Nutrition Commons^™

Adaptive Thermogenesis And Metabolic Changes Following Diet- And Exercise- Induced Weight Loss, Alexandra R. Martin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With more than two-thirds of adults in the United States considered as overweight or obese, a myriad of weight loss programs and products that promise quick results have infiltrated the market. While many individuals successfully lose weight over the short term, almost half of the initial weight lost is regained within one year, indicating a general predisposition for weight cycling and fat replenishment. As weight is lost, fat-free mass (FFM) also decreases, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) declines, decreasing energy expenditure. After accounting for decreases in FFM, there remains a greater-than- predicted decrease in RMR, referred to as adaptive thermogenesis …

Dietitian’S Problem Solving Knowledge To Promote And Support Breastfeeding, Cassandra L. Dytrych

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As a result of ongoing efforts in the U.S. to promote breastfeeding as the normal way to nourish an infant, breastfeeding initiation rates are higher than they have been in decades. As the experts on food and nutrition through the lifecycle, registered dietitians (RDs) should be knowledgeable to promote and support breastfeeding. It is not well known if RDs have this knowledge. The purpose of this study was to determine the current knowledge of RDs about breastfeeding, the types of professional opportunities RDs have to promote and support breastfeeding, and the level of education RDs have to deal with breastfeeding …

Perceived Importance And Actual Intake Of Calcium And Vitamin D In Young Female Athletes, Miriam E. Zambrano

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Calcium needs increase as a child grows. Actual intake often decreases as a child gets older, leaving his/her developing bones at risk for injury during childhood and increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between psychosocial factors influencing consumption of calcium and vitamin D-rich foods and actual intakes of these nutrients. We examined the dietary calcium and vitamin D intakes, determined serum vitamin D levels, and assessed nutrition knowledge and perception of a sample of 20 young girls participating in competitive cheerleading in Omaha, Nebraska. From this information we …

Intervention To Increase Knowledge And Consumption Of Folate-Rich Foods Based On The Health Belief Model, Lindsay M. Labrosse

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Folate is important in the prevention of birth defects and in the maintenance of general health. Even after mandatory fortification, many people are still not consuming the RDA of 400 mcg/day. Consuming a diet rich in naturally high-folate foods, as opposed to supplementation, may offer additional health benefits and promote an overall healthy diet.

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis that a learner-centered educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) will successfully increase knowledge and consumption of folate-rich foods, while increasing positive beliefs about folate and health. A two group parallel control trial …

Preschool Children’S Willingness To Try And Preference For Docosahexaenoic Acid Omega-3 Foods, Bethany Joann Bettenhausen

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During the preschool years, obesigenic eating habits are formed which are strongly associated with risk of developing chronic diseases later in life particularly cardiovascular disease. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fat with known benefits for heart health, brain cell structure, and retinal development. Current intakes of DHA are below recommended levels. United States (US) Midwestern children may be particularly at risk for suboptimal intakes of DHA. However, foods fortified with life’sDHA^TM, a product of Martek Biosciences and omega-3 eggs may provide culturally acceptable sources of DHA to Midwestern children.

Very little is known about …