Life Sciences Commons^™

A Meta-Analysis To Determine The Impact Of Restaurant Menu Labeling On Calories And Nutrients (Ordered Or Consumed) In U.S. Adults, Thaisa M Cantu-Jungles, Lacey A. Mccormack, James E Slaven, Maribeth Slebodnik, Heather A Eicher-Miller

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

A systematic review and meta-analysis determined the effect of restaurant menu labeling on calories and nutrients chosen in laboratory and away-from-home settings in U.S. adults. Cochrane-based criteria adherent, peer-reviewed study designs conducted and published in the English language from 1950 to 2014 were collected in 2015, analyzed in 2016, and used to evaluate the effect of nutrition labeling on calories and nutrients ordered or consumed. Before and after menu labeling outcomes were used to determine weighted mean differences in calories, saturated fat, total fat, carbohydrate, and sodium ordered/consumed which were pooled across studies using random effects modeling. Stratified analysis for …

College Students' Health Behavior Clusters: Differences By Sex., Sarah E. Colby, Wenjun Zhou, Morgan F F. Sowers, Karla Shelnutt, Melissa D. Olfert, Jesse Morrell, Mallory Koenings, Tandalayo Kidd, Tanya M. Horacek, Geoffrey W. Greene, Melissa D. Olfert, Adrienne A. White, Sharon L Hoerr, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Kendra Kattelmann

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: The study purpose was to identify clusters of weight-related behaviors by sex in a college student populations.

METHODS: We conducted secondary data analysis from online surveys and physical assessments collected in Project Young Adults Eating and Active for Health (YEAH) with a convenience sample of students on 13 college campuses in the United States. We performed 2-step cluster analysis by sex to identify subgroups with homogeneous characteristics and behaviors. We used 8 derivation variables: healthy eating; eating restraints; external cues; stress; fruit/vegetable intake; calories from fat; calories from sugar-sweetened beverages; and physical activity. Contribution of derivation variables to clusters …

Innovation And Collaboration: Creating A Transdisciplinary Childhood Obesity Prevention Graduate Certificate Program, Becky Jensen, Mindy Anderson-Knott, Mary Bowne, Linda Boeckner, Suzanne Stluka, Kendra Kattelmann, Jessica Meendering

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Preparing future professionals to work in transdisciplinary settings with a skill set to effectively foster collaborations and sustainable change requires a thoughtful and concerted interprofessional educational approach. Through an inter-university partnership in 2010 with name of university and the name of university, a group of faculty convened to propose the Transdisciplinary Obesity Prevention (TOP) graduate certificate program. With funding supported by a United States (US) Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant in 2011, a team of faculty from name of university and name of university representing various disciplines (exercise science, nutrition, dietetics, health promotion, public …

Influencing Food Choice: Effects Of Stress And Sleep Deprivation On Dietary Habits Of Young Adults, Amy L. Leiferman

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Introduction: Lifelong dietary habits are shaped during young adulthood; hence, preventing poor food choice practices during this period is vital. Stress and sleep deprivation are two important lifestyle elements that affect eating habits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate stress and sleep deprivation as factors contributing to poor dietary choices of college-aged students. Methodology: During finals week, a survey inquiring about sleep duration, perceived stress, and dietary patterns throughout the semester (typical week vs. finals week), was administered to university students (n=83). Fifty-five participants (21 male) provided an ID number, which allowed university-collected demographic and food-purchasing …

Determining How Campus Food Environment Influences Eating Behaviors Utilizing Focus Groups, Jennifer Swanstrom

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This study set out to explore what factors in a campus environment influence students’ eating behaviors through qualitative methods. The student researcher developed questions based on a similar study and with the help of the faculty advisors. Researchers conducted focus groups and asked 9 open-ended questions. This study utilized a qualitative focus group approach along with a demographic survey that yielded quantitative data. Findings in the present study suggest that students eat unhealthier options when healthier options are available because of time, convenience, and cost. Students would like to cook in the dorm kitchens to eat healthier, however, most participants …

The Effect Of Nitrate Supplementation On Exercise Tolerance And Performance: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Gavin Van De Walle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper was to systematically review the current literature and evaluate the overall efficacy of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance and performance by meta-analysis. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they met the following criteria: 1) were an experimental trial published in an English peer-reviewed journal; 2) compared the effects of inorganic nitrate consumption with a non-bioactive supplement control or placebo; 3) used a quantifiable measure of exercise performance; and 4) was carried out in apparently healthy participants without disease. A total of 29 studies were identified that investigated the effects of nitrate supplementation on exercise tolerance …

Associations Between Child Weight Status And The Home Environment: An Analysis Of Parental Eating Policies, Emily Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Childhood obesity is a complex issue common in the U.S. today as it not only is associated with health-threatening comorbidities, but also increases a child’s likelihood of becoming overweight or obese during adulthood. Because of its complexity, several factors, including parents and the home environment, must be considered when assessing child weight status and also when aiming to prevent or treat childhood obesity.
Objective: To investigate specific food rules practiced within the home environment that are influencing child weight status and to identify if these rules contrast among children who are normal weight and those who are overweight/obese. Methods: …

A Pilot Study Of A Summer School Food Backpack Program For Students And Their Caregivers, Brittany Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: High levels of obesity among children have become the nation’s most prevalent health condition. Individuals that live in low-income areas often face multiple risk factors that can lead to obesity. Few interventions have been conducted that include school-based nutrition education and food preparation classes that are paired with a backpack of food.
Objective: Determine if the program ingredients were used at home, if the necessary cooking tools were available and if the overall awareness and motivation to eat healthier was increased. Also, too determine if student and parent responses correlate for future research.
Methods: A convivence …

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Between Cooking And Wellness Behaviors In College Students, Andrea Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between cooking and wellness behaviors in college students.
Objective: Determine the association between cooking, wellness behaviors, fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and body mass index (BMI) in college students.
Design and Participants: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data a multi-state, Community-Based Participatory Research project aimed at preventing weight gain in first-year college students. Physical activity (PA), cooking (type, frequency and confidence), intention for meal planning (MP), mealtime behaviors, and cups of FV, were measured using validated survey tools. BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Study participants were first-year students …

Assessment Of Nutritional Counseling Frequency On Weight Status In Renal Transplant Recipients, Kelly Butler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The goal of this study was to determine if there is an association between educational interventions by a RD and weight in the twelve months’ post-transplantation. A secondary aim is to study trends in blood lipid profiles in participants and the number of times visited with a RD.
Methods: A retrospective study of electronic medical records from consenting, de-identified RTR at a Midwest transplant center were collected. Specific biological and anthropometric measures were analyzed.
Results: Patients that met with the out-patient dietitian more frequently (4 to 9 times) experienced less weight gain than patients that only saw the …

Effects Of Specific Home Environment Factors On A Child's Weight, Molly Millage

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: In 2011-2014 8.9% of children 2-5 years old were classified as obese. Obesity in children predisposes them to negative health and psychological consequences. One of the most significant factors that influences a child is the physical environment the child is exposed to, which includes the home environment.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how the home environment ie. cooking equipment, food preparation/availability, and frequency of family meals eaten at home, contribute to childhood obesity in children 3-5 years old.
Design: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the iGrow Readers study.
Participants/setting: Total of 229 parent/child …

Improvement Of Milling And Nutritional Quality Characteristics Of Oats Through Genomic Selection, Sudha Neupane Adhikari

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oats can lower cholesterol, reduce risks of type-2 diabetes, and help prevent heart diseases when consumed daily. Therefore, it is important to evaluate and select breeding lines with desirable milling and nutritional quality traits. Genomic selection, which uses genotyping data to predict the breeding value of an individual, is a promising method to increase genetic gain by selecting for quality traits earlier in the line development process. In this study, we collected phenotypic data for three nutritional traits (protein, β- glucan, and fat content) and five milling quality traits (percent plumps, percent thins, percent plump groat, groat percent and thousand …

Relationship Of Stress, Sleep, Physical Activity, And Food Insecurity On Eating Behaviors And Obesity, Amy Lee Richards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is an urgent need to find effective interventions to prevent and reduce obesity as it is associated with chronic disease and decreased quality of life. Gaining a better understanding of how modifiable variables such as stress, sleep, physical activity, and food insecurity are related to eating behaviors associated with obesity is essential to guide the direction of future interventions and research. Interventions that hold promise need to be tested to determine if they have merit or not. This dissertation presents three papers. Two papers are cross-sectional studies evaluating associations between eating behaviors, obesity, and modifiable variables (stress, sleep, physical …

Let Them Eat Beef: Effects Of Beef Consumption On Markers Of Metabolic Syndrome, Kristin L. Olson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

To determine the effects of a diet that provides 30% energy from protein with ½ as lean, red meat on risk factors of metabolic syndrome in humans. This pilot study was a 3- month, randomized, control, intervention trial with 33 participants (Beef-Intervention n=18; DASH-Control n=15) who displayed markers of metabolic syndrome. Registered Dietitians Nutritionists recruited and educated participants on Beef-Intervention Lean Beef Pattern, (30% of energy from protein with ½ as lean red meat, 40% carbohydrate, 30% fat) or DASH-Control dietary pattern, (15% of energy from protein, 55% carbohydrate and 30 % fat). Of the 33 participants who completed the …

The Home Environment And Parenting Practices: Associations With Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Preschool-Age Children, Emily C. Huber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preschool-age children have the potential to be influenced by their physical home environment and their parents’ physical activity (PA) practices more than older children as preschool-age children are more reliant on parents for PA opportunities. Previous research with this focus has relied predominantly on various subjective assessments of child activity, often resulting in overestimation of PA and underestimation of sedentary time (ST). Collectively, this dissertation project explored the associations among home environment factors, parent PA practices, parent satisfaction of children’s body size and children’s PA and ST by utilizing objective measures of activity and the full range of PA intensities …