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Overview

Scientists and science educators in the Wenatchee Valley have been gathering for the past few years for weekly seminars to catalyze the development of an engaged regional scientific community. Each series features the research of local scientists and invited guest speakers.

This year’s series can be attended virtually or in-person. In-person events are held at the Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee, and are open to the public. Join us for this great opportunity to learn about the incredible research in our own backyard. Prior registration is not required to attend these events.

This project is supported by a grant from Our Valley Our Future. Other supporters include: NCESD, Apple STEM Network, WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center, Wenatchee Valley College, and USDA Research Station.

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Wild, West, Wireless: Changing Rural Teenage Girls’ Eating Behaviors Through Mobile Phones

Presented by Dr. Grace Elisabeth Shearrer, University of Wyoming

Mobile phone applications (apps) are an attractive intervention method to reach rural adolescents. We have adapted Dr. Hedy Kober’s regulation of craving training (ROC-T) intervention into a value aligned mobile phone app for rural teenage girls to improve consumption of fruits and vegetables. Rural populations have a 16% higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to their suburban and urban counterparts. Improving diet, particularly increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, is a protective factor against developing T2D. However, only 13.1% of Wyoming girls eat vegetables 3 times a day. Female adolescents tend to eat less fruits and vegetables compared to males, and intake decreases with age. This is particularly concerning given T2D is more aggressive in adolescents and is 60% more prevalent in adolescent girls compared to boys. Craving unhealthy food is a noted barrier to healthy eating in adolescents. Personalized interventions, such as the ROC-T, can reducing cravings. ROC-T improves food choice through autonomous self-control and changing the value of the craved food. An effective approach to engage with adolescents is to use a value aligned intervention to relate food choice to values adolescents’ care about and build personal autonomy. The mobile regulation of craving training (mROC-Teens) combines the existing ROC-T intervention with value aligned messaging in an app to reach and engage with rural girls. In addition to the app, we have designed a mobile health lab from a recreational vehicle (RV) trailer to perform baseline and follow up diabetes testing using point of care hemoglobin A1c and glucose testing. The presentation will give an overview of the development of the app and mobile testing lab, rollout of the intervention, and future directions.

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The seminar presentations are intended for a ‘science-based’ audience, including researchers, postdoctoral scientists, teachers, graduate students, undergraduate scientists, and science enthusiasts.

K-12 educators are also encouraged to attend the seminar series to learn about local career connections and research efforts that they can bring back to their students. Clock hours are available through the North Central Educational Service District for attending the series.

Date & Time

Wednesday, October 23
4:00pm – 5:00pm

Location

WSU Tree Fruit Research & Extension Center
1100 N Western Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801

Registration Price

Free

Clock Hours

1 Clock Hours Available for Purchase

Click here to register on pdEnroller for Clock Hours

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