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Understanding Cultural Perceptions Of Health In Middle School Females For Obesity Prevention: A Case Study, Tien Vo, Egenia Dorsan, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance Jun 2023

Understanding Cultural Perceptions Of Health In Middle School Females For Obesity Prevention: A Case Study, Tien Vo, Egenia Dorsan, J. Mitchell Vaterlaus, Lori A. Spruance

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The purpose of this study was to understand acculturation and race/ethnicity influences in the home and school environment that affect physical activity and nutrition in female adolescents attending middle school. A convenience sample of eight female adolescents (n = 2 Asian American, n = 2 Black, n =2 Latinx/Hispanic, and n = 2 White) was interviewed individually via Zoom. Responses regarding acculturation, physical activity, and nutrition in the home and school environment were analyzed using qualitative case study analysis. Three themes were identified: 1) experiences related to home, health, and culture, 2) the intersection between school meals and personal …


The Experiences Of Middle-Aged Women In An Online Weight-Loss Community, Holly Fields Jan 2023

The Experiences Of Middle-Aged Women In An Online Weight-Loss Community, Holly Fields

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The obesity epidemic continues to be a public health crisis in the United States. The number of obese middle-aged women has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Despite multiple levels of support available, not all women are receiving the support they need to reduce overweight/obesity, as evidenced by the continuing rise in obesity. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, this study examined middle-aged women's views on exercising, eating healthily, and social support in online weight-loss communities. For this study, the health belief model (HBM) and social learning theory (SLT) were used as conceptual frameworks to understand a person's behavioral intentions …


Nutrition And Physical Exercise Prevention Strategies To Reduce Obesity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carmesha Vajill Carter Jan 2022

Nutrition And Physical Exercise Prevention Strategies To Reduce Obesity During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Carmesha Vajill Carter

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has reached an epidemic level of 75 million obese adults and 15 million obese children in the United States. The research problem addressed in this study is the lack of information on how obese people manage their weight-loss strategies to prevent or reduce obesity during shut-in place restrictions for the COVID-19 Pandemic. This study included the Prochaska and DiClemente Trans-Theoretical Model of Behavioral Change and the Stage of Change Theory. The phenomenon approach using phenomenology described participants' lived experiences of being obese. The researcher completed data collection and evaluation among sixteen participants using email questionnaires to analyze participant's responses …


Food Insecurity Experiences Of Idaho Head Start Families, Sherry Deiter, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas Jan 2021

Food Insecurity Experiences Of Idaho Head Start Families, Sherry Deiter, Yitza A. Arcelay-Rojas

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Using the social-ecological model, this basic interpretive qualitative study sought to examine the phenomenon of food insecurity among Idaho Head Start enrolled families, focusing on barriers and deterrents to accessing available nutrition assistance programs. A total of 11 interviews were conducted with parents who had children enrolled in five Idaho Head Start programs. The data were coded and analyzed and are reflective of how individual, interpersonal, community, and organizational levels factors are reflected in participants’ decisions to access available nutrition assistance programs. Participants reported feelings of stigma and shame and transportation concerns as individual barriers as well as the interpersonal …


Improving Nutrition Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Using A Monetary Incentive Model, Jezabel Urbina Jan 2018

Improving Nutrition Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients Using A Monetary Incentive Model, Jezabel Urbina

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the United States' largest government assistance program that aims to alleviate food insecurity. The SNAP program allows low-income individuals and families the ability to purchase nutritious foods through a monthly benefit. However, the current body of literature presents evidence of the program's counterproductive effect. The purpose of this study was to determine whether incentivizing SNAP recipients to purchase additional fruits and vegetables was beneficial in increasing such purchases. Social cognitive theory was used as a theoretical framework to address research questions associated with shopping patterns and attitudes and beliefs. This quantitative study used …


Young Female College Millennials' Intent For Behavior Change With Wearable Fitness Technology, Andrea Christine Haney Jan 2018

Young Female College Millennials' Intent For Behavior Change With Wearable Fitness Technology, Andrea Christine Haney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Among young college-aged females, overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, and high stress levels have increased, causing overall worse health conditions than previous generations. The use of wearable fitness technology (WFT) by young adults assists in fitness and nutrition monitoring, provides feedback in health statistics, and has shown improvements in reducing health-related issues in young college females. A wide body of literature related to physical activity, nutrition, and health issues in young college females exists; however, the experiences and intent of WFT use for behavior change by young college female millennials has not been well researched. The purpose …


Serum Iron Concentration And Prostate Cancer In The United States, Aleeshaia Danner Raymonvil Jan 2017

Serum Iron Concentration And Prostate Cancer In The United States, Aleeshaia Danner Raymonvil

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over 2 million adult men in the United States have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with nearly 200,000 new diagnoses each year. This type of cancer is the leading cause of mortality in U.S. men. One possible risk factor for prostate cancer is a high level of iron in the body, but the association has yet to be confirmed. This study was an investigation of the relationship between serum iron concentration and prostate cancer using data obtained from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. This quantitative study involved 1,850 men in the U.S. aged 51 to 70 years. …


Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Among Snap Participants With Prediabetes, Diana L. Malkin-Washeim, Phd, Mph, R.D., Cde, Shirley Gerrior, Phd, R.D. Oct 2016

Risk For Type 2 Diabetes Among Snap Participants With Prediabetes, Diana L. Malkin-Washeim, Phd, Mph, R.D., Cde, Shirley Gerrior, Phd, R.D.

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

This study explored food security status among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants with prediabetes in relation to food choice decisions over a 30-day benefit cycle that potentially increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional, quantitative design based on food choice process model constructs was used. SNAP participants (n = 36) with prediabetes, aged 21–70 years, were recruited as outpatients from Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center and completed self-reported questionnaires on demographics and health, food security, and food frequency over time. Descriptive statistics, Pearson chi square tests, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS. Two post-hoc tests, the …


Using Nutrition And Fitness Awareness To Reduce Overweight And Obesity In Adolescents, Allissa.Johnson Johnson Jan 2016

Using Nutrition And Fitness Awareness To Reduce Overweight And Obesity In Adolescents, Allissa.Johnson Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, adolescent obesity rates continue to increase unabated, yet there is a paucity of programs to address these conditions for this population. The current study evaluated an after-school program in California high schools that uses a mentoring model with youth to promote regular exercise and healthy food choices. It is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory which focuses on both the impact of the environment on shaping behaviors and the ability of an individual to construct his or her own suitable environment. A quantitative single-group pretest-posttest design using archived participant responses was utilized in order to determine whether …


Cultural Influences On The Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity Of Pregnant Immigrant Latinas, Martha Eugenia Dominguez Jan 2016

Cultural Influences On The Weight, Diet, And Physical Activity Of Pregnant Immigrant Latinas, Martha Eugenia Dominguez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this phenomenological study is how culture and acculturation can potentially influence gestational weight during pregnancy, leading to overweight and obesity among immigrant Latinas. To understand the possible influence of culture and acculturation on the diet, exercise, and weight of pregnant immigrant Latinas, the experiences of immigrant Latinas who had undergone a pregnancy in Mexico and were pregnant in California were examined. The ecological model theory was applied as a framework for exploring the participants' experiences regarding nutrition, physical activity, and weight gain. Semistructured interviews with 10 qualified participants were conducted. Data analysis entailed an inductive approach …


The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act And High School Obesity, Derek Grills Jan 2015

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act And High School Obesity, Derek Grills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

United States high school student obesity rates have doubled in the past 30 years to 13%, threatening the health of millions of adolescents. To mitigate the epidemic, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010, which mandated significant changes to school nutrition and physical education. From a public policy perspective, the HHFKA changed school nutrition and exercise policy to affect obesity rates by changing intake and energy expenditure at school, though no study using national-level data examined this relationship. As such, the purpose of the study was to examine whether HHFKA policy compliance had a statistically significant effect …