PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (November 15, 2021) – For Prairie View A&M University Assistant Professor Janet Antwi, Ph.D., nutrition and dietetics are her research interests and purpose. And, with a new $300,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, the registered dietician is now expanding her passion involving nutrition and physical activity in obesity for low-income and underserved populations.
Janet Antwi, Ph.D.
Unfortunately, childhood obesity is a growing problem in America. For millions of minority children growing up in communities with little to no access to grocery stores carrying fresh produce and healthy food options, these kids consume lots of processed food and meals from fast-food restaurant chains because they live in food deserts.
“We are increasing the diversity of students in nutrition, health, agriculture and human sciences careers,” said Antwi. “This funding is going to help train students in an early childhood obesity prevention program.”
The USDA-Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Education and Workforce Development is funding Antwi’s focus on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences in its Pathways to Early Childhood Obesity Prevention (PECOP) Fellowship project. Antwi’s research will also address the lack of diversity of those working in nutrition and health-related professions. “Racial and ethnic minority groups are severely underrepresented,” she said.
The funding will be used to train students to “go out into the community to utilize the knowledge and skills they’ve obtained to carry out outreach activities with women who have children,” said Antwi. “These students will have the knowledge, research skills, and necessary strategies of intervention to be able to be able to prevent childhood obesity.”
African Americans and Hispanics account for only 2-3% of registered dietitian nutritionists. Antwi’s project is timely and necessary with a predicted surge in minority populations parallel to an increase in obesity and related chronic diseases. Trainees and graduates of diverse backgrounds will be in great need to fill positions in nutrition and health that deliver programs to meet the needs of underserved populations.
Through PECOP, Antwi will employ innovative techniques to attract and encourage the increased interest of undergraduate students early in their academic careers.
Magesh Rajan, vice president for the Division of Research & Innovation at PVAMU, said, “Dr. Antwi’s research is a unique undertaking. She is creating awareness of the crisis in diverse communities and providing life-changing and life-sustaining nutritional information. Simultaneously, she is training the next generation of health care and nutrition specialist on how to reach a younger generation to improve their food and lifestyle choices despite the food challenges in their neighborhoods.”
This project, which uses hands-on and experiential learning, will ensure these young minds are ready for employment or graduate studies in nutrition and dietetics, human sciences, early childhood education, and agricultural sciences.
“Curbing the obesity epidemic among these groups is now more crucial and urgent than ever, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic era,” said Antwi. “This same population is far more likely to experience food insecurity and lack safe places to be active. Both are major risk factors for obesity, making family mealtimes, food access, and nutrition education for healthier choices critical in the current challenging times.”
By Karen B. Cotton
-PVAMU-