2025
Parent-Reported Measures of Weight-Related Health Behaviors in Early Childhood: A Scoping Review
Aloe C, Tsai E, Lagalante S, Choy C, Funaro M, Lindros J, Bako K, Buccini G, Gross R, Wood C, Staiano A, Sharifi M. Parent-Reported Measures of Weight-Related Health Behaviors in Early Childhood: A Scoping Review. Childhood Obesity 2025 PMID: 40938420, DOI: 10.1177/21532176251369634.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWeight-related health behaviorsChildren's dietary intakeHealth behaviorsParental feeding practicesPrimary careParent-report measuresFeeding practicesPhysical activity/sedentary behaviorDietary intakePrimary care settingPsychometric resultsHealthy behaviorsEarly childhoodWeb of ScienceCare settingsUnique questionnairesObesity riskScreen timeScoping ReviewTrained reviewersPsychometric analysisCareQuestionnaireDescriptive analysisParenting practicesValidation of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) for use in Samoa
Tanawattanacharoen V, Choy C, Anesi T, Hromi-Fiedler A, Naseri T, Reupena M, Duckham R, Wang D, Hawley N, Soti-Ulberg C. Validation of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) for use in Samoa. Journal Of Nutrition 2025, 155: 1474-1484. PMID: 40127734, PMCID: PMC12121424, DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.03.023.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCaribbean Food Security ScaleFood Security ScaleFood insecurityInternal consistencySecurity ScaleDegree of food insecurityChildren's dietary intakeLongitudinal cohort studyRasch modelProtective factorsItem infit statisticsFocus group discussionsObesity riskInfit statisticsContent validityMaternal educationConstruct validityHealthy foodSamoan mothersSamoan womenCohort studyDietary intakeHousehold incomeGroup discussionsCohort characteristicsPsychosocial correlates of HbA1c among adult Samoans without diabetes
Rivara A, Heinsberg L, Carlson J, Pomer A, Naseri T, Reupena M, Choy C, Wang D, Kershaw E, Viali S, McGarvey S, Hawley N. Psychosocial correlates of HbA1c among adult Samoans without diabetes. PLOS Mental Health 2025, 2: e0000196. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000196.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPsychosocial factorsSocial supportMental health awarenessHealth promotion materialsAssociated with lower HbA1cBehavioral risk factorsFactors associated with HbA1cHigh social supportHigh-risk populationPsychosocial healthDiabetes careDiabetes prevalencePsychosocial determinantsHealth outcomesDiabetes preventionAdult SamoansPsychosocial variablesParticipant demographicsCorrelation of HbA1cPsychosocial correlatesHealth awarenessSamoan adultsRs373863828 genotypeSelf-EfficacyLower HbA1cBehavioral and sociodemographic correlates of sleep duration among children in Samoa
von Ash T, Choy C, Dunsiger S, Soti-Ulberg C, Wang D, Reupena M, Duckham R, Naseri T, Hawley N. Behavioral and sociodemographic correlates of sleep duration among children in Samoa. Sleep Health 2025, 11: 57-64. PMID: 39753399, PMCID: PMC11805616, DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2024.10.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSchool-aged childrenSociodemographic correlatesPrimary caregiversSleep durationSleep recommendationsAssociated with longer sleepCorrelates of sleepCorrelates of sleep durationLongitudinal cohort studyShort sleepDietary pattern adherenceAged 2Total carbohydrate intakeData collection wavesNighttime sleepSamoan childrenChildren Aged 2Physical activityChild healthSociodemographic characteristicsAdequate sleepCarbohydrate intakeCollection wavesInsufficient sleepRisk factors
2024
Inequities in Access to Mental Health Services Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Medicaid Enrollees
Nguyen K, Oh E, Ðoàn L, Chu C, Banawa R, Oronce C, Choy C, Zhou S. Inequities in Access to Mental Health Services Among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Medicaid Enrollees. Psychiatric Services 2024, 76: 300-303. PMID: 39696990, PMCID: PMC12177093, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230637.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEthnic groupsMedicaid enrolleesWhite Medicaid enrolleesDisaggregates ethnic groupsSelf-reported accessHealth care accessBehavioral health servicesMental health care accessNon-Hispanic AAMonolithic groupMagnitude of disparityAdult Medicaid enrolleesAsian AmericansCare accessRacial groupsHealth servicesInequalityPacific IslandersWhite enrolleesEnrolleesAccessNHPIShaping childhood obesity: behavioral and environmental risk factors associated with body mass index trajectories between 2 and 9 years in Samoan children
Choy C, Johnson W, Naseri T, Filipo V, Arorae M, Tafunaina F, Unasa F, Savusa K, Reupena M, Braun J, Duckham R, Soti-Ulberg C, McGarvey S, Hawley N. Shaping childhood obesity: behavioral and environmental risk factors associated with body mass index trajectories between 2 and 9 years in Samoan children. International Journal Of Obesity 2024, 49: 322-331. PMID: 39472691, PMCID: PMC11805637, DOI: 10.1038/s41366-024-01665-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody mass indexDietary pattern adherenceHigher Body Mass IndexPhysical activityNetherlands Physical Activity QuestionnaireRisk factorsBody mass index trajectoriesFood frequency questionnaire dataPhysical Activity QuestionnaireHigh physical activityBody mass index gainBehavioral risk factorsHousehold asset scoreLow household assetsCubic spline regressionAged 2 to 4 yearsAged 2Public health solutionsChildhood risk factorsSamoan childrenActivity QuestionnaireObesity preventionBMI trajectoriesObesity riskHealth solutionsNoncommunicable disease risk behaviors and protective factors among children in Samoa: Retrospective trend analysis of global school-based health surveys in 2011 and 2017
Choy C, Simi S, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Salinas Y, Hawley N. Noncommunicable disease risk behaviors and protective factors among children in Samoa: Retrospective trend analysis of global school-based health surveys in 2011 and 2017. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0003315. PMID: 38861507, PMCID: PMC11166286, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003315.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGlobal School-based Student Health SurveyPrevalence of overweight/obesityNoncommunicable diseasesHealth SurveyNoncommunicable disease risk factorsMultistage stratified cluster sampling designNoncommunicable disease risk behavioursProtective factorsPrevalence of noncommunicable diseasesRisk behaviorsGlobal School-based Health SurveySchool-based health surveyPromote healthy behaviorsStudent Health SurveyPrevalence of obesityPublic health actionCluster sampling designStrengthening protective factorsReduce risk behaviorsRetrospective trend analysisPrevalence of riskSedentary behaviorSchool year 9School-aged childrenPhysical activity0264 Sleep Duration Among Samoan Children: A Descriptive Study of Behavioral and Sociodemographic Correlates
von Ash T, Choy C, Dunsiger S, Soti-Ulberg C, Wang D, Reupena M, Duckham R, Naseri T, Hawley N. 0264 Sleep Duration Among Samoan Children: A Descriptive Study of Behavioral and Sociodemographic Correlates. Sleep 2024, 47: a114-a114. DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae067.0264.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSleep durationSociodemographic correlatesSleep recommendationsAssociated with obesity riskHigher obesity prevalenceCorrelates of sleep durationChild sleep durationNighttime sleep durationProportion of childrenObesity prevalenceObesity riskPrimary caregiversChild healthDescriptive studySecondary analysisPacific Island nationsChildren's sleepChildrenSleepCaregiversRecommendationsSociodemographicsHealthIsland nationsDurationChild, family and household characteristics associated with physical activity in Samoan children aged 3–8 years: A cross-sectional study
Warmath C, Choy C, McGarvey S, Sherar L, Duckham R, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena M, Wang D, Hawley N. Child, family and household characteristics associated with physical activity in Samoan children aged 3–8 years: A cross-sectional study. PLOS Global Public Health 2024, 4: e0002886. PMID: 38630845, PMCID: PMC11023467, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002886.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNetherlands Physical Activity QuestionnairePhysical activityChildren aged 3Parent-reported physical activityPhysical Activity QuestionnaireObesity prevention strategiesPhysical activity levelsStudy of child growthMultivariable generalized linear regressionAssociated with oddsCross-sectional studyGeneralized linear regressionAged 3Activity QuestionnaireObesity riskHigher oddsMixed-longitudinal studyHousehold-level characteristicsPrevention strategiesActivity levelsBivariate analysisSleep durationChild growthChildren's sleepSamoan childrenDyadic care to improve postnatal outcomes of birthing people and their infants: A scoping review protocol
Choy C, McAdow M, Rosenberg J, Grimshaw A, Martinez-Brockman J. Dyadic care to improve postnatal outcomes of birthing people and their infants: A scoping review protocol. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0298927. PMID: 38625992, PMCID: PMC11020692, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298927.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCare interventionsBirthing personsHealth outcomesCare studiesJoanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal toolsPostnatal health outcomesReduce healthcare disparitiesImprove healthcare deliveryProvision of careCritical appraisal toolsWHO regional databasesRisk of biasOpen Science FrameworkObstetric careHealthcare disparitiesImplementation outcomesNarrative synthesisAppraisal toolImprove disparitiesHealthcare deliveryGrey literaturePractice gapReview protocolWeb of Science Core CollectionHealthcare systemAssociations of childhood BMI traits with blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin in 6–9‐year‐old Samoan children
Choy C, Johnson W, Braun J, Soti‐Ulberg C, Reupena M, Naseri T, Savusa K, Lupematasila V, Arorae M, Tafunaina F, Unasa F, Duckham R, Wang D, McGarvey S, Hawley N. Associations of childhood BMI traits with blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin in 6–9‐year‐old Samoan children. Pediatric Obesity 2024, 19: e13112. PMID: 38439600, PMCID: PMC11081844, DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody mass indexBody mass index velocityBody mass index trajectoriesChildhood BMI trajectoriesBlood pressureHigher Body Mass IndexChildhood characteristicsAssociation of HbA1cAssociated with higher BPAt-risk populationsSamoan childrenGlycated hemoglobinBMI trajectoriesPacific childrenPrevention effortsCohort studyElevated glycated hemoglobinHigher HbA1cMass indexHigh BPElevated BPYear oldsAt-riskMultilevel modelsRisk factors
2023
Consensus-building during the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) initiative in Samoa: A qualitative content analysis
Daiy K, Arslanian K, Choy C, Manuele-Magele A, Soti-Ulberg C, Hromi-Fiedler A, Hawley N, Pérez-Escamilla R. Consensus-building during the Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) initiative in Samoa: A qualitative content analysis. PLOS Global Public Health 2023, 3: e0001725. PMID: 37093783, PMCID: PMC10124882, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001725.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPolicy recommendationsContent analysisFriendly InitiativeQualitative content analysisNational policyEvidence-based toolboxGovernment ministriesCountry contextMeeting notesBreastfeeding environmentCommittee processEmergent wayInductive approachLactation roomsInitiativesSpecific waysPolicyOverarching methodTopic of breastfeedingBBF processSamoaThemesSubthemesCommittee meetingsCommitteeScoping review protocol of multicomponent interventions to address cardiometabolic disease risk among Pacific Islander children
Choy C, Nyhan K, Savusa K, Soti-Ulberg C, Rosen R, Naseri T, Hawley N, Sharifi M. Scoping review protocol of multicomponent interventions to address cardiometabolic disease risk among Pacific Islander children. PLOS ONE 2023, 18: e0280888. PMID: 36689458, PMCID: PMC9870166, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280888.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsPacific Islander childrenCMD risk factorsMulticomponent interventionRisk factorsCardiometabolic disease risk factorsDisease risk factorsCardiometabolic disease riskClinical trial registrationPreferred Reporting ItemsJoanna Briggs Institute ManualFormal ethical approvalTRIAL REGISTRATIONCochrane LibraryHigh prevalenceEligible interventionsStudy populationEthical approvalReporting ItemsCMD riskDisease riskIntervention componentsProQuest DissertationsReview protocolEvidence mappingEvidence synthesisPrediction of fat mass from anthropometry at ages 7 to 9 years in Samoans: a cross-sectional study in the Ola Tuputupua’e cohort
Choy C, Johnson W, Duckham R, Naseri T, Soti-Ulberg C, Reupena M, Braun J, McGarvey S, Hawley N. Prediction of fat mass from anthropometry at ages 7 to 9 years in Samoans: a cross-sectional study in the Ola Tuputupua’e cohort. European Journal Of Clinical Nutrition 2023, 77: 495-502. PMID: 36624192, PMCID: PMC7614464, DOI: 10.1038/s41430-022-01256-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFat massSex-specific prediction modelsCross-sectional studyAge 7 yearsHigh-risk settingsFuture obesity preventionModel development sampleSamoan childrenObesity prevalenceObesity preventionBody fatHigh riskSex-specific modelsBland-Altman limitsSubscapularSubstantial concordanceAge 7Pacific IslandersChildrenDXADevelopment samplePreventionConcordanceYearsValidation samplePrevalence of malnutrition among Samoan children aged 5 to 11 years in 2019–2020
Choy C, Lupematasila V, Arorae M, Tafunaina F, Unasa F, Soti-Ulberg C, Reupena M, Duckham R, Faasalele-Savusa K, Naseri T, Hawley N. Prevalence of malnutrition among Samoan children aged 5 to 11 years in 2019–2020. Annals Of Human Biology 2023, 50: 200-205. PMID: 37166449, PMCID: PMC10214481, DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2023.2197298.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverweight/obesityExact testWorld Health Organization z scoreNutrition transitionPrevalence of malnutritionBody mass indexFisher's exact testComplete physical assessmentLevel of malnutritionComprehensive intervention strategiesAnemia prevalenceMass indexSamoan childrenHigh prevalenceObesityHemoglobin concentrationAnemiaZ-scorePhysical assessmentPrevalenceModerate stuntingUnderweightChi-squareMalnutritionChild's age
2022
The missense variant, rs373863828, in CREBRF plays a role in longitudinal changes in body mass index in Samoans
Fu H, Hawley NL, Carlson JC, Russell EM, Pomer A, Cheng H, Naseri T, Reupena M, Deka R, Choy CC, McGarvey ST, Minster RL, Weeks DE. The missense variant, rs373863828, in CREBRF plays a role in longitudinal changes in body mass index in Samoans. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2022, 16: 220-227. PMID: 35606300, PMCID: PMC9373717, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.04.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBMI rateHousehold asset scoreAA genotypeBody mass indexMissense variantsBMI of femalesSex-stratified modelsHigh rateAG participantsBaseline BMIMean BMICohort studyMass indexSamoan adultsPhysical activityGG genotypeBMIAge groupsA alleleLongitudinal changesAsset scoreRs373863828Older participantsFemalesCREBRFIs overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua’e “Growing Up” study
Choy CC, Howe CJ, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Is overweight or obesity associated with anemia in children? Follow-up of Samoans in the Ola Tuputupua’e “Growing Up” study. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2022, 16: 144-150. PMID: 35256305, PMCID: PMC9636893, DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.02.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverweight/obesityObesity-related inflammationPrevalence ratiosIron deficiencyDouble burdenPrevalence of anemiaBody mass indexAge z-scorePoisson regression modelsCohort studyMass indexSamoan childrenHigh prevalenceObesityAnemiaZ-scoreCovariate adjustmentConfidence intervalsMicronutrient deficienciesInflammationChildrenPrevalenceFurther investigationRegression modelsDeficiency
2021
Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study
Wu B, Choy CC, Rivara AC, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Duckham RL, Hawley NL. Persistence of anaemia among Samoan preschool age children: a longitudinal study. Public Health Nutrition 2021, 24: 5995-6006. PMID: 34521497, PMCID: PMC8608721, DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021003980.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPersistence of anemiaAnemia prevalenceDaily dietary iron intakeHigher daily sodium intakeDaily sodium intakeDietary iron intakeRisk of anemiaMother-child pairsPersistent anemiaSodium intakeIron intakeRisk factorsRoutine screeningAnemiaPoisson regressionPreschool-age childrenOlder mothersPrevention effortsHousehold correlatesPrevalenceLongitudinal studyConsecutive wavesChildrenAge childrenMothersComparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua’e Data
Warmath CR, Choy CC, Frame EA, Sherar LB, Duckham RL, Soti-Ulberg C, Naseri T, Reupena MS, Hawley NL. Comparability of The Netherlands Physical Activity Questionnaire with Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity in Samoan Children: A Retrospective Analysis of Ola Tuputupua’e Data. International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health 2021, 18: 8438. PMID: 34444185, PMCID: PMC8391931, DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168438.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysical Activity QuestionnaireActivity QuestionnairePhysical activityHigh-intensity physical activityMonitor wear timePhysical activity levelsPhysical activity measurementPhysical activity dataAccelerometer outcomesCardiometabolic healthMixed longitudinal studyObesity developmentRetrospective analysisCombination of questionsChild growthWear timeActivity levelsMarginal meansAged childrenTertileScoresChildrenIndividual questionsQuestionnaireSamoan childrenC‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates
Rivara AC, Corley M, Choy CC, Duckham RL, Pomer A, Reupena MS, Viali S, Naseri T, Kershaw EE, Crouter SE, McGarvey ST, Bribiescas RG, Valeggia C, Hawley NL. C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates. American Journal Of Human Biology 2021, 34: e23646. PMID: 34260111, PMCID: PMC8758804, DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-reactive proteinBody mass indexCardiometabolic disease riskMeasures of adiposityAdult SamoansCRP correlateDisease riskSerum C-reactive proteinMeasures of BMICardiometabolic risk markersPercent body fatSex-dependent associationsCardiometabolic markersCardiometabolic riskCRP quartileMass indexUnadjusted analysesRisk markersBody fatKruskal-Wallis testAdiposityPacific Islander populationsSpearman rank correlationFirst examinationRank correlation
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