Publications

Impact of a home-based obesity prevention intervention on children’s and parents’ BMI: Findings from the Guelph Family Health Study Randomized Controlled Trial

Raphaëlle Jacob, Andrea C. Buchholz, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Lori Ann Vallis, Jean-Philippe Chaput, Angela Annis, Madeline Nixon, Jennifer D. Irwin, Don Morrow, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines. Pediatric Obesity, 2025 (online ahead of print). 

How Do Meals and Snacks Consumed in Childcare Contribute to Children’s Food and Nutrient Intakes?

Amelia Bossé, J Haines, Alison M Duncan, David W.L. Ma, Claire Tugault-Lafleur. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 2025, 86(3):1-8. 

Cross-sectional Associations between Anthropometric Measures and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Young Children

Darla Paola M. Barssé, Gerarda Darlington, Hannah Coyle-Asbil, Becky Breau, Lori Ann Vallis, Dalia El Khoury, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, and Andrea C. Buchholz on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2025, 86(2):96-99.

Longitudinal associations between mothers’ and fathers’ food skills and their children’s cooking skills

Sandhya Sahye-Pudaruth, David W.L. Ma , Alison M. Duncan, Michael Prashad, Amar Laila, and Jess Haines on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2025, 50:1-7

Associations between Saturated Fat from Single Dairy Foods and Body Composition in Young Canadian Children

Hillary W.H. Lo, Michael Prashad, Alison M. Duncan, Lori Ann Vallis, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, and Andrea C. Buchholz on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2025.

Plant-based Dietary Index Scores are Not Associated with Body Composition in Young Children

Hannah Leung, Patricia F.C. Acosta, Olivia A. Landon, Zachary J. Ribau, Lori Ann Vallis, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, and Andrea C. Buchholz on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2025.

Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of “Supper Heroes”, a family-based sustainable diet intervention

Katherine F. Eckert, Julia Agostinelli, Amar Laila, Chloe Alexander, Kate Parizeau, Mike von Massow, Alison M. Duncan, Kylie D. Hesketh, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines. Appetite, 2025, 206:107849.

Associations between objectively measured nighttime sleep duration, sleep timing, and sleep quality and body composition in toddlers in the Guelph Family Health Study

Ribey SCS, Coyle-Asbil HJ, Osojnicki K, Coyle-Asbil B, Vallis LA, Darlington G, Duncan AM, Ma DWL, Haines J, Buchholz AC on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2025, 50:1-7. ​

Compliance with the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines and the impact of sleep methods among toddler, preschool, and school-aged children enrolled in the Guelph Family Health Study

Coyle-Asbil HJ, Breau B, Ma DWL, Haines J, Buchholz AC, Vallis LA on behalf of Guelph Family Health Study. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2024, 27(9):631–639.​

Dietary Sugar and Anthropometrics among Young Children in the Guelph Family Health Study: Longitudinal Associations

Mahajan A. PhD, RD, Duncan A.M. PhD, RD, Darlington G. PhD, Haines J. PhD, RD, Ma D.W.L. PhD, Buchholz A.C. PhD, RD on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2024, 85(3):132-139.​

Testing a Biobehavioral Model of Chronic Stress and Weight Gain in Young Children (Family Stress Study): Protocol and Baseline Demographics for a Prospective Observational Study

Shannon M. Pare, Elizabeth Gunn, Katherine M. Morrison, Alison L. Miller, Alison M. Duncan, Andrea C. Buchholz, David W.L. Ma, Paul F. Tremblay, Lori Ann Vallis, Nicola J. Mercer, Jess Haines. JMIR Res Protoc 2024;13:e48549.

Early life involvement in food skills is associated with children’s cooking skills: a longitudinal analysis

Sahye-Pudaruth S, Ma DWL, Prashad M, Haines J; Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2024, 49(5):718 – 722.​

Dietary intake and food sources of calcium and vitamin D in young children in the Guelph Family Health Study

Hillary W.H. Lo, Flora Zhang, Anisha Mahajan, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, Andrea C. Buchholz, David W.L. Ma, on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. International Dairy Journal, 2024, 156:105980.

Fathers’ use of social media for social comparison is associated with their food parenting practices

Amina Saher, Lisa Tang, Sabrina Douglas, Raphaëlle Jacob, Kathryn Walton, Adam Sadowski, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines, on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Appetite, 2024, 194:107201.

Parental Cooking Confidence is Associated with Children’s Intake of Fish and Seafood

Jessie L. Burns, Aritra Bhattacharjee, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, and The Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2024, 85(1):54-57.  

Household Food Waste Intervention Is Feasible, Acceptable, and Effective

Amar Laila, Monica Gallant, Maggie Bain, Chloe Alexander, Leticia Reis, Anna Welboren, Mike von Massow, Kate Parizeau, Kathryn Walton, David W L Ma, Jess Haines. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2024, 56(2):110-117.

The degree of food processing contributes to sugar intakes in families with preschool-aged children

Ashraf R, Duncan AM, Darlington G, Buchholz AC, Haines J, Ma DWL; Guelph Family Health Study. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2024, 59:37-47.​

Parents’ knowledge of the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide recommendations

Alyssa V Ramuscak, Alison M Duncan, David W L Ma, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2023,48(12):1015:1018.​  

Plant-Based Dietary Indices in Relation to Nutrient and Food Group Intakes in Preschool-Aged Children

Patricia FC Acosta, Olivia A Landon, Zachary J Ribau, Jess Haines, David WL Ma, Alison M Duncan and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2023, 15(21):4617.

Dietary Sugar Research in Preschoolers: Methodological, Genetic, and Cardiometabolic Considerations

Jessica Yu, Rahbika Ashraf, Anisha Mahajan, Jaimie L. Hogan, Gerarda Darlington, Andrea C. Buchholz, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2023, 24(9):259.​

Breakfast quality of preschool-aged Canadian children

Erin K Smith, Rebecca Lewis, Andrea C Buchholz, Jess Haines, David W L Ma, Alison M Duncan. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2023, 84(1):58 – 61.​  

Sugar Intake among Preschool-Aged Children in the Guelph Family Health Study: Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics

Anisha Mahajan, Jess Haines, Jessica Yu, Gerarda Darlington, Andrea C. Buchholz, Alison M. Duncan, David W. L. Ma, on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Children, 2023, 10(9):1459.

Free sugar intake from snacks and beverages in Canadian preschool- and toddler-aged children: a cross-sectional study

Jessica Yu, Anisha Mahajan, Gerarda Darlington, Andrea C Buchholz, Alison M Duncan, Jess Haines, David WL Ma and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study.  BMC Nutrition, 2023: 9(1).

The problem of heteronormativity in family-based health promotion: centring gender transformation in Ontario, Canada

Julia Gruson-Wood, Jess Haines, Carla Rice, Gwen Chapman. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2023.

Knowledge and perceptions of the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide: a qualitative study with Canadian children

Flora Zhang, Amar Laila, Ana Carolina Barco Leme, David WL Ma,  Ana Carolina Barco Leme, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Heath Study. Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism, 2022, 47(11):1096 – 1103.  

The degree of food processing is associated with anthropometric measures of obesity in Canadian families with preschool-aged children

Rahbika Ashraf, Alison M. Duncan, Gerarda Darlington, Andrea C. Buchholz, Jess Haines, David WL Ma and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2022, 9:1005227.

Comparing the perceptions and opinions of the 2007 and 2019 Canada’s food guides among parents of young children

Alyssa Ramuscak, David WL Ma, Laura E Forbes, Alison M Duncan, Adam Sadowksi and Jess Haines on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study.  Frontiers in Public Health, 2022, 10:944648.

ActiGraph cutpoints impact physical activity and sedentary behavior outcomes in young children

Becky Breau, Hannah J. Coyle-Asbil, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, Lori Ann Vallis and on half of the Guelph Family Health Study. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. 2022, 5(2):85-96.  

The use of accelerometers in young children: a methodological scoping review

Becky Breau, Hannah J Coyle-Asbil, Lori Ann Vallis. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 2022, 5(3):185–201.

Cheese intake is inversely associated with LDL cholesterol in young children

Justin Sheremeta, David ML Ma, Jess Haines, Alison M Duncan, Gerarda Darlington, Genevieve Newton, Andrea C Buchholz and the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2022, 83(4):208 – 211.​

Non-nutritive sweetener intake is low in pre-school-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study

Anisha Mahajan, Jess Haines, Alex Carriero, Jamie L Hogan, Jessica Yu, Andrea C Buchholz, Alison M Duncan, Gerarda Darlington, David WL Ma and behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study.  Nutrients, 2022, 14(10):2091.

Intakes of PUFA are low in preschool-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot cohort

Jessie Burns, Julia Mirotta, Alison M Duncan, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, Nitin Shivappa, James R Hebert, David WL Ma and the Guelph Family Health Study.  Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2022, 47(9):973 – 978.​

Examining the ability of two Actigraph models to detect and discriminate between low frequency movements

Hannah Coyle-Asbil, Janik Habegger, Michele Oliver, Lori Ann Vallis. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2022, 22(7):6378-6386.

Comparison of different signal processing methodologies and their impact on the range of acceleration amplitudes experienced by preschool-aged children

Hannah Coyle-Asbil, David WL Ma and Lori Ann Vallis. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 2022, 26(3):207-220.​

Impact of COVID-19 on food waste behaviour of families: Results from household waste composition audits

Amar Laila, Mike von Massow, Maggie Bain, Kate Parizeau and Jess Haines. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences. 2022, 82:101188.​

Assessing food and nutrition literacy in children and adolescents: A systematic review of existing tools

Nicholas Carroll, Maude Perreault, David WL, Jess Haines. Public Health Nutrition, 2022, 25(4):850-865.​    

Dietary sugar intake among preschool-aged children: a cross-sectional study

Anisha Mahajan, Jessica Yu, Jaimie L Hogan, Kira Jewell, Alex Carriero, Angela Annis, Adam Sadowski, Gerarda Darlington, Andrea C Buchholz, Alison M Duncan, Jess Haines and David WL Ma for the Guelph Family Health Study. CMAJ Open, 2021, 9(3):E855-E863.

Child involvement in meal preparation and grocery shopping is associated with lower levels of food fussiness among young children

Julia Broad, LE Forbes, Gerarda Darlington, David WL Ma & Jess Haines.  Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2021, 46(12):1559 – 1562.​  

Association between accelerometer and parental reported weekend and weekday sleeping patterns and adiposity among preschool-aged children

Bridget Coyle-Asbil, Hannah J. Coyle-Asbil, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines & Lori Ann Vallis. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, 2021, 4(3):266-273.

Perceptions of the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide: a qualitative study with parents from southwestern Ontario

Ana Carolina Barco Leme, Amar Laila, Sophia Hour, Regina Mara Fisberg, David W.L. Ma, Mauro Fisberg & Jess  Haines. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 2022,47(1):34 – 40.

Association of Individual Motor Abilities and Accelerometer-Derived Physical Activity Measures in Preschool-Aged Children

Becky Breau, Berit Brandes, Marvin N. Wright, Christoph Buck, Lori Ann Vallis & Mirko Brandes. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. 2021, 4(3):227–235.​

Parenting under pressure: stress is associated with mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices in Canada

Lisa Tang, Valerie Hruska, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Journal of Children and Media, 2021, 15(2):233-248. ​

Associations between family-based stress and dietary inflammation potential among families with preschool-aged children

Valerie Hruska, Nitin Shivappa, James R. Hébert, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines and David W.L. Ma on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2021,13(5), 1464.

Diet quality of Canadian preschool children: associations with socio-demographic characteristics

Ana Carolina Leme, Dabrowka Muszynski, Julia Mirotta, Nicholas Carroll, Jaimie L. Hogan, Kira Jewell, Jessica Yu, Regina Mara Fisberg, Alison M Duncan, David W.L. Ma & Jess Haines. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2021, 82(3):131-135. 

Adherence to food-based dietary guidelines: a systemic review of high-income and low- and middle-income countries

Ana Caroline B. Leme, Sophia Hou, Regina Mara Fisberg, Mauro Fisberg, Jess Haines.  Nutrients, 2021, 13(3):1038.    

Associations between co-parenting quality and food parenting practices among mothers and fathers in the Guelph Family Health Study

Sabrina Douglas, Gerarda Darlington, John Beaton, Kirsten Davison, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2021, 13(3):750.

Transitioning a home-based, motivational interviewing intervention among families to remote delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: key lessons learned

Lisa Tang, Julia Broad, Rebecca Lewis, David M, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Patient Education and Counseling, 2021, 104(9):2286-2291.

Barriers and facilitators of household provision of dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives in families with preschool-aged children

Amar Laila, Nicole Topakas, Emily Farr, Jess Haines, David WL Ma, Genevieve Newton, Andrea C Buchholz. Public Health Nutrition, 2021, 24(17):5673-5685.​

Food skills: associations with diet quality and food waste among Canadian parents

Nicholas Carroll, Adam Sadowski, Kate Parizeau, Michael von Massow, Angela Wallace, Kira Jewell, David WL Ma, Andrea C Buchholz, Alison M Duncan, Brianne Chan, Jess Haines. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 2021, 51(5):371-379.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in sweet, fat, umami, salt, bitter and sour taste receptor genes are associated with gustatory function and taste preferences in young adults

Elie Chamoun, Angel S Liu, Lisa M Duizer, Zeny Feng, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M Duncan, Jess Haines, David WL Ma. Nutrition Research, 2021, 85:40-46.

Examining the effects of applying ActiGraph low-frequency extension feature to analyze the sleeping behaviours of preschool-aged children

Hannah J Coyle-Asbil, Becky Breau, David WL Ma, Jess Haines, Lori Vallis.  Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism, 2020, 45(12):1396-1399.

The impact of COVID-19 on health behavior, stress, financial and food security among middle to high income Canadian families with young children

Nicholas Carroll, Adam Sadowski, Amar Laila, Valerie Hruska, Madeline Nixon, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines, on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2020, 12(8):2352.

Parent stress as a consideration in childhood obesity prevention: results from the Guelph Family Health Study, a pilot randomized controlled trial

Valerie Hruska, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2020, 12(6):1835.

Association between diet quality and food waste in Canadian families: a cross-sectional study

Nicholas Carroll, Angela Wallace, Kira Jewell, Gerarda Darlington, David W.L. Ma, Alison M. Duncan, Kate Parizeau, Michael von Massow, Jess Haines. Nutrition Journal, 2020, 19(54).​

Dairy and plant-based dairy alternatives purchasing habits of Guelph-based families with preschool-aged children

Amar Laila, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, Michael Von Massow, Angela Wallace, Genevieve Newton, Andrea C. Buccholz. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 2020, 81(4):215 – 217.​

Stress is associated with adiposity in parents of young children

Valerie Hruska, Tory Ambrose, Gerarda Darlington,  David W. L. Ma, Jess Haines, Andrea C. Buchholz on behalf of The Guelph Family Health Study.  Obesity, 2020, 28(3):655-659.​

Valuing the multiple impacts of household food waste

Michael von Massow, Kate Parizeau, Monica Gallant, Mark Wickson, Jess Haines, David Ma, David, Angela Wallace, Nicholas Carroll, Alison Duncan. Frontiers in Nutrition, 2019, 6:143.    

Associations between family meal context and diet quality among preschool-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study

Sarah Wedde, Jess Haines, David WL Ma, Alison Duncan, Gerarda Darlington. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2020, 81(1):21 – 27. ​​​

Motivational interviewing with families in the home environment

Carley O’Kane, Jennifer D. Irwin, Don Morrow, Lisa Tang, Samantha Wong, Andrea C. Buchholz, David W.L. Ma, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study.  Patient Education and Counseling, 2019, 102(11):2073-2080.

The reinforcing value of food and non-food alternative: Associations with BMI z-score and percent fat mass

Samantha Wong, Kai Ling Kong, Andrea C Buchholz, Jess Haines. Eating Behaviors, 2019, 34:101316.

Taste Sensitivity and Taste Preference Measures Are Correlated in Healthy Young Adults

Elie Chamoun, Angel A.S. Liu, Lisa M. Duizer, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma. Chemical Senses, 2019, 44(2):129-134.

A randomized home-based childhood obesity prevention pilot intervention has favourable effects on parental body composition: preliminary evidence from the Guelph Family Health Study

Owen Krystia, Tory Ambrose, Gerarda Darlington, David Ma, Andrea Buchholz, Jess Haines; on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. BMC Obesity, 2019, 6:10.

Interventions aimed at increasing dairy and/or calcium consumption of preschool-aged children: a systematic literature review

Victoria Srbely, Imtisal Janjua, Andrea C Buchholz, Genevieve Newton.  Nutrients, 2019, 11(4):714.

Mothers’ and fathers’ media parenting practices associated with young children’s screen-time: a cross-sectional study

Lisa Tang, Gerarda Darlington, David W L Ma, Jess Haines and the Guelph Family Health Study. BMC Obesity, 2018, 5(37).

Putting family into family-based obesity prevention: enhancing participant engagement through a novel integrated knowledge translation strategy

Kathryn Walton, Tory Ambrose, Angela Annis, David WL. Ma, Jess Haines and Guelph Family Health Study Family Advisory Council; on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 2018, 18:126.

The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms in taste receptor genes, taste function and dietary intake in preschool-aged children and adults in the Guelph Family Health Study

Elie Chamoun, Nicholas A. Carroll, Lisa M. Duizer, Wenjuan Q, Zeny Feng, Gerarda Darlington, Alison M. Duncan, Jess Haines, David W.L. Ma, and the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2018, 10(8): 990.

A review of the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in taste receptors, eating behaviours, and health

E Chamoun, DM Mutch, E Allen-Vercoe, AC Buchholz, AM Duncan, LL Spriet, J Haines and DWL Ma & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2018, 58(2): 194-207.  

The forgotten parent: fathers’ representation in family interventions to prevent childhood obesity

Davison KK, Kitos N, Aftosmes-Tobio A, Ash T, Agaronov A, Sepulveda M, Haines J. Preventative Medicine, 2018, 111:170-176

Guelph Family Health Study pilot study of a home-based obesity prevention intervention

Jess Haines, Sabrina Douglas, Julia Mirotta, Carley O’Kane, Rebecca Breau et al. & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 2018, 109:549-560

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in taste receptor genes are associated with snacking patterns of preschool-aged children in the Guelph Family Health Study

Elie Chamoun, Joy Hutchinson, Owen Krystia, Julia Mirotta, David Mutch, Andrea Buchholz, Alison Duncan, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, David Ma, and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Nutrients, 2018,10(2):153.  ​ ​

Guelph Family Health Study’s home-based obesity prevention intervention increases fibre and fruit intake of preschool children

Julia Mirotta, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, David WL Ma, Alison Duncan & on behalf the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2018, 79(2):86-90.​

Parental overweight is associated with decreased encouragement of dietary balance and variety and involvement in meal planning and preparation

Owen Krystia, Andrea Buchholz, David Ma, Jess Haines and on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Facets, 2018, 3(1):155 – 163.​

Family-based obesity prevention: perceptions of Canadian parents of preschool age children

Carley O’Kane, Angela Wallace, Laura Wilson, Angela Annis, David WL Ma, Jess Haines & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research, 2018, 79(1): 13-17.

Snacking patterns of preschool-aged children: opportunity for improvement

Joy Hutchinson, Jessica Watterworth, Jess Haines, Alison Duncan, Julia Mirotta, David Ma, Andrea Buchholz & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Canadian Journal of Public Health,  2018, 79(1): 2-6.

Examination of associations between chaos in the home environment, serum cortisol level, and dietary fat intake among parents of preschool-age children

Laura MacRae, Gerarda Darlington, Jess Haines, David WL Ma & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 2017, 42(7): 788-791.

Food parenting practices and their association with child nutrition risk status: comparing mothers and fathers

Jessica Watterworth, Joy Hutchinson, Andrea Buchholz, Gerarda Darlington, Janis Randall Simpson, David WL Ma , Jess Haines & on behalf of the Guelph Family Health Study. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 2017, 42(6): 667-671.