Walmart Foundation funded research opportunity selected winner: Maha Almohamad, MS
Walmart Foundation selected winner:
Maha Almohamad, MS
------- + -------
New food insecurity-related measures: Walmart Foundation funded research opportunity
Through Walmart Foundation funding, the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact (formerly the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition) developed and piloted nine new measures that assess food insecurity-related constructs. Through the measurement development process, pilot data were collected from nearly 1,000 households which predominantly had limited income and/or experienced food insecurity. Three proposals were awarded funding in January to use the pilot dataset and at least one of the new measures to investigate a novel research question or hypothesis and publish their results in an open-ended access journal. In this issue, we’re highlighting the final of the three selected Walmart Foundation winners, Maha Almohamad.
Pictured above: PhD Student at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health Maha Almohamad, MS
Maha Almohamad, MS
PhD Student in Epidemiology, Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health
Describe your background and research interests.
I have a master's in nutrition and metabolism from Boston University School of Medicine and am currently a doctoral student in epidemiology and biostatistics with a breadth of quantitative methods in nutrition and public Health at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health. I am part of the Brighter Bites and Stroke Transitions Education and Prevention clinical program research teams, gaining experience in food insecurity, social determinants of health and feasibility framework for prevention of chronic diseases. Current research interests include behavioral epidemiology with a focus on food insecurity and chronic disease prevention, epidemiologic trends and brain health.
How do you plan to utilize the pilot dataset and scores? Which of the new measures will you use and what variables related to diet, food security or health will you include in analysis?
I will be using the new household nutrition security measures to evaluate the extent to which, first, high or low nutrition security influences the association between food security status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors; and, second, participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) influences the association between nutrition insecurity and CVD risk factors.
What are your novel research questions or hypotheses?
Does nutrition insecurity affect the relationship between food insecurity and self-reported CVD risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes?
Does participation in nutrition assistance programs such as SNAP and WIC affect the relationship between nutrition insecurity and CVD risk factors?
What implications do you think the findings will have on practitioners and/or policymakers?
The results can lead to more effective interventions that could address food insecurity through a nutrition insecurity lens to create better health outcomes and guide future work of practitioners and/or policymakers to support populations with low nutrition security. This would ultimately ensure the availability and accessibility of nutritious foods and help create a positive downstream effect on chronic disease outcomes.
How did you hear about this opportunity, and what prompted you to apply?
My research mentor, Dr. Jayna Dave, and academic advisor, Dr. Shreela Sharma, brought this opportunity to my attention and encouraged me to apply. Not only do my current research endeavors align with the Center’s study topics and supported publication opportunity, but it has also been one of my long-term passions to pursue further studies in this scientific field.