Telenutrition Center Sugar Shocker Outreach Program for Mississippians Facing Health Disparities.

Our project's goal is to deliver high-quality health and nutrition information to underserved communities in Mississippi. The Telenutrition Center’s mission is to integrate community engaged and technology supported solutions to improve nutrition and related behaviors of underserved Mississippians and address preventable chronic diseases disparities. We believe that through our outreach activities we can help achieve NNLM’s goal of improving public health by improving access to health information to those who need it most. The Center engages both students and communities in outreach and intervention activities that focus on moving more and eating better to live a healthier life. Our outreach efforts serve to increase community awareness about health and disease risk and promote healthier food and beverage choices among all ages in Mississippi communities. Specifically, our outreach materials focus on the risks of increased sugar and salt intake with hopes that communities are better aware of their food choices. Titled “Sugar Shock,” our table exhibit includes bottles of popular sodas, juices, and energy drinks to educate the community on how much sugar they are ingesting when they drink these beverages. We believe promoting behavior change towards a healthier lifestyle is an important step toward improving health outcomes for minority and underserved populations. Through this outreach we will educate the public, increase collaboration opportunities within the State through community interactions, and provide community service program for USM students to strengthen the institutional organization’s commitment to health and wellness promotion as well as training future professionals.