Life Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Athletes’ Risk For Developing The Female Athlete Triad At Two Mississippi Universities, Laura G. Warren

Honors Theses

Despite the health benefits associated with regular exercise, some female athletes experience menstrual dysfunction and low bone mineral density associated with low energy availability as a result of a high volume of exercise and inadequate caloric intake; these three components characterize the female athlete triad (FAT). Prior research explored the severity of the FAT, pre-season screenings, and nutrition intervention methods; however, current research regarding the relationship between the risk for developing the FAT and access to nutrition resources is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of female athletes at two Mississippi universities for developing the …

Retrospective Reports Of Parental Feeding Practices And Current Emotional Eating Behaviors Among College Students, Mercedes Babin

Honors Theses

Emotional eating is a commonly reported eating behavior among United States adults; however, previous literature has indicated that the development of emotional eating is abnormal with regard to the body’s typical physiologic functioning. Although several studies have shown parental feeding practices correlate to the development of emotional eating in children, little research has been done to explore the association between parental feeding practices experienced in childhood and eating behaviors present in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between parental feeding practices in childhood (i.e., food as a reward, monitoring, restriction, and pressure to eat) and …

Impact Of A Preschool Obesity Program (I-Pop) Program On Nutrition Knowledge Scores Of Head Start Parents And Teachers, Holly Huye, Carol Connell, Caroline Newkirk

Faculty Publications

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of an evidence-based preschool obesity prevention intervention on rural, low-income parents’ and Head Start teachers’ nutrition knowledge relative to advice from experts, nutrient content of foods, and health benefits of foods.

Methods: Parent-child dyads were recruited from 9 randomized Head Start centers with 5 centers in the experimental group and 4 centers in the control. The intervention consisted of 8 weekly evidence-based nutrition education sessions for children delivered by the Head Start teachers; a teacher workshop on the use of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in the classroom; and 8 parent workshops …

Determining The Association Between Religious Participation And Spirituality And Diet And Physical Activity Behaviors In African Americans Of Mississippi, Nidhi Shrestha

Honors Theses

According to CDC, African Americans experience higher rates of chronic diseases when compared to other ethnic groups. Focusing on religiosity and spirituality may benefit the health status of this minority group where advanced healthcare facilities are not easily assessable. The purpose of this research is to 1. Examine demographic factors related to religiosity/spirituality factors among a sample of African American Mississippians; and 2. Determine the correlation between their religiosity, spirituality, and health behaviors. The study uses the data collected by the Mississippi INBRE Telenutrition Center at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Participants for this study were recruited from May …

Assessing Prevalence Of Eating Disorders Among College Students, Taylor Jordan Duncan

Honors Theses

Eating disorders have become a subject of concern for college-aged young adults in recent years. Risk factors like social media use are contributing to an increase in affected students, and research suggests that gender along with other variables plays a significant role. This thesis examined the current research on eating disorders and risk factors associated with their development. Through an online survey, information from freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate students at The University of Southern Mississippi regarding their current eating behaviors, feelings toward food and body, and demographic information was collected. Data collected indicated the student population’s level of …

Food Consumption Patterns And Body Composition In Children: Moderating Effects Of Prop Taster Status, Lee Stoner, Nicholas Castro, Anna Kucharska-Newton, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Sally Lark, Michelle A. Williams, James Faulkner, Paula Skidmore

Faculty Publications

This cross-sectional study determined whether 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) taster status moderates the relationship between food consumption patterns and body composition in children. Children were recruited (n = 342, 50% female, 8–10 y) from across New Zealand. Using a food frequency questionnaire, these food consumption patterns were derived: Processed Foods, Fruit and Vegetables, and Breakfast Foods. Body composition variables included: body fat (%), fat mass (kg), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m²), body mass index (kg/m²) and waist to height ratio (W:Ht). Following adjustment for confounders, Processed Foods were positively associated with %fat (p = 0.015), fat mass (p …

Expenditure, Coping, And Academic Behaviors Among Food-Insecure College Students At 10 Higher Education Institutes In The Appalachian And Southeastern Regions, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Laura H. Mcarthur, Lanae B. Hood, Maureen Berner, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves, Carol L. Connell, Elizabeth Wall-Bassett, Marsha Spence, Oyinlola Toyin Babatunde, E. Brooke Kelly, Julia F. Waity, J. Porter Lillis, Melissa D. Olfert

Faculty Publications

Background

A number of studies have measured college student food insecurity prevalence higher than the national average; however, no multicampus regional study among students at 4-y institutions has been undertaken in the Appalachian and Southeast regions of the United States. Objectives

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of food insecurity among college students in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, and to determine the association between food-insecurity status and money expenditures, coping strategies, and academic performance among a regional sample of college students. Methods

This regional, cross-sectional, online survey study included 13,642 college …

Dietary Intake Reporting Accuracy Of The Bridge2u Mobile Application Food Log Compared To Control Meal And Dietary Recall Methods, Jennifer Lemacks, Kristen Adams, Ashley Lovetere

Faculty Publications

Mobile technology introduces opportunity for new methods of dietary assessment. The purpose of this study was to compare the reporting accuracy of a mobile food log application and 24 h recall method to a controlled meal among a convenience sample of adults (18 years of age or older). Participants were recruited from a community/university convenience sample. Participants consumed a pre-portioned control meal, completed mobile food log entry (mfood log), and participated in a dietary recall administered by a registered dietitian (24R). Height, weight, and application use survey data were collected. Sign test, Pearson’s correlation, and descriptive analyses were conducted to …

Awareness Of Biological Mechanisms Of Artificial Sweeteners And The Effects Of Increased Awareness Via Video Media On Intent To Change Dietary Habits In Traditional College-Age Students, Cassie A. Mahler

Honors Theses

In the past, artificial sweeteners have been touted as weight loss solutions because they theoretically do not interact with the body’s metabolism. However, new research is being done to test this theory, but what is the public awareness of these compounds’ interactions with the body? The purpose of this study is threefold: to assess the current awareness of the biological mechanisms of artificial sweeteners in traditional college-age individuals; to assess the effectiveness of video education in increasing this awareness; and to assess how the increase of this awareness might lead to intentions to change dietary habits. The study consisted of …

Hospital Practices Related To Breastfeeding In Mississippi: A Socio-Ecological Approach, Amir Alakaam

Dissertations

Mississippi continues to have one of the lowest rates and the weakest support in respect to breastfeeding in the nation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014a). Hospital practices supporting breastfeeding such as the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding (TSSB) can dramatically increase breastfeeding rates and duration (Rosenberg, Stull, Adler, Kasehagen, & Crivelli-Kovach, 2008). The aim of this study was to explore breastfeeding practices in Mississippi hospitals based on two levels of the Socio-Ecological Model: the organizational level (phase I) examined the hospital practices based on the level of implementation of the TSSB; the individual level (phase II) examined knowledge …

The Relationship Between Interviewer-Respondent Race Match And Reporting Of Energy Intake Using Food Frequency Questionnaires In The Rural South United States, Jennifer Lemacks, Holly F. Huye, Renee Rupp, Carol Connell

Faculty Publications

Objective

The purpose of the observational study was to determine whether interviewer race influences food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) reporting accuracy in a Deep South, largely African American cohort.

Methods

A secondary analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of interviewer race on energy reporting of 319 African Americans who participated in the Mississippi Communities for Healthy Living intervention in May–June 2011, a community-based and USDA-funded project. Reported energy intake was compared to total energy expenditure to identify normal (ENR), under-(EUR) and over-reporters (EOR). Multivariate logistic regression models determined the relationship between race match and energy misreporting, accounting for confounding variables …

Alcohol Consumption And Dietary Behavior Among College Greek Students, William B. Stevens

Honors Theses

Background: Alcohol consumption among college students has increased dramatically within the last three decades. Drinking has increased in even higher rates among students involved in Greek fraternities and sororities. The implications that this rise in drinking has on dietary behaviors are an important concern. While several studies have focused on investigating reasons for drinking and negative consequences with regards to drinking, literature is limited that focuses on how alcohol consumption affects dietary habits and behavior.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alcohol consumption on the dietary behaviors of college Greek students.

Methods: …

Improvements In Blood Pressure Among Undiagnosed Hypertensive Participants In A Community-Based Lifestyle Intervention, Mississippi, 2010, Jamie M. Zoellner, Jessica L. Thomson, Alicia S. Landry, Charkarra Anderson-Lewis, Carol Connell, Elaine Fontenot Molaison, Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Introduction

Effective strategies are needed to reach and treat people who lack awareness of or have uncontrolled hypertension. We used data from a community-based participatory research initiative, Hub City Steps, to quantify the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and determine the relationship between hypertension status at baseline and postintervention improvements in blood pressure and health-related quality of life.

Methods

Hub City Steps was a 6-month preintervention–postintervention lifestyle intervention targeting hypertension risk factors. Outcome measures were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Generalized linear mixed models were used to test for effects by time and hypertension status.

Results

Of the …

Health Insurance Status, Psychological Processes, And Older African Americans' Use Of Preventive Care, Catherine Walker O'Neal, Kandauda A.S. Wickrama, Penny A. Ralston, Jasminka Z. Elich, Cynthia M. Harris, Catherine Coccia, Iris Young-Clark, Jennifer Lemacks

Faculty Publications

The current study examined the influence of health insurance, psychological processes (i.e. psychological competency and vulnerability), and the interaction of these two constructs on older African Americans' utilization of five preventive care services (e.g. cholesterol screening and mammogram/prostate examination) using data from 211 older African Americans (median age = 60). In addition to direct effects, the influence of health insurance sometimes varied depending on respondents' psychological competency and/or vulnerability. Policies and interventions to increase older African Americans' use of preventive health services should consider structural (e.g. health insurance) and psychological (e.g. psychological competency and vulnerability) factors along with the interaction …

Hub City Steps: A 6-Month Lifestyle Intervention Improves Blood Pressure Among A Primarily African-American Community, Jamie M. Zoellner, Carol Connell, Michael B. Modson, Jessica L. Thomson, Alicia S. Landry, Elaine Fontenot Molaison, Vickie Blakely Reed, Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

The effectiveness of community-based participatory research (CBPR) efforts to address the disproportionate burden of hypertension among African Americans remains largely untested. The objective of this 6-month, noncontrolled, pre-/post-experimental intervention was to examine the effectiveness of a CBPR intervention in achieving improvements in blood pressure, anthropometric measures, biological measures, and diet. Conducted in 2010, this multicomponent lifestyle intervention included motivational enhancement, social support provided by peer coaches, pedometer diary self-monitoring, and monthly nutrition and physical activity education sessions. Of 269 enrolled participants, 94% were African American and 85% were female. Statistical analysis included generalized linear mixed models using maximum likelihood estimation. …

Interventions For Improving Nutrition And Physical Activity Behaviors In Adult African American Populations: A Systematic Review, January 2000 Through December 2011, Jennifer Lemacks, Brittny A. Wells, Jasminka Z. Ilich, Penny A. Ralston

Faculty Publications

Introduction The incidence of preventable chronic diseases is disproportionally high among African Americans and could be reduced through diet and physical activity interventions. Our objective was to systematically review the literature on clinical outcomes of diet and physical activity interventions conducted among adult African American populations in the United States. Methods We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analysis construct in our review. We searched Medline (PubMed and Ovid), Cochrane, and DARE databases and restricted our search to articles published in English from January 2000 through December 2011. We included studies of educational interventions with clinically …

The Effectiveness Of Internet And Instant Messaging Approaches In Promoting Intention To Breastfeed, Brigett Landry Scott

Dissertations

Breastfeeding rates for the southern portion of the United States are low compared to the rest of the country. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of electronic delivery of breastfeeding education compared to written education in regards to intention to breastfeed in a convenience sample of pregnant women in coastal Louisiana and Mississippi. The final sample included 147 women randomized into one of three groups to complete the six week education intervention study. Questionnaires measuring demographics, Need for Cognition Scale (NFC), the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS), and the IFI Feeding Intentions Assessment were utilized. MANCOVA was used …

Mississippi's First Annual Farm To School Week: Evaluation Of School Participation, Kelsey Jean Lingsch

Master's Theses

Mississippi has recently established the first week of October as statewide Farm to School (F2S) Week, providing Mississippi the opportunity to improve the health status of children while improving the local economy. The study aimed to measure Mississippi school districts' participation during F2S Week 2012 and identify perceived barriers and future interest of participation among child nutrition directors (CND). An electronic survey was sent to the 156 CNDs in the state of Mississippi participating in the National School Lunch Program. Data were analyzed in SPSS v.20 using descriptive and correlational statistics. Among the 75 CNDs who responded to the survey, …

Several Steps/Day Indicators Predict Changes In Anthropometric Outcomes: Hub City Steps, Jessica L. Thompson, Alicia S. Landry, Jamie M. Zoellner, Catrine Tudor-Locke, Michael Webster, Carol L. Connell, Kathy Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Background: Walking for exercise remains the most frequently reported leisure-time activity, likely because it is simple, inexpensive, and easily incorporated into most people's lifestyle. Pedometers are simple, convenient, and economical tools that can be used to quantify step-determined physical activity. Few studies have attempted to define the direct relationship between dynamic changes in pedometer-determined steps/day and changes in anthropometric and clinical outcomes. Hence, the objective of this secondary analysis was to evaluate the utility of several descriptive indicators of pedometer-determined steps/day for predicting changes in anthropometric and clinical outcomes using data from a community-based walking intervention, HUB City Steps, conducted …

Environmental Perceptions And Objective Walking Trail Audits Inform A Community-Based Participatory Research Walking Intervention, Jamie Zoellner, Jennie L. Hill, Karen Zynda, Alicia D. Sample, M. Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Background: Given the documented physical activity disparities that exist among low-income minority communities and the increased focused on socio-ecological approaches to address physical inactivity, efforts aimed at understanding the built environment to support physical activity are needed. This community-based participatory research (CBPR) project investigates walking trails perceptions in a high minority southern community and objectively examines walking trails. The primary aim is to explore if perceived and objective audit variables predict meeting recommendations for walking and physical activity, MET/minutes/week of physical activity, and frequency of trail use. Methods: A proportional sampling plan was used to survey community residents in this …

Bioactive Properties And Clinical Safety Of A Novel Milk Protein Peptide, Richard B. Kreider, Mike Iosia, Matt Cooke, Geoffrey M. Hudson, Chris Rasmussen, Helen Chen, Olof Mollstedt, Men-Hwei Tsai

Faculty Publications

Background: Milk protein fractions and peptides have been shown to have bioactive properties. This preliminary study examined the potential mechanisms of action and clinical safety of novel milk protein peptide ( MP).

Findings: A novel MP mixture inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and insulin receptor (IR) with IC(50) of 9.85 mu M, 7.7 mu M, and 6.18 mu M respectively. In vitro, this multi-kinase inhibitor causes apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells, and in a C. elegans worm study, showed a weak but significant …

A Formative Evaluation For A Food Choices Intervention In A Mississippi Delta Community: A Focus Group Of Rural African American Adolescents, Jovan Chantrell Eugene Williams

Master's Theses

A needs assessment should be conducted to plan effective interventions. This study used a qualitative research approach to examine the eating patterns, food purchasing and preparation skills and practices, barriers and facilitators of dietary change, social and contextual influences on food choices, and preferences for communication and presentation channels and styles of low-income rural African American adolescents. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 33 participants, 21 girls and 12 boys, aged 13-18. Adolescents were grouped by age and gender. A moderator, who was trained in focus group methodology, conducted the session using a focus group discussion guide …

Simulated Reductions In Consumption Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Improves Diet Quality In Lower Mississippi Delta Adults, Jessica L. Thomson, Lisa M. Tussing-Humphreys, Stephen J. Onufrak, Carol Connell, Jamie M. Zoellner, Margaret L. Bogle, Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Background

Although the effects of replacing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with water on energy intake and body weight have been reported, little is known about how these replacements affect diet quality.

Objective

To simulate the effects of replacing SSBs with tap water on diet quality and total energy intake of Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) adults.

Design

Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional dietary intake data using a representative sample of LMD adults (n=1,689). Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) scores that were computed using the population ratio method. The effects of substituting SSBs with water on diet …

Examining Dietary Acculturation In Hispanic Males Residing In South Mississippi, Diana Katherine Cuy Castellanos

Dissertations

This study explored dietary behavior in terms of dietary intake, dietary intake change and dietary contributing factors in a sample of Hispanic males residing in southern Mississippi that are at various stages of the acculturation process. Grounded theory and the bidimensional acculturation model were incorporated to identify the dietary factors and assess acculturation in each participant. Qualitative and quantitative measures were used in data collection. Qualitative measurements included Semistructured interviews, a focus group, and photovoice with group interviews. The ARSMA-II, Marginality Scale, Fruit/Vegetable and Fat Food Screeners, a psychosocial dietary questionnaire, and the New Vital Signs Food Label for Health …

The Effects Of Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation On Lower-Body Hypertrophy-Type Resistance Exercise, Benjamin Mclean Carr

Dissertations

A number of studies have demonstrated the ergogenic effects of induced-alkalosis on high-intensity intermittent exercise performance. Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) administration on a high-volume hypertrophy-type resistance exercise regimen for the lower body. Methods: In a double-blind counterbalanced manner, 12 resistance-trained male participants (mean ± SD; age = 20.3 ± 2 yr, mass = 88.3 ± 13.2 kg, height = 1.80 ± 0.07 m), with a minimum of two years of training experience, ingested either 0.3 g˙kg^-1 of NaHCO₃ or calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) …

Nutrition Literacy Status And Preferred Nutrition Communication Channels Among Adults In The Lower Mississippi Delta, Jamie Zoellner, Carol L. Connell, Wendy Bounds, Lashaundrea Crook, M. Kathleen Yadrick

Faculty Publications

Introduction

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the nutrition literacy status of adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta.

Methods

Survey instruments included the Newest Vital Sign and an adapted version of the Health Information National Trends Survey. A proportional quota sampling plan was used to represent educational achievement of residents in the Delta region. Participants included 177 adults, primarily African Americans (81%). Descriptive statistics, X(2) analysis, analysis of variance, and multivariate analysis of covariance tests were used to examine survey data.

Results

Results indicated that 24% of participants had a high likelihood of limited nutrition literacy, 28% …

The Use And Perceptions Of Concept Mapping As A Learning Tool By Dietetic Internship Students And Preceptors, Elaine Fontenot Molaison, Kimberly Taylor, Dawn Erickson, Carol Connell

Faculty Publications

Critical thinking and problem solving skills are currently emphasis areas in the education of allied health professionals. Use of concept maps to teach these skills have been utilized primarily in nursing and medical education, but little has been published about their use in dietetics education. Therefore the purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of concept mapping as a learning tool for nutrition assessment among dietetic interns and its acceptability by internship preceptors. Nineteen dietetic interns and 31 preceptors participated in a quasi-experimental pre-/post-design in which the concept mapping strategy was taught as a replacement for the …

The Relationship Between Calcium Intake, Obesity, And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: The Jackson Heart Study, Marjuyua Lartey-Rowser

Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major health risk in the United States. Major indicators of CVD risk include obesity, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Modifiable risk factors associated with CVD include body composition (body mass index and waist circumference), serum lipids, and blood pressure. Data suggest calcium intake may play a role in regulation of weight, serum lipids, and blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to assess relationships of dietary calcium intake with weight status, and cardiovascular disease risks in African American population participating in the Jackson Heart Study.

The subjects included 4,267 African American adults ages 21-95 …

Body Mass Index And Health Related Quality Of Life In Elementary School Children: A Pilot Study, Lei Zhang, Peter J. Fos, William D. Johnson, Vafa Kamali, Reagan G. Cox, Miguel A. Zuniga, Theresa Kittle

Faculty Publications

Background: We investigated the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) indicated by baseline health status in elementary school children. Methods: Data were obtained via parents whose children enrolled in an elementary school, kindergarten to fourth grade, in southern Mississippi in spring 2004. Parents completed the SF-10 for Children (TM), a brief 10-item questionnaire designed to measure children's HRQOL on a voluntary basis. Results: A total of 279 parents completed the questionnaires for their children. On average, physical and psychosocial summary scores, major indicators for HRQOL, were significantly higher among the elementary school children in …

A Regional Food-Frequency Questionnaire For The Us Mississippi Delta, Katherine L. Tucker, Janice Maras, Catherine Champagne, Carol L. Connell, Susan Goolsby, Judith Weber, Sahar Zaghloul, Teresa Carithers, Margaret L. Bogle

Faculty Publications

Objective: To describe food sources of nutrient intake for white and African American adults in the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD), and their use in the development of a regional food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) based on an earlier version of the National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Questionnaire. Design: We ranked food sources of energy, macronutrients, vitamins and minerals, and examined portion size distributions for 842 white and 857 African American residents aged 19 years and older, using 24-hour dietary intake recall data from a telephone survey of 36 LMD counties. These values were used to develop a regional FFQ, which …