Life Sciences Commons^™

The Body Mass Index Of San Francisco Cold Water Swimmers - Comparisons To U.S. National And Local Populations, And Pool Swimmers, Brendan T. Crow, Ellicott C. Matthay, Stephen P. Schatz, Mark D. Debeliso, Thomas J. Nuckton

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(8): 1250-1262, 2017. To determine if cold-water swimmers have substantial differences in BMI, which might have a protective effect against heat loss during swims in cold water without wetsuits, and to determine if obesity is more or less prevalent in cold-water swimmers, we compared the body mass index (BMI) values of 103 recreational open-water swimmers (mean age 54.3 ±10.8 years) to data from various population groups. Swimmers swam consistently throughout the winter months, in the San Francisco Bay (water temperature range: 9.6° C [49.3 ° F] to 12.6° C [54.7 ° F]), without wetsuits. After …

Healthy Families: A Family-Based Community Intervention To Address Childhood Obesity, Danae Dinkel, Melissa Tibbits, Emily Hanigan, Kelly Nielsen, Leah Jorgensen, Kay Grant

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Healthy Families, a family-based community intervention, in improving the knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behaviors of overweight/obese children and their families as well as to explore the lessons learned. Results showed families who completed the program had significant improvements for children and parents in areas such as nutrition knowledge and self-efficacy in making healthy eating choices as well as participating in physical activity. Additionally, families reported decreasing their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. Participating families and community partners provided valuable lessons for other communities seeking to implement a similar program.

Assessment Of Human Adipose Tissue Microvascular Function Using Videomicroscopy, Melissa G. Farb, Song-Young Park, Shakun Karki, Noyan Gokce

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

While obesity is closely linked to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular disease, little is known about mechanisms that govern these processes. It is hypothesized that pro-atherogenic mediators released from fat tissues particularly in association with central/visceral adiposity may promote pathogenic vascular changes locally and systemically, and the notion that cardiovascular disease may be the consequence of adipose tissue dysfunction continues to evolve. Here, we describe a unique method of videomicroscopy that involves analysis of vasodilator and vasoconstrictor responses of intact small human arterioles removed from the adipose depot of living human subjects. Videomicroscopy is used to examine functional properties …

An Overview Of Assessment Methodology For Obesity-Related Variables In Infants At Risk, Danae Dinkel, Corrine Hanson, Karsten Koehler, Ann Anderson Berry, Anastasia Kyvelidou, Matthew Bice, Jill Wallen, Danstan Bagenda, Laura Jana, Jana Pressler

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: The first 2 years of a child’s life are a particularly critical time period for obesity prevention.

Aim: An increasing amount of research across the world is aimed at understanding factors that impact early childhood obesity and developing interventions that target these factors effectively. With this growing interest, new and interdisciplinary research teams are developing to meet this research need. Due to rapid growth velocity during this phase of the lifespan, typical assessments used in older populations may not be valid or applicable in infants, and investigators need to be aware of the pros and cons of …

Does Breastfeeding Shape Food Preferences? Links To Obesity, Alison K. Ventura

Kinesiology and Public Health

The first 2 years of life have been recognized as a critical window for obesity prevention efforts. This period is characterized by rapid growth and development and, in a relatively short period of time, a child transitions from a purely milk-based diet to a more varied solid-food diet. Much learning about food and eating occurs during this critical window, and it is well-documented that early feeding and dietary exposures predict later food preferences, eating behaviors, and dietary patterns. The focus of this review will be on the earliest feeding experiences - breast- and formula-feeding - and the unique role of …

A Prospective Study Comparing Distance-Based Vs. Time-Based Exercise Prescriptions Of Walking And Running In Previously Sedentary Overweight Adults, Cody E. Morris, John C. Garner Iii, Scott G. Owens, Melinda W. Valliant, Hunter Debusk, Mark Loftin

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(5): 782-798, 2017. Prior work has reported that the declines observed in body mass index (BMI) and circumference measurements in their cross-sectional data were twice as large when calculated from distance energy expenditure estimations compared to energy expenditure estimations based on time and intensity. The primary purpose of this study was to compare walking/running for distance to walking/running for time as part of an exercise intervention. This study followed a between-subjects, repeated measures design. Fifteen overweight, but otherwise healthy participants completed the study. The time-based group walked/ran for self-reported time while the distance-based group walked/ran …

Understanding Differences Between Summer Vs. School Obesogenic Behaviors Of Children: The Structured Days Hypothesis, Keith Brazendale, Michael W. Beets, R. Glenn Weaver, Russell R. Pate, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Jessica L. Chandler, Amy Bohnert, Paul T. Von Hippel

Faculty Publications

Background: Although the scientific community has acknowledged modest improvements can be made to weight status and obesogenic behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary/screen time, diet, and sleep) during the school year, studies suggests improvements are erased as elementary-age children are released to summer vacation. Emerging evidence shows children return to school after summer vacation displaying accelerated weight gain compared to the weight gained occurring during the school year. Understanding how summer days differ from when children are in school is, therefore, essential.

Discussion: There is limited evidence on the etiology of accelerated weight gain during summer, with few studies comparing obesogenic …

Wnt5a Regulates Adipose Tissue Angiogenesis Via Antiangiogenic Vegf-A165b In Obese Humans, Melissa G. Farb, Doan T.M. Ngo, Song-Young Park, Samantha M. Saggese, Naomi M. Hamburg, Brian Carmine, Donald T. Hess, Kenneth Walsh, Noyan Gokce

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Experimental studies have suggested that Wingless-related integration site 5A (WNT5A) is a proinflammatory secreted protein that is associated with metabolic dysfunction in obesity. Impaired angiogenesis in fat depots has been implicated in the development of adipose tissue capillary rarefaction, hypoxia, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. We have recently demonstrated that impaired adipose tissue angiogenesis is associated with overexpression of antiangiogenic factor VEGF-A165b in human fat and the systemic circulation. In the present study, we postulated that upregulation of WNT5A is associated with angiogenic dysfunction and examined its role in regulating VEGF-A165b expression in human obesity. We biopsied subcutaneous and visceral adipose …

Sagittal Abdominal Diameter, Waist Circumference, And Bmi As Predictors Of Multiple Measures Of Glucose Metabolism: An Nhanes Investigation Of U.S. Adults, Shelby Anne Firouzi

Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: The key objective of the present investigation was to compare associations between sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), waist circumference, and BMI to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), along with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The study also analyzed the effect of multiple covariates on the anthropometric and glucose metabolism associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional design, including 3,582 subjects, was used. SAD was assessed using an abdominal caliper. All other data were collected following strict NHANES protocol. The OGTT was the primary variable used to index glucose metabolism. Fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR …

The Validity Of Submaximal Exercise Testing In Obese Women, Gabrielle Ringenberg

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Background: Submaximal exercise tests use heart rate responses to low-to-moderate intensity activity in order to predict cardiorespiratory fitness (VO_2max). Currently used tests may be inappropriate for obese populations as obese women have altered heart rate responses to exercise. The purpose of this project is to test the validity of the Modified Bruce Protocol submaximal treadmill test in obese women. Methods: Normal-weight (NWG) and obese women (OBG) completed the Modified Bruce submaximal treadmill test (to predict VO_2max using previously validated equations) and a maximal graded exercise test on a treadmill using the Standard Bruce Protocol (to obtain an …

He’S Just Content To Sit: A Qualitative Study Of Mothers’ Perceptions Of Infant Obesity And Physical Activity, Danae Dinkel, Kailey Snyder, Anastasia Kyvelidou, Victoria Molfese

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background: Rates of obesity among children ages zero to five are rapidly increasing. Greater efforts are needed to promote healthy behaviors of young children. Mothers are especially important targets for promoting health as mothers’ views play a vital role in helping their children foster healthy habits from an early age. Research has found parents’ views of infants’ weight may influence their feeding practices; however, limited research has explored mothers’ view of infants’ weight in relation to the promotion of physical activity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of mothers of normal weight infants and overweight …

Combined Exercise Training Reduces Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, And Insulin Resistance In Obese Prehypertensive Adolescent Girls, Won-Mok Son, Ki-Dong Sung, Leena P. Bharath, Kong-Jib Choi, Song-Young Park

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Childhood obesity is strongly linked to pathological processes for cardiovascular diseases in later adulthood. Obese adolescent girls with high blood pressure (BP) are reported to have increased arterial stiffness, which is associated with the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis. The present study sought to examine the impact of combined resistance and aerobic exercise (CRAE) training on BP, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), insulin resistance (IR), and body composition in obese prehypertensive girls. Forty girls (age, 15 ± 1 years; systolic BP, 132 ± 2 mmHg, diastolic BP, 80 ± 5 mmHg) were randomly assigned to either a combined exercise (EX, …

Postural Control Strategies Differ In Normal Weight And Overweight Infants, Danae Dinkel, Kailey Snyder, Victoria Molfese, Anastasia Kyvelidou

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Background

Evidence suggests obesity can have a negative influence on a child’s motor development and postural control behavior. Little research has examined the impact of infant weight on gross motor behavior, particularly postural control at the onset of sitting.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine whether normal weight and overweight infants differed in their postural control strategies at the onset of sitting and one-month post onset of sitting.

Methods

29 infants (n = 19 normal weight, n = 10 overweight) were recruited to participate in this study. Infant’s length and weight were measured at 3 months of …

Eccentric Vs. Concentric Exercise Intervention During Extreme Post-Surgery Weight Loss, Joshua Kelley, Lance Davidson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the past decade severe obesity (body mass index of greater than 35 kg/m²) has increased by 70 percent and is considered the fastest growing BMI category in the United States. Severe obesity has been linked with a low quality of life and a variety of comorbidities. As a result, the amount of various weight loss surgeries have dramatically increased, enabling individuals to lose large amounts of weight in a short period of time. Following Roux-en-Y-Gastric-Bypass surgery, 30-35 percent of the total weight lost is considered muscle mass or fat free mass (FFM) and a 20-40 percent decrease in muscular …

Effect Of Activity Trackers And Text Messaging On Exercise, Fitness, And Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Of Middle School Students, Alison F. Pittman

Nursing Theses and Dissertations

A decrease in physical activity as children age is a contributing factor to the U.S. obesity epidemic. Middle school children are particularly vulnerable to sedentary activities. Activity trackers show promise as a means to motivate children and adults to increase physical activity (PA). This study examined the effect of a text messaging intervention and use of activity trackers with a companion social website on the body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, physical fitness, and PA self-efficacy of middle school children. Children aged 11-14 (n=102) were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 10-week intervention: activity tracker group; …

The Effects Of An Acute Bout Of Exercise On Hunger Hormones In Individuals At Risk For Type 2 Diabetes, Sydney Spoon

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Hunger hormone levels are typically dysregulated in obese and diabetic

populations, however; postprandial exercise has been shown to influence hunger hormone levels. Purpose: To determine if hunger hormones including acylated ghrelin and GLP-1 levels are altered in response to an acute bout (15 minutes) of walking in individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Ten subjects at risk for prediabetes (fasting blood glucose 100–125mg/dL) participated in this randomized crossover design trial. Subjects arrived at the laboratory following an overnight fast and underwent one of two conditions: 1) Test meal with no walking (CON) or 2) Test …

A Closer Look At Rural-Urban Health Disparities: Associations Between Obesity And Rurality Vary By Geospatial And Sociodemographic Factors, Steven A. Cohen, Sarah K. Cook, Lauren Kelley, Julia D. Foutz, Trisha A. Sando

Kinesiology and Health Sciences Publications

Background: Obesity affects over one-third of older adults in the United States. Both aging and obesity contribute to an increased risk for chronic disease, early mortality, and additional health care utilization. Obesity rates are higher in rural areas than in urban areas, although findings are mixed. The objectives of this study are to assess potential nonlinearity in the association between rurality and obesity, and to evaluate the potential for socioeconomic status and geographic area to moderate the associations between rurality and obesity.

Methods: Using a representative sample of adults aged 65 and above from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, …