Women with breast cancer often experience weight gain during and after treatment, significantly increasing risk for recurrence as well as all-cause mortality. Based on a growing body of evidence, meditative movement practices may be effective for weight management. First, we describe the effects of stress on factors associated with weight gain for breast cancer survivors. Then, a model is proposed that utilizes existing evidence to suggest how meditative movement supports behavioral, psychological, and neurohormonal changes that may explain weight loss. Application of the model suggests how a novel "mindful-body-wisdom" approach may work to help reduce weight for this at-risk group.

Women participating in the aesthetic sports of cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, and swimming are more prone to develop eating disorders and higher levels of body dissatisfaction than non-athletes. In addition to successful performance levels, female athletes participating in shape-based sports are expected to maintain a contradicting thin-build body type that not only satisfies society’s standards to look thin but also demonstrates the strength required to perform in specific sports. Female athletes are faced with sociocultural pressures that can lead to adopting thin-idealism, and further result in serious effects on an athlete’s perception of themselves, as well as their physical health. Social comparison and diet culture are other factors that contribute to an athlete’s unhealthy behaviors, and society’s involvement in media to equate beauty with women who have thin bodies and persuade individuals to never feel satisfied with their appearance is so long-established that many athletes strive for perfectionism. This study evaluated the relationship between female athletes in aesthetic sports and their feelings towards their body composition, eating habits, and self-esteem through an online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted to determine trends, if any, between subgroups of respondents (n=58) who identify between 18 to 25 years old and have previously or currently participated in cheerleading, gymnastics, dance, and/or swimming. Data revealed that a majority of respondents often feel insecure about how their body looks during sports participation, and often experience social comparison to their teammates/peers. The most frequent activity to change body composition resulted in skipping meals/hunger cues among cheerleaders, dancers, and gymnasts, while swimmers engaged most in exercising more than once a day. Athletes with 10 or more years of athletic involvement also stated that they moderately to strongly related to the statement: “I think a lot about looking thin.” Ultimately, analysis supports that the sports industry requires more awareness of the health risks associated with certain sports, and how athletes and their coaches lack health-related education regarding proper nutrition, exercise, and body acceptance.

In the face of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, food assistance programs adapted quickly and in unprecedented ways to meet the challenges of high unemployment, disruptions in the food supply, and school closures. Supported by US Department of Agriculture’s COVID-19 program-specific waivers, some programs relaxed their eligibility criteria, while others improvised on delivery modalities or temporarily increased benefits.1 To examine food assistance program participation and participant experiences during the first few months of the pandemic, we collected online survey data in July 2020 from a sample of over 1,500 U.S. households, representative of the US population. This brief summarizes participation in key food assistance programs, namely, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC), School Food Programs, as well as emergency food assistance provided through Food Pantries. 

Beginning in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a sudden and severe economic downturn and led to disruptions in domestic and international food systems and supply chains. Over the first few months of the pandemic, in the United States, many stores had empty shelves, bars and restaurants closed, and children could no longer go to school. The unemployment rate increased from 3.5% in February 2020 to 14.8% in April 2020, leading to economic instability for many households. As a result, household food insecurity, defined as having limited or inconsistent access to nutritious and affordable food, increased rapidly.

During the first months of 2021, vaccinations began rolling out, more individuals returned to in-person work, children to schools, and restrictions were gradually phased out. Unemployment has decreased since the April 2020 peak to 5.4% in July 2021, but remains above pre-pandemic levels. This brief describes the prevalence of household food insecurity, job disruptions, and food-related behaviors as reported by a nationally representative sample of 1,643 U.S. adults, both in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2019 – March 2020) and during the first four months of 2021 (January – April 2021), a period representing approximately one year since the onset of the pandemic.

Women with breast cancer often experience weight gain during and after treatment, significantly increasing risk for recurrence as well as all-cause mortality. Based on a growing body of evidence, meditative movement practices may be effective for weight management. First, we describe the effects of stress on factors associated with weight gain for breast cancer survivors. Then, a model is proposed that utilizes existing evidence to suggest how meditative movement supports behavioral, psychological, and neurohormonal changes that may explain weight loss. Application of the model suggests how a novel “mindful-body-wisdom” approach may work to help reduce weight for this at-risk group.