Zihan Cui

Evaluating Malnutrition Interventions on Maternal (and Infant) Health

Started June 13, 2024

Abstract or project description

This project will evaluate the efficacy of these interventions in improving maternal health and nutrition, and the challenges of implementing these interventions with real-world populations, with a focus on low and middle income countries (LMIC). Interventions are grouped into the following categories: cash transfer programs (conditional and unconditional), food/nutrition-based supplementation, and social behavioral change communication (SBCC) programs. SBCC interventions include family planning, breastfeeding counseling, and obesity-focused lifestyle interventions. This research attempts to comprehensively examine existing malnutrition interventions and provide scientific evidence to support organizations working to improve maternal health.

Effectiveness and health impacts of fad diets in the short and long term: a review

Started May 26, 2023

Abstract or project description

Fad diets emerged as a way to lose weight and improve appearance. Some fad diets work by cutting one or multiple elements from dietary intake, being restrictive to different extents. Fad diets have gained enormous popularity, while it remains unknown whether the claimed benefits of a fad diet have scientific support. This review examines past studies on different fad diets, or tools, and presents these statistics to analyze the effectiveness of measures, coupled with proper instructions. This review further shows extreme fad diets can be correlated with multiple side effects, including dehydration, malnutrition, cardiovascular diseases, impaired well-being, and even eating disorders.