Simone A French
Biographic Data
| ID | 78134 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Simone A French |
| GIVEN NAMES | Simone A |
| FAMILY NAME | French |
| SIGNATURE | FRENCH S A |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Minnesota |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3413-5985 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 47 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 293 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 47 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1993 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 11 |
The relative contributions of adiposity and activity levels to physical performance in children with excess weight
OBJECTIVE: This study examined predictors of physical performance, a key aspect of quality of life, in children with excess weight. METHODS: Participants were 269 children aged 6-12 years with a body mass index above the 85th percentile. Children completed a standardized physical performance task capturing lower extremity strength, balance, and gait speed. Height, weight, and waist circumference were objectively measured, and daily moderate-vigor…
Designing online grocery stores to support healthy eating for weight loss
Objectives: The current study aimed to identify features to include in online grocery stores to support healthful food purchasing by those striving to lose weight. Design: A Value Proposition Design approach was used to gain shopper insights, devise potential online grocery store features and obtain feedback on these features. Setting: Telephone interviews were conducted to gain insight into shoppers’ needs and perceptions. Results were used by t…
Household food insecurity and obesity risk in preschool-aged children: A three-year prospective study
Trends in cyclical food expenditures among low-income households receiving monthly nutrition assistance: Results from a prospective study
Objective: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are rapidly depleted after distribution. This phenomenon, known as the benefit cycle, is associated with poor nutrition and health outcomes. However, to date, no study has evaluated trends in food expenditures before and after households receive benefits using prospective data, and whether these trends vary by household characteristics. Design: Generalised estimating equations w…
Associations between shopper impulsivity and cyclical food purchasing: Results from a prospective trial of low-income households receiving monthly benefits
Are low income children more physically active when they live in homes with bigger yards? A longitudinal analysis of the NET-Works Study
Nutrition quality of food purchases varies by household income: The SHoPPER study
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02073643
Importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Rural America
There is great interest in reshaping the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) so that it better supports family nutrition, and an array of program changes have been proposed. We note the importance of considering the unique needs of rural SNAP participants when considering and implementing these changes. We also describe the SNAP-related needs and challenges unique to rural SNAP participants, and through this lens we discuss changes t…
The effect of proportional v. value pricing on fountain drink purchases: Results from a field experiment
Proportional prices did not significantly affect the size of beverages purchased by students at a university cinema, but adding a price-per-ounce label increased large drink purchases when drinks were value-priced. More work is needed to address whether pricing and labelling strategies might promote healthier beverage purchases
Preliminary evaluation of the Healthy Savings Program: A novel health insurance-based wellness programme to encourage healthy food purchases
Objective To examine level of participation and satisfaction with the Healthy Savings Program (HSP), a programme that provides price discounts on healthier foods. Design For Study 1, a survey was distributed to a random sample of adults who were invited to participate in a version of the HSP that provided a discount for the purchase of fresh produce and discounts on other healthier foods. In Study 2, interviews were conducted with a convenience s…
Leveraging delay discounting for health: Can time delays influence food choice
Multicomponent Obesity Prevention Intervention in Low-Income Preschoolers: Primary and Subgroup Analyses of the NET-Works Randomized Clinical Trial, 2012–2017
Objectives. To evaluate a multicomponent obesity prevention intervention among diverse, low-income preschoolers. Methods. Parent–child dyads (n = 534) were randomized to the Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids (NET-Works) intervention or usual care in Minneapolis, MN (2012–2017). The intervention consisted of home visits, parenting classes, and telephone check-ins. The primary outcomes were adjusted 24- and 36-month body mass in…
Young adults’ responses to alternative messages describing a sugar-sweetened beverage price increase
Objective Many jurisdictions in the USA and globally are considering raising the prices of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) through taxes as a strategy to reduce their consumption. The objective of the present study was to identify whether the rationale provided for an SSB price increase affects young adults’ behavioural intentions and attitudes towards SSB. Design Participants were randomly assigned to receive one of eight SSB price increase rati…
Beyond the dinner table: Who’s having breakfast, lunch and dinner family meals and which meals are associated with better diet quality and BMI in pre-school children
Objective Having frequent family dinners is associated with better diet quality in children; however, it is unknown whether the frequency of certain family meal types (i.e. dinner) is more strongly associated with better child weight and diet quality compared with other meal types (i.e. breakfast, lunch). Thus, the current study examined the frequency of eating breakfast, lunch or dinner family meals and associations with pre-school children’s ov…
Park-Use Behavior and Perceptions by Race, Hispanic Origin, and Immigrant Status in Minneapolis, MN: Implications on Park Strategies for Addressing Health Disparities
Fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight: Cross-sectional and prospective associations in a community sample of working adults
Objective To examine the association between fast-food consumption, diet quality and body weight in a community sample of working adults. Design Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of anthropometric, survey and dietary data from adults recruited to participate in a worksite nutrition intervention. Participants self-reported frequency of fast-food consumption per week. Nutrient intakes and diet quality, using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HE…
Managing temptation in obesity treatment: A neurobehavioral model of intervention strategies
Habitual high-fat consumers are not more susceptible to weight gain when exposed to increased portion sizes in a free-living setting. NIH worksite study
Fourteen-year trends in sodium content of menu offerings at eight leading fast-food restaurants in the USA
Objective To examine changes in the Na content of lunch/dinner menu offerings at eight of the leading fast-food restaurants in the USA between 1997/1998 and 2009/2010. Design Menu offerings and nutrient composition information for the menu items were obtained from archival versions of the University of Minnesota Nutrition Coordinating Center (NCC) Food and Nutrient Database. Nutrient composition information for lunch/dinner menu items sold by the…
Questionnaire and laboratory measures of eating behavior. Associations with energy intake and BMI in a community sample of working adults
Still Not There: The Continued Invisibility of Female Athletes and Sports in the New Zealand Print Media
This research examined parity for female athletes compared with male athletes in the level of coverage received in the New Zealand print media in a year that did not contain either the Commonwealth or Olympic Games. Using content analysis, 562 sport news articles from the New Zealand Herald and the Dominion Post were analysed. The findings revealed that female athletes received 6.1 per cent of coverage compared with male athletes, who received 73…
Availability of snacks, candy and beverages in hospital, community clinic and commercial pharmacies
Objective The purpose of the present study was to measure the availability of energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in pharmacies and to examine differences by pharmacy type and presence of a food policy. Design Trained research staff visited pharmacies ( n 37) to measure shelf space and variety of snacks, candy and sugar-sweetened beverages available within 10 ft (3·05 m) of the pharmacy register. Setting Community clinic, hospital an…
Eating behavior dimensions. Associations with energy intake and body weight. A review
Fast food for family meals: Relationships with parent and adolescent food intake, home food availability and weight status
Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of fast-food purchases for family meals and the associations with sociodemographic variables, dietary intake, home food environment, and weight status in adolescents and their parents. Design This study is a cross-sectional evaluation of parent interviews and adolescent surveys from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Subjects Subjects included 902 middle-school and high-schoo…
What young Dutch adults say they do to keep from gaining weight: Self-reported prevalence of overeating, compensatory behaviours and specific weight control behaviours
Objective The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of and differences in self-reported occasions of overeating (such as at celebrations and other parties), compensatory behaviours and specific weight gain prevention strategies among young Dutch adults according to sociodemographics and overweight status. Design and subjects Cross-sectional data were analysed from Dutch adults aged 20–40 years, recruited from an Internet research panel …
The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: Results of a population-based study
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and suicide risk in a population-based sample of adolescents. METHODS: Participants were selected from a cross-sectional, statewide survey of junior and senior public high school students. All males (n = 212) and females (n = 182) who described themselves as bisexual/homosexual were compared with 336 gender-matched heterosexual respondents on three outcome measures: suici…
Epidemic obesity in the United States: Are fast foods and television viewing contributing
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between TV viewing, fast food eating, and body mass index. METHODS: Associations between hours of TV viewing, frequency of eating at fast food restaurants, body mass index, and behaviors were assessed cross sectionally and longitudinally over 1 year in 1059 men and women. RESULTS: Fast food meals and TV viewing hours were positively associated with energy intake and body mass index in women but not …
Socioeconomic status and weight control practices among 20- to 45-year-old women
OBJECTIVES. This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and weight control practices in women. METHODS. SES, defined by family income, was examined in an economically diverse sample of 998 women in relation to dieting practices by means of multivariate regression analyses controlling for age, ethnicity, smoking, and body mass index. RESULTS. SES was positively associated with healthy, but not unhealthy, weight control …
Weight concerns, dieting behavior, and smoking initiation among adolescents: A prospective study
Students (n = 1705) in grades 7 through 10 were surveyed at baseline and 1 year later about their weight concerns, dieting behaviors, and smoking behavior. Three of six weight concerns and dieting behaviors assessed at baseline were prospectively related to smoking initiation in girls (trying to lose weight, eating disorder symptoms, constant thoughts about weight). Four of six weight concerns and dieting behaviors were cross-sectionally related …
Questionnaire and laboratory measures of eating behavior. Associations with energy intake and BMI in a community sample of working adults
Frequent dieting among adolescents: Psychosocial and health behavior correlates
OBJECTIVES. The present study examined correlates of frequent dieting in 33,393 adolescents. It was hypothesized that frequent dieting would be correlated with negative psychosocial and health behavior outcomes. METHODS. A comprehensive, school-based health behavior survey was administered in 1987 to public school students in grades 7 through 12 in Minnesota. Students self-reported dieting behavior; substance use; suicidal, sexual, and delinquent…
Managing temptation in obesity treatment: A neurobehavioral model of intervention strategies
A pricing strategy to promote low-fat snack choices through vending machines
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the role of price on purchases of low-fat snacks from vending machines. METHODS: Sales of low-fat and regular snacks were monitored in nine vending machines during a 4-week baseline, a 3-week intervention in which prices of low-fat snacks were reduced 50%, and 3 weeks postintervention. RESULTS: The proportion of low-fat snacks purchased was 25.7%, 45.8%, and 22.8% in the three periods, respectively. Total snack pur…
Food Environment in Secondary Schools: À La Carte, Vending Machines, and Food Policies and Practices
Objectives. This study described the food environment in 20 Minnesota secondary schools. Methods. Data were collected on school food policies and the availability and nutritional content of foods in school à la carte (ALC) areas and vending machines (VMs). Results. Approximately 36% and 35% of foods in ALC areas and in VMs, respectively, met the lower-fat criterion (≤ 5.5 fat grams/serving). The chips/crackers category constituted the largest sha…
Preventing weight gain in adults: The pound of prevention study
OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether weight gain with age could be prevented through the use of a low-intensity intervention. METHODS: Participants, 228 men and 998 women recruited from diverse sources, were randomized to one of the following groups: (1) no-contact control, (2) education through monthly newsletters, or (3) education plus incentives for participation. All participants were weighed and completed questionnaires about behaviors an…
The Healthy Worker Project: A work-site intervention for weight control and smoking cessation
OBJECTIVES. A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a work-site health promotion program in reducing obesity and the prevalence of cigarette smoking. METHODS. Thirty-two work sites were randomized to treatment or no treatment for 2 years. Treatment consisted of health education classes combined with a payroll-based incentive system. Evaluation was based on cohort and cross-sectional surveys. RESULTS. Of 10,000 total empl…
Patterns of health-compromising behaviors among Minnesota adolescents: Sociodemographic variations
OBJECTIVES: This study compared prevalence rates of health-compromising behaviors among boys and girls from different ethnic backgrounds in early, middle, and late adolescence and compared co-occurrences of such behaviors across gender and ethnic groups. METHODS: The study population included 123 132 adolescents in grades 6, 9, and 12. Adolescents completed a classroom-administered statewide survey focusing on high-risk behaviors, including unhea…
An Environmental Intervention to Promote Lower-Fat Food Choices in Secondary Schools: Outcomes of the Tacos Study
Objectives. We evaluated an environmental intervention intended to increase sales of lower-fat foods in secondary school cafeterias. Methods. Twenty secondary schools were randomly assigned to either an environmental intervention or a control group for a 2-year period. The intervention increased the availability of lower-fat foods and implemented student-based promotions. Results. A steeper rate of increase in sales of lower-fat foods in year 1 (…
Household food insecurity and obesity risk in preschool-aged children: A three-year prospective study
Still Not There: The Continued Invisibility of Female Athletes and Sports in the New Zealand Print Media
This research examined parity for female athletes compared with male athletes in the level of coverage received in the New Zealand print media in a year that did not contain either the Commonwealth or Olympic Games. Using content analysis, 562 sport news articles from the New Zealand Herald and the Dominion Post were analysed. The findings revealed that female athletes received 6.1 per cent of coverage compared with male athletes, who received 73…
Leveraging delay discounting for health: Can time delays influence food choice
Multicomponent Obesity Prevention Intervention in Low-Income Preschoolers: Primary and Subgroup Analyses of the NET-Works Randomized Clinical Trial, 2012–2017
Objectives. To evaluate a multicomponent obesity prevention intervention among diverse, low-income preschoolers. Methods. Parent–child dyads (n = 534) were randomized to the Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthful Kids (NET-Works) intervention or usual care in Minneapolis, MN (2012–2017). The intervention consisted of home visits, parenting classes, and telephone check-ins. The primary outcomes were adjusted 24- and 36-month body mass in…
Weight concerns and change in smoking behavior over two years in a working population
The hypothesis that weight concerns are related to less successful smoking cessation and greater relapse among ex-smokers was prospectively evaluated. A population-based sample of 4981 working women and men 17 to 71 years of age was surveyed at 32 work sites. Current and previous weight loss efforts and smoking behavior were self-reported at baseline and 2 years later. Dieting and weight concerns were unrelated to smoking cessation or relapse. Ho…
The Healthy Worker Project: A work-site intervention for weight control and smoking cessation
OBJECTIVES. A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a work-site health promotion program in reducing obesity and the prevalence of cigarette smoking. METHODS. Thirty-two work sites were randomized to treatment or no treatment for 2 years. Treatment consisted of health education classes combined with a payroll-based incentive system. Evaluation was based on cohort and cross-sectional surveys. RESULTS. Of 10,000 total empl…
Weight concerns, dieting behavior, and smoking initiation among adolescents: A prospective study
Students (n = 1705) in grades 7 through 10 were surveyed at baseline and 1 year later about their weight concerns, dieting behaviors, and smoking behavior. Three of six weight concerns and dieting behaviors assessed at baseline were prospectively related to smoking initiation in girls (trying to lose weight, eating disorder symptoms, constant thoughts about weight). Four of six weight concerns and dieting behaviors were cross-sectionally related …
Weight concerns and change in smoking behavior over two years in a working population
The hypothesis that weight concerns are related to less successful smoking cessation and greater relapse among ex-smokers was prospectively evaluated. A population-based sample of 4981 working women and men 17 to 71 years of age was surveyed at 32 work sites. Current and previous weight loss efforts and smoking behavior were self-reported at baseline and 2 years later. Dieting and weight concerns were unrelated to smoking cessation or relapse. Ho…
Frequent dieting among adolescents: Psychosocial and health behavior correlates
OBJECTIVES. The present study examined correlates of frequent dieting in 33,393 adolescents. It was hypothesized that frequent dieting would be correlated with negative psychosocial and health behavior outcomes. METHODS. A comprehensive, school-based health behavior survey was administered in 1987 to public school students in grades 7 through 12 in Minnesota. Students self-reported dieting behavior; substance use; suicidal, sexual, and delinquent…
Socioeconomic status and weight control practices among 20- to 45-year-old women
OBJECTIVES. This study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and weight control practices in women. METHODS. SES, defined by family income, was examined in an economically diverse sample of 998 women in relation to dieting practices by means of multivariate regression analyses controlling for age, ethnicity, smoking, and body mass index. RESULTS. SES was positively associated with healthy, but not unhealthy, weight control …
Patterns of health-compromising behaviors among Minnesota adolescents: Sociodemographic variations
OBJECTIVES: This study compared prevalence rates of health-compromising behaviors among boys and girls from different ethnic backgrounds in early, middle, and late adolescence and compared co-occurrences of such behaviors across gender and ethnic groups. METHODS: The study population included 123 132 adolescents in grades 6, 9, and 12. Adolescents completed a classroom-administered statewide survey focusing on high-risk behaviors, including unhea…
A pricing strategy to promote low-fat snack choices through vending machines
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the role of price on purchases of low-fat snacks from vending machines. METHODS: Sales of low-fat and regular snacks were monitored in nine vending machines during a 4-week baseline, a 3-week intervention in which prices of low-fat snacks were reduced 50%, and 3 weeks postintervention. RESULTS: The proportion of low-fat snacks purchased was 25.7%, 45.8%, and 22.8% in the three periods, respectively. Total snack pur…
The relationship between suicide risk and sexual orientation: Results of a population-based study
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation and suicide risk in a population-based sample of adolescents. METHODS: Participants were selected from a cross-sectional, statewide survey of junior and senior public high school students. All males (n = 212) and females (n = 182) who described themselves as bisexual/homosexual were compared with 336 gender-matched heterosexual respondents on three outcome measures: suici…
Epidemic obesity in the United States: Are fast foods and television viewing contributing
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the association between TV viewing, fast food eating, and body mass index. METHODS: Associations between hours of TV viewing, frequency of eating at fast food restaurants, body mass index, and behaviors were assessed cross sectionally and longitudinally over 1 year in 1059 men and women. RESULTS: Fast food meals and TV viewing hours were positively associated with energy intake and body mass index in women but not …
Preventing weight gain in adults: The pound of prevention study
OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether weight gain with age could be prevented through the use of a low-intensity intervention. METHODS: Participants, 228 men and 998 women recruited from diverse sources, were randomized to one of the following groups: (1) no-contact control, (2) education through monthly newsletters, or (3) education plus incentives for participation. All participants were weighed and completed questionnaires about behaviors an…
Fast food restaurant use among women in the Pound of Prevention study: Dietary, behavioral and demographic correlates
Environmental Influences on Eating and Physical Activity
Obesity has increased dramatically over the past two decades and currently about 50% of US adults and 25% of US children are overweight. The current epidemic of obesity is caused largely by an environment that promotes excessive food intake and discourages physical activity. This chapter reviews what is known about environmental influences on physical activity and eating behaviors. Recent trends in food supply, eating out, physical activity, and …
Fast food restaurant use among adolescents: Associations with nutrient intake, food choices and behavioral and psychosocial variables
Individual and Environmental Influences on Adolescent Eating Behaviors
Ethnic/racial differences in weight-related concerns and behaviors among adolescent girls and boys
Pricing Effects on Food Choices
Food Environment in Secondary Schools: À La Carte, Vending Machines, and Food Policies and Practices
Objectives. This study described the food environment in 20 Minnesota secondary schools. Methods. Data were collected on school food policies and the availability and nutritional content of foods in school à la carte (ALC) areas and vending machines (VMs). Results. Approximately 36% and 35% of foods in ALC areas and in VMs, respectively, met the lower-fat criterion (≤ 5.5 fat grams/serving). The chips/crackers category constituted the largest sha…
Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US
In recent years, the food and beverage industry in the US has viewed children and adolescents as a major market force. As a result, children and adolescents are now the target of intense and specialized food marketing and advertising efforts. Food marketers are interested in youth as consumers because of their spending power, their purchasing influence, and as future adult consumers. Multiple techniques and channels are used to reach youth, begin…
Promotions to increase lower-fat food choices among students in secondary schools: Description and outcomes of Tacos (Trying Alternative Cafeteria Options in Schools)
Objectives: (1) To describe promotional activities, particularly student-led, targeting lower-fat à la carte foods that were conducted in secondary schools; and (2) to describe the relationships between the number and duration of total promotional activities for lower-fat à la carte foods and cafeteria sales of such foods over two years. Design: Promotional activities were implemented in schools that were randomised to the intervention condition …
An Environmental Intervention to Promote Lower-Fat Food Choices in Secondary Schools: Outcomes of the Tacos Study
Objectives. We evaluated an environmental intervention intended to increase sales of lower-fat foods in secondary school cafeterias. Methods. Twenty secondary schools were randomly assigned to either an environmental intervention or a control group for a 2-year period. The intervention increased the availability of lower-fat foods and implemented student-based promotions. Results. A steeper rate of increase in sales of lower-fat foods in year 1 (…
The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention
Mary Story, Karen Kaphingst, and Simone French argue that U.S. schools offer many opportunities for developing obesity-prevention strategies by providing more nutritious food, offering greater opportunities for physical activity, and providing obesity-related health services. Meals at school are available both through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's school breakfast and lunch programs and through "competitive foods" sold à la carte in cafete…
Family Dinner Meal Frequency and Adolescent Development: Relationships with Developmental Assets and High-Risk Behaviors
Fast food for family meals: Relationships with parent and adolescent food intake, home food availability and weight status
Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the prevalence of fast-food purchases for family meals and the associations with sociodemographic variables, dietary intake, home food environment, and weight status in adolescents and their parents. Design This study is a cross-sectional evaluation of parent interviews and adolescent surveys from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Subjects Subjects included 902 middle-school and high-schoo…
What young Dutch adults say they do to keep from gaining weight: Self-reported prevalence of overeating, compensatory behaviours and specific weight control behaviours
Objective The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of and differences in self-reported occasions of overeating (such as at celebrations and other parties), compensatory behaviours and specific weight gain prevention strategies among young Dutch adults according to sociodemographics and overweight status. Design and subjects Cross-sectional data were analysed from Dutch adults aged 20–40 years, recruited from an Internet research panel …
Availability of snacks, candy and beverages in hospital, community clinic and commercial pharmacies
Objective The purpose of the present study was to measure the availability of energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened beverages in pharmacies and to examine differences by pharmacy type and presence of a food policy. Design Trained research staff visited pharmacies ( n 37) to measure shelf space and variety of snacks, candy and sugar-sweetened beverages available within 10 ft (3·05 m) of the pharmacy register. Setting Community clinic, hospital an…
Medicine (42 works) · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet (40 works) · Environmental health (28 works) · Psychology (25 works) · Demography (21 works) · Obesity (17 works) · Business (15 works) · Body mass index (14 works) · Eating Disorders and Behaviors (13 works) · Internal Medicine (12 works)