Adult-onset diseases, such as type 2 diabetes or hypertension may have origins in the first years of life.

“The first 1,000 days, the period from conception until age 2, lay the foundation for a person’s health later in life,” said Jigna Dharod, associate professor with UNC Greensboro. Her research explores the relationship between food insecurity and health outcomes. She also studies the risk for obesity and related chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Combatting food insecurity through research and education

“I’m interested in promoting health equity for vulnerable populations,” said Dharod. Her research is just one example of UNCG’s commitment to live out diversity and equity as actionable values. While her work has universal applications, it is of great local interest because the Greensboro-High Point metro area is ranked as No. 14 in the nation for food insecurity.

Dharod’s study is designed to follow low-income first-generation Latina women. Her earlier research identified the importance of extended breastfeeding in developing a healthy weight in the early years, but she is finding that most women in the study do not sustain the practice. She hypothesizes that food insecurity leads to less-than-optimal feeding practices that may have lasting repercussions on health, particularly when combined with poor living conditions and the stress that often accompanies such circumstances.

Peer counseling makes an impact

Dharod hopes to leverage her research to attract grants that provide peer counseling to high-risk pregnant women and new mothers. “Peer counseling is more affordable and often better received,” she said. “Many women would prefer to talk to someone with similar experiences about nutrition and lactation than a traditional health care provider.”

Public health leaders increasingly hail the effectiveness of peer education, including a 2022 study by the National Institutes of Health that argues: “Peer education has more chance of permeating the peer group and changing behavior than information-giving by professionals.”

Community partners and UNCG develop the next generation of dietitians

UNCG’s commitment to work in collaboration with community stakeholders is reflected in Dharod’s research projects. She relies on the local office of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Cone Health and community programs, which primarily serve Medicaid-eligible households, to help recruit research participants.

Through these established partnerships with WIC, Cone Health and community programs, UNC Greensboro is working on providing hands-on training and research experience to undergraduate and graduate students with the goal of improving nutrition and food security among underserved communities in Guilford County. For instance, after receiving research training and scholarships for undergraduate studies, more first-generation Latino students are pursuing graduate studies to become registered dietitians. At the same time, involvement of these students has led to implementation of culturally competent longitudinal nutrition studies in the community involving high enrollment of Latino families, further strengthening UNC Greensboro’s commitment to diversity and equity in research, training and practice.

To learn more about nutrition research being done at UNC Greensboro, visit uncg.edu.

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