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Factors Associated With The Serious Adverse Effects And Misuse Of Glp-1 Receptor Agonists, Khang Nguyen

Public Health Capstone Projects

INTRODUCTION: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have emerged as a prominent treatment for type-2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity since the FDA’s approval of Exenatide in 2005. The utilization of these medications is projected to increase substantially by 2025, with reports of shortages due to high demand. Concurrently, there are growing concerns about their potential misuse, including using without proper indications and using counterfeit products. Despite their therapeutic benefits, GLP-1RAs have been associated with various adverse events, ranging from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to serious events including hospitalization and pancreatitis. As their utilization increases, there is an urgent need for comprehensive …

The Impact Of Obesity In Estimating Age-At-Death: An Analysis Of Senescence Of Features On The Auricular Surface, Dawson W. Lamb

Anthropology Theses

Forensic anthropologists are commonly tasked with constructing a biological profile when attempting to identify an individual based on skeletal remains. During this process, age estimation is commonly accomplished by scoring the auricular surface of the os coxae. However, extrinsic factors such as obesity can influence the morphology of skeletal elements such as the auricular surface. In a sample of 151 individuals from the Bass Skeletal Collection at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, three age groups (30-49, 50-64, and 65-80) and both biological sexes were examined, and their sacroiliac joints scored, using the Buckberry & Chamberlain system. This research attempts to expand …

High School Nutrition Education Modules For Homeschooling, Miranda J. Baker

Nutrition Masters Projects

The increasing prevalence of obesity is increasing in the adolescent population. Many preventable diseases that may manifest later in life are associated with modifiable risk factors established during this time. Adolescents are at risk for chronic diseases related to diets consisting of increased fat, sodium, and sugars combined with decreased consumption of fruits, vegetables, and high fiber or calcium-containing foods. General nutrition knowledge questionnaires demonstrate that students receive inadequate nutrition education. Homeschooling is growing in popularity in the United States, which allows the opportunity to integrate nutrition education because the instructor or parent accompanies their students during cooking, tasting, and …

Food Insecurity And Chronic Disease Among Working-Age Us Adults, Kiara Maddox

Public Health Dissertations

Studies of the health impact of low food security among adults are limited and generally focus on the association between low food security and one chronic illness. These studies do not examine the full range of food security status which include high, marginal, low, and very low. Past studies have focused only on two groups: food secure and food insecure. We, therefore, examined the association between the four levels of food security and six chronic conditions: hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease (CHD), cancer, asthma, and kidney disease. Our study compared two nationally representative population-based samples from the National Health and …

Diabetes Mellitus Among Persons Living With Hiv: Prevalence And Predictors, Glodi K. Mutamba

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Over the past years, there has been intense and sustained research interest in diabetes and its relationships with different health conditions and factors. Diabetes is defined as a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Without appropriate intervention, elevated blood glucose levels can cause several metabolic abnormalities and disabling complications such as cardiovascular disease, eye disease, neuropathy, and kidney failure. This study is particularly critical as the United States is among the highest diabetes prevalent nations among developed countries. The concentration of HIV and diabetes in the same …

Household Food Insecurity, Depression, And Disordered Eating Symptoms In Adolescents With Severe Obesity, Meredith Bishop

Psychology Dissertations

As rates of severe pediatric obesity have increased, bariatric surgery has become more common in adolescents. Disordered eating symptoms may interfere with an adolescent’s ability to effectively adhere to dietary requirements and hinder weight loss. The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between household food insecurity, depression, and disordered eating in a sample of adolescents seeking bariatric surgery. Participants (N = 73) were adolescents presenting to the pre-surgical psychological evaluation. Household food insecurity was not related to disordered eating or any disordered eating subscales but was significantly higher in Black households compared to White households. Depression …

Project B.L.A.C.K. Barriers Lifted After Cultivating Knowledge: Assessing Individualized Barriers To Obesity Prevention In Black Women Using The Teach-Back Method, Jasmine A. Berry, Joan Cranford Edd, Rn, Rachel Powell Phd, Mph

Nursing Doctoral Projects (DNP)

Background: Black women are diagnosed, disabled, and die from obesity and associated chronic diseases at higher rates than any other race or sex. Further exploration is warranted on how advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) can improve culturally relevant health education and counseling delivery.

Objective: Explore individualized barriers and the healthcare provider’s roles in providing care affecting obesity prevention among Black women. While simultaneously assessing the effectiveness of educating Black women using the Teach-back method to understand health habits and attitudes.

Method: A mixed-method design was utilized in group sessions and surveys. Participants identifying with obesity and associated …

Essays On The Economic Determinants Of Health, George Davis

AYSPS Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three chapters on the economic determinants of health, specifically those related to the pathways of nutrition and government nutrition assistance policy. I evaluate the Community Eligibility Provision’s (CEP’s) effects on child weight outcomes in my first two chapters, a program that allows certain schools to offer universally free school meals to all students. My first chapter uses child-level data from a nationally representative survey which follows a single sample of children from Kindergarten to fifth grade. I use these data to identify the effect of attending a CEP school on outcomes of child weight. I find …

Essays In Applied Microeconomics On Mexico, Francisco Beltran Silva

AYSPS Dissertations

This dissertation comprises three chapters on applied microeconomics that study different economic aspects around the intersection between street violence and nutrition in the context of Mexico. The first and pivot chapter, titled “Military Interventions and Obesity: Evidence from Mexico’s Drug War”, studies the relationship street violence and body weight. This chapter examines if exposure to street violence originated in the military interventions against the drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) that started in 2006 in Mexico had an impact on weight using longitudinal data from a household survey. My results indicate that military operations affect weight positively, increasing overweight although not to …

Role Of Microbiome In Impacting Treatment Of Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes, Aneseh Adeshirlarijaney

Biology Dissertations

Metabolic Syndrome is a constellation of metabolic abnormalities associated with insulin resistance and obesity, including hyperglycemia and hypertension. Metabolic syndrome often progresses to type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. Metabolic syndrome is increasingly appreciated to be an inflammatory disease in that is associated with increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes and markers, remodeling of adipose tissue, and markedly increased incidence in the last 50 years. Additionally, both diseases alter the microbiota, specifically with alteration in gut microbiota composition. Metabolic syndrome requires a microbiota in that disease is not observed in germ- free mice, and some aspects of the …

Microbiota-Immune System Interactions In Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome, Hao Tran

Biology Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is the collective term for the interrelated abnormalities associated with obesity. Features of MetS promote a variety of chronic diseases that are amongst humanity’s most pressing public-health problems. MetS is increasingly appreciated to be associated with chronic inflammation driven by an imbalance of host immune cells and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. While numerous genetic factors influence the development of MetS, the increased incidence of this disorder occurring amidst changes in food production and dietary habits has led to the presumption that diet and the intestinal microbiota is a major determinant of MetS. The overall goal of my …

Racial/Ethnic Differences In The Association Between The Joint Occurrence Of Obesity, Physical Inactivity And Type 2 Diabetes Among Us Adults, Chiamaka Anyanele

Public Health Theses

Background: Type 2 diabetes is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and physical inactivity are positively associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, little information is known about how these two risk factors coexist to influence Type 2 diabetes across different racial/ethnic groups (Non-Hispanic Blacks, Non-Hispanic Whites and Mexican Americans). Understanding the relationship in the joint occurrence of obesity and physical inactivity with the risk of diabetes is of importance in framing robust public health interventions to alleviate health disparities in the US.

AIM: To examine the association of the joint …

Relationship Between Acculturation And Elevated Bmi Among Foreign-Born Us Residents - Nhanes 2015-2016, Elizabeth O. Akindele

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Health risks and economic burden associated with obesity calls for prevention, reduction, and urgent need to bridge the racial and ethnic disparities in its prevalence. More so net international migration is projected to be the highest driver of population growth in the US by 2030. Hence, an exploratory study to understand the burden of obesity across racial/ethnic groups and various sociodemographic subgroups is imperative.

AIM: To describe the relationship between acculturation and elevated BMI among Foreign-born US residents.

METHODS: Using survey data from the 2015 - 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this thesis examined the relationship …

Association Between The Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages And Poor Mental Health Among Adults In The United States., Onyanehi Ajuma Ugbabe

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES AND POOR MENTAL HEALTH AMONG ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES.

By

ONYANEHI AJUMA UGBABE

APRIL, 2019

INTRODUCTION: Mental health disorders are significant public health problems in the United States due to their association with increased morbidity. Available evidence suggests a relationship between nutritional quality and mental health outcomes. This relationship is in line with emerging evidence that diet is essential in the treatment and management of psychiatric disorders. Diet is directly linked with obesity which in turn is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases, including psychiatric disorders. Given the current …

Modeling The Relationships Between Urinary F2-Isoprostanes, Bmi, And Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes, Padmini Sangaraju

Public Health Theses

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a chronic condition affecting 1 in every 10 adults in the United States. There is evidence that individuals with greater levels of F2-isoprostanes at similar levels of adiposity have reduced risk of T2DM. F2-isprostanes have been validated as markers of oxidative status in animal and human studies. Many cross-sectional studies found correlations between F2-isprostanes and adiposity measured as body mass index (BMI). The connection of F2-isprostanes to the lower risk of diabetes and BMI suggests that these markers can be interpreted as a part of some compensatory mechanisms involved in metabolic adaptation to body fat …

Examining Rural And Urban Differences In Fruit And Vegetable Intake Among Obese And Overweight Adults In Georgia (Brfss 2015), Kadija Hamki

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity and overweight is continuously on the rise in the United States. According to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development projections, obesity levels are expected to rise to 47% in 2030. Being obese or overweight increases the risk of chronic diseases, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Fruit and vegetable intake are known to be beneficial in reducing risks for cardiovascular disease and cancer. There is extensive research showing a health disparity between urban and rural areas, where BMI levels are much higher in rural areas compared to urban. However, little is known regarding fruit and vegetable …

Essays On Misreporting, The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, And Adult Health, Augustine Denteh

Economics Dissertations

This dissertation examines the causal impacts of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on adult weight and nutrition outcomes using novel approaches to address nonrandom selection into the program and survey data quality issues. The overarching objective of this study is to provide credible estimates of the effects of SNAP to help policy makers and administrators engage in meaningful debates and prescribe nutrition assistance policies that promote the overall well-being of low-income Americans as well as mitigate any unintended consequences of the largest nutrition assistance program in the United States.

The first chapter proposes a model to estimate treatment effects …

The Impact Of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program And Acculturation On Obesity Among Adult Immigrant Groups In The United States, Sashoy Patterson

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION:

Obesity is a dangerous, costly and common condition that has more than doubled worldwide since 1980 and affects greater than one-third (~37%) of adults in the United States. Studies have shown that minority groups have disproportionately high rates of obesity and that there is an overall positive association between immigrant length of residency in the U.S. and obesity. Immigrant families are incredibly likely to experience poverty in their new host environment—limiting them to low-cost high-density foods. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was implemented to promote behaviors that can reduce the impact of obesity and improve nutrition levels among …

Reducing Pregnancy Risk By Motivation Overweigth And Obese Women To Make Preconception Changes To Diet And Physical Activity Behavior: A Pilot Study, Josie Doss

Nursing Dissertations (PhD)

Overweight and obese women who lose weight prior to pregnancy have fewer pregnancy complications than those who do not (Forsum, Brantsaeter, Olafsdottir, Olsen, & Thorsdottir, 2013; Schummers, Hutcheon, Bodnar, Lieverman, & Himes, 2015). Research findings suggest there are missed opportunities to provide diet and physical activity counseling during preventive care visits. Providers cite a lack of time and resources as barriers (Morgan et al., 2006; Yamamoto et al., 2014).

This was a two-group, randomized, pilot-study of 19 overweight or obese women in Central Georgia. Participants completed surveys related to their perception of risk for obesity-related pregnancy complications, readiness to change …

Length Of Exclusive Breastfeeding And Obesity Risk In Children At Risk For Type 1 Diabetes, Krista Whitfield, Anita M. Nucci, Barbara Hopkins

Nutrition Masters Projects

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that occurs when T lymphocyte cells attack and destroy beta cells in the pancreas.¹ The cause of T1D is considered to be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental or lifestyle risk factors.

Early introduction of diet is thought to play a role in the development of T1D as it is less common in people who were breastfed and who were introduced to solid foods at later ages. The protection that breastfeeding can offer against the development of childhood obesity and T1D in children at risk for T1D is unknown and …

Diabetes Mellitus Is Associated With Increased Prevalence Of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: Findings From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012, Marissa M. Barron

Public Health Theses

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with threefold higher risks of active tuberculosis (TB) and an estimated 15% of the 10.4 million annual incident TB cases are attributable to diabetes. While the relationship between diabetes and TB disease is well-established, little is known about the association between diabetes and latent TB infection (LTBI).

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2011-2012 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants aged ³20 years were eligible for this analysis. Diabetes status was defined by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as no diabetes (£5.6%), prediabetes (5.7-6.4%), and diabetes (³6.5%); …

Association Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption And Overweight /Obesity By Physical Activity Status And Socio-Demographic Factors In U.S. Adolescents: Analysis Of The 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Bernice Edward

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Research has strongly linked increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to obesity/overweight in youth.

AIM: This study aims to: (1) examine SSB consumption rates in high school students nationwide, (2) explore association between SSB consumption and adiposity (overweight/obesity), (3) examine gender, racial/ethnic, and physical activity (PA) status differences in SSB consumption.

METHODS: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)-2015 was employed in this study. Weighted percentages were used to examine differences in SSB consumption and adiposity prevalence by gender, race and PA status. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine association between SSB consumption and adiposity. Adjusted and unadjusted odds …

The Implications Of Chronic Stress On Obesity: Allostatic Load On Body Mass Index (Bmi) Classification In The United States, Nhanes 2005-2006, Sheila H. Grami

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

The Implications of Chronic Stress on Obesity: Allostatic Load on Body Mass Index (BMI) Classification in the United States, NHANES 2005-2006

INTRODUCTION: In this modern environment, our world is reflecting an exponential increase in not only population, but in body size. Obesity is an overwhelming public health concern among the United States population. Research has shown there is a positive correlation between adiposity and stress. Allostatic load (AL) has been presented to be a consistent measure of chronic stress damage on the body. Yet, there is few studies exemplifying the presence AL on classification of body mass index (BMI). …

Microbiota Metabolism Of Soluble Fiber Protects Against Low Grade Inflammation And Metabolic Syndrome, Jennifer Miles-Brown

Biology Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of obesity-related metabolic abnormalities that predisposes to type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. The dramatic increase in incidence of obesity and MetS over the last 25 years amidst relatively constant host genetics supports the role for non-genetic factors such as gut microbiota composition as an important contributor to the development of these disorders. Microbiota can interact with the host, in a manner influenced by genetics and diet that result in low-grade chronic inflammation. A critical risk factor for the pathogenesis of obesity and its related MetS involves alteration of gut microbiota composition …

Essays On Smoking, Drinking And Obesity: Evidence From A Randomized Experiment, Benjamin David Thomas Johannes Ukert

Economics Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three chapters analyzing risky health behaviors utilizing data from the Lung Health Study (LHS), a randomized smoking cessation program. The first two chapters of this dissertation analyze the effects of smoking on alcohol consumption and BMI, respectively. The third chapter studies whether and how much the objective smoking information, which is defined by clinicians, may be misreported.

The first chapter examines the effect of smoking on alcoholic beverage consumption. The epidemiology literature suggests that both behaviors affect similar brain regions and are commonly consumed together. So far, the economics literature has presented inconclusive causal evidence on …

Exploring The Obesity-Related Lifestyle Attitudes And Behaviors Of African-American Women And Afro-Caribbean Immigrant Women In Metro Atlanta, Georgia, Melany Chambers

Communication Dissertations

Background. Obesity has been associated with a number of negative health consequences (e.g., hypertension/heart disease, type-2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and respiratory illnesses). Despite health communication campaigns to reduce overweight/obesity by encouraging lifestyle changes (e.g., eating healthier foods and exercising), the rates of overweight and obesity levels have continued to rise. Studies indicate that the rate of overweight and obesity in the U.S. is highest among Blacks. Messages targeted toward “Blacks” (African-Americans) in the United States treat this segment of the population as a homogenous group and fail to account for within-group cultural differences. Cultural values and beliefs related to food, physical …

Effect Of Acute High Intensity Interval Exercise And Energy Balance On Plasma Acylated Ghrelin Concentrations, Calvin L. Cole

Kinesiology Dissertations

Ghrelin is an appetite-stimulating hormone produced mainly in the stomach and duodenum. Poor ghrelin control is often caused by obesity-related hyperinsulinemia, which fails to suppress ghrelin and results in excess appetite and higher body fat storage that perpetuates even greater fat accumulation. High intensity exercise has been shown to acutely decrease plasma acylated ghrelin concentrations in healthy weight individuals. However, the evidence for how exercise affects ghrelin in obese individuals is currently lacking. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of high intensity interval exercise on acute plasma acylated ghrelin levels in obese and non-obese males. METHODS: Eighteen subjects with a mean …

The Effects Of Psychological Stress On Abdominal Obesity Among African American Women, Sankan W. Nyanseor

Public Health Theses

African American (AA) women have the highest prevalence of obesity than other groups in the US making them disproportionately at high risk for chronic diseases associated with obesity such type 2 diabetes mellitus. Research has shown that stress may be a risk factor for obesity and that it may be more prevalent within AA women. The aim of this study was to identify if there is an association between psychological stress in AA women in the US and abdominal obesity (AO). A cross sectional study design was employed using secondary data from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey …

Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Albuminuria And Food Insecurity In Women, Using The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Heidi Cox

Public Health Theses

Context: Albuminuria, a clinical indicator of chronic kidney disease, has a high prevalence among the US population where approximately half of the people with this condition are women. In the US, most participants in food based government assistance programs are women who have food insecurity. Research indicates that obesity and diabetes, known risk factors for chronic kidney disease, are consequences of food insecurity.

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine racial-ethnic differences in the relationship between food insecurity and albuminuria in women who participated in the 2011-2012 NHANES.

Methods: Odds ratios from racial-ethnic specific multivariate …

Is There An Association Between Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation And Elevated Body Mass Index In Women?, Jennifer Rucker, Jennifer Lauren Rucker

Public Health Theses

Background: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the largest nutrition assistance program in the United States. Its objective is to alleviate food insecurity and hunger. Women represent 28% of participants. Low-income individuals and women have the highest rates of obesity.

Objective: Determine if there is an association between participation in SNAP and elevated body mass index (BMI) in low-income women.

Design: A cross-sectional analysis was performed with National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2009-2010 dataset. The study population comprised 788 women between the ages of 18 and 65, who were not …