomized study design
Association of parental social support with energy balance-related behaviors in low-income and ethnically diverse children
These results provide considerations for future interventions that aim to enhance parental support to improve children's energy balance-related behaviors
Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study of Factors Associated with the Healthfulness of Parental Responses to Child Food Purchasing Requests
Using a mixed-methods approach to measure impact of a school-based nutrition and media education intervention study on fruit and vegetable intake of Italian children
Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a school-based nutrition and media education intervention on the promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption to help prevent childhood obesity. Design The 10-week-long intervention included sessions on nutrition education and media literacy. It also included a health communication media-based campaign workshop during which the children created posters, newsletters and vi…
Self-reported use of nutrition labels to make food choices is associated with healthier dietary behaviours in adolescents
Objective The study aimed to examine nutrition label use and dietary behaviours among ethnically diverse middle- and high-school students, in Texas, USA. Design The School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) survey is a cross-sectional statewide study using a self-administered questionnaire to assess nutrition and physical activity behaviours. Height and weight measurements were used to determine BMI. Multivariable logistic regression was used…
Parent packs, child eats
Factors Associated with Use of Recreational Facilities and Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adults
Parental and peer social support is associated with healthier physical activity behaviors in adolescents
Parental and peer social support is associated with positive physical activity behaviors in adolescents. Strategies to focus on parent and peer support should be integral to intervention programs designed to increase physical activity in adolescents in middle and high schools
A Simulation of the potential impact of restricting tobacco retail outlets around middle and high schools on tobacco advertisements
Students can be exposed to a great deal of tobacco advertising in TROs around their schools. The implementation of a 1000 ft ban of TROs, or at minimum a ban on tobacco advertising outside and within these outlets, is one way to prevent or reduce the use of tobacco among adolescents
Mapping Food Insecurity-Related 2-1-1 Calls in a 10-County Area of Central Texas by Zip Code
A Multi-Pronged Evaluation of a Healthy Food Access Initiative in Central Texas
Food insecurity and limited healthy food access are complex public health issues and warrant multi-level evaluations. The purpose of this paper was to present the overall study design and baseline results of the multi-pronged evaluation of a healthy food access (i.e., Fresh for Less (FFL)) initiative in Central Texas. The 2018-2021 FRESH-Austin study was a natural experiment that utilized a cluster random sampling strategy to recruit three groups…
Racism and Cancer Screening among Low-Income, African American Women
Although racism is increasingly being studied as an important contributor to racial health disparities, its relation to cancer-related outcomes among African Americans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to help clarify the relation between two indicators of racism-perceived racial discrimination and racial residential segregation-and cancer screening. We conducted a multilevel, longitudinal study among a medically underserved populati…
Role of Dental Nutrition Knowledge and Socioecological Factors in Dental Caries in Low-Income Women
Dental caries is a chronic oral condition that disproportionately affects low-income women. The aim of this research was to investigate relationships between dental nutrition knowledge, socioecological factors, and prevalence of dental caries in low-income women. This quantitative cross-sectional study involved 220 women who were recruited from Central Texas. Participants completed demographics, the Dental Nutrition Knowledge Competency Scale, Un…
Food Insecurity among Low-Income Households with Children Participating in a School-Based Fruit and Vegetable Co-Op
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition intervention on food insecurity among low-income households with children. Data were collected from 371 parent−child dyads in a quasi-experimental evaluation study of a 1-year intervention (n = 6 intervention schools receiving Brighter Bites, n = 6 wait-list control schools), and longitudinal follow-up of the intervention group 2 years post-intervention in Houston, Texas. Data we…
Coordinated Health in Texas Elementary Schools’ Campus Improvement Plans
Schools signal health priorities through policies. Using a repeated cross-sectional study design, we compare the presence and strength of policies related to four topics-physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and bullying-described in elementary school Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs; also called school improvement plans) within Texas, across four Texas Public Health Regions (PHRs), and between 2016 and 2020. CIPs were collected using a mult…
Medicine (32 works) · Environmental health (20 works) · Gerontology (18 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (16 works) · Psychology (15 works) · Demography (14 works) · Demography (14 works) · Public health (11 works) · Ethnic group (8 works) · Geography (8 works)