Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Physiological Benefits Of A Plant-Based Diet On Cardiovascular Health, Jenevieve Petray

Nursing | Senior Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increasingly more prevalent in today’s society and is attributed to an alarming percentage of American hospitalizations and deaths. Americans are unhealthier than ever before, and the main contributor is the Western diet. Diet is a double-edged sword that can offer benefits or detriments to one’s health. CVD encompasses numerous diagnoses originating from various underlying physiological alterations. These alterations are downstream effects of increased body weight and BMI, increased cholesterol levels, decreased insulin sensitivity and increased arterial plaque buildup. Research shows that a plant-based diet has the potential to manage and reverse all fundamental physiological alterations that …

Development And Validation Of A Lifestyle Behavior Tool In Overweight And Obese Women Through Qualitative And Quantitative Approaches, Chee Wai Ku, Loo Rachel, Cheryl Lim, Jacinth Jia Xin Tan, Joey Ho, Wee Meng Han, Xiang Wen Ng, Jerry Chan, See Ling Loy

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

There is a paucity of effective intervention tools for overweight/obese women to assess, guide and monitor their eating behavior. This study aimed to develop a lifestyle intervention tool, assess its acceptability and usefulness, and verify its construct validity in overweight/obese women. The 6P tool (Portion, Proportion, Pleasure, Phase, Physicality, Psychology) was developed and 15 women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 were interviewed to assess its perceived acceptability and usefulness. Subsequently, the revised 6P tool was tested in 46 women with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short (IPAQ), and …

Higher Habitual Flavonoid Intakes Are Associated With A Lower Incidence Of Diabetes, Nicola P. Bondonno, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Raymond J. Davey, Catherine P. Bondonno, Aedin Cassidy, Joshua R. Lewis, Cecilie Kyrø, Gunnar Gislason, Augustin Scalbert, Anne Tjønneland, Jonathan M. Hodgson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background:

Higher flavonoid intakes are hypothesized to confer protection against type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives:

We aimed to 1) investigate associations between flavonoid intakes and diabetes, 2) examine the mediating impact of body fat, and 3) identify subpopulations that may receive the greatest benefit from higher flavonoid intakes in participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study followed up for 23 y.

Methods:

Cross-sectional associations between baseline flavonoid intake, estimated using FFQs and the Phenol Explorer database, and body fat, estimated by bioelectrical impedance, were assessed using multivariable-Adjusted linear regression models. Nonlinear associations between flavonoid intake and incident diabetes …

A Systematic Review Of Diet Quality Index And Obesity Among Chinese Adults, Isma'il Kadam, Sudeep Neupane, Jingkai Wei, Lee Ann Fullington, Tricia Li, Ruopeng An, Li Zhao, Amy Ellithorpe, Xinyin Jiang, Liang Wang

Publications and Research

Diet quality scores are designed mainly based on Western-style dietary patterns. They were demonstrated to be good indicators of obesity in developed but not developing countries. Several diet quality scores were developed based on the Chinese dietary guidelines, yet no systematic review exists regarding how they were related to obesity. We searched research articles published between 2000 and 2021 in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Both cross-sectional and prospective studies that examined the relationship between a diet quality score and weight, body mass index, obesity, or waist circumference conducted in a Chinese population were selected. From the 602 articles searched, …

Dietary Blueberry And Soluble Fiber Improve Serum Antioxidant And Adipokine Biomarkers And Lipid Peroxidation In Pregnant Women With Obesity And At Risk For Gestational Diabetes, Arpita Basu, Jeannette Crew, Jeffrey L. Ebersole, Jefferson W. Kinney, Arnold M. Salazar, Petar Planinic, James M. Alexander

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Pregnancies affected by obesity are at high risk for developing metabolic complications with oxidative stress and adipocyte dysfunction contributing to the underlying pathologies. Few studies have examined the role of dietary interventions, especially those involving antioxidants including polyphenolic flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables on these pathologies in high-risk pregnant women. We conducted an 18 gestation-week randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a dietary intervention comprising of whole blueberries and soluble fiber vs. control (standard prenatal care) on biomarkers of oxidative stress/antioxidant status and adipocyte and hormonal functions in pregnant women with obesity (n = 34). Serum samples …

Screen Time Parenting Practices And Associations With Preschool Children’S Tv Viewing And Weight-Related Outcomes, Cody D. Neshteruk, Gina L. Tripicchio, Stephanie Lobaugh, Amber E. Vaughn, Courtney T. Luecking, Stephanie Mazzucca, Dianne S. Ward

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between screen time (ST) parenting practices and 2–5-year-old children’s TV viewing and weight status. Data were collected from 252 parent–child dyads enrolled in a randomized parent-focused childhood obesity prevention trial from 2009–2012. ST parenting practices were assessed at baseline using a validated parent-reported survey. Parent-reported child TV viewing and objectively measured anthropometrics were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (35 weeks), and follow-up (59 weeks). Marginal effect models were developed to test the association between baseline ST parenting practices and children’s TV viewing, BMI z-score, and waist circumference across all time points. Limiting/monitoring …

Community-Based Efforts Aim To Improve The Food Environment Within A Highly Obese Rural Appalachian County, Rachel Gillespie, Emily M. Dewitt, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Brynnan Dunaway, Alison A. Gustafson

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Rural communities in Appalachia are displaying increased obesity prevalence, yet traditional interventions have not provided a broad enough impact to improve dietary consumption patterns. Therefore, expanding efforts that address the food environment and incorporate behavioral nudges through community-developed marketing strategies may be a viable mechanism to improve food and beverage choices within this unique population. This study installed shelf-wobblers across n = 5 gas stations in one rural Appalachian county in Kentucky. Smart Snacks were identified from store inventory lists utilizing the CDC Food Service Guideline for Federal Facilities calculator and were categorized into high-protein snacks, low-fat carbohydrate snacks, meal …

Better Together? The Effects Of Shared Medical Appointments On Bmi In Obese Adults, Amanda Larson

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

The United States (U.S.) is amidst an obesity epidemic, with Indiana ranking as the 15th worst state (Institute of Medicine, 2012; United Health Foundations, 2020). Despite current management strategies, the obesity rate in both the U.S. and Indiana continues to rise (WHO, 2020). Therefore, obesity management must change. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to determine if the addition of shared medical appointments (SMAs) consisting of informational group sessions by specialists and brief individualized meetings with the provider will result in greater reduction of weight and body mass index (BMI) compared to standard care alone in those …

Fucoxanthin: A Review Of Potential Benefits Relative To Human Health, Michael R. White

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid sourced and extracted mainly from dark orange and brown seaweeds found in the pacific ocean, such as the wakame algae. The allenic bonds and unique oxygen groups give fucoxanthin its unique structure and are thought to be part of the reason fucoxanthin has unique physiological functions. Fucoxanthin has potentially numerous effects on the physiology of human health, ranging from skin health to metabolic health, which have been demonstrated in animal model research. The goal of this review is to examine current literature to discuss fucoxanthin’s potential application as a nutraceutical, treatment for obesity, type 2 diabetes, …

Healthy Food Accessibility In Rural Mississippi And Potential For A Corner Store Intervention, Anna Conner

Honors Theses

Some areas of the United States have poorer food environments than others. The Mississippi Delta has limited access to nutritious food, often relying on corner stores for sustenance. The impact of a poor diet can increase chronic disease prevalence, creating additional barriers to health and nutrition for Mississippians. The purpose of this study was to document and explore the rural food environment and discuss urban intervention studies in light of the current state of stores in the Delta. An adapted version of the Baltimore Healthy Kids survey and store impact questionnaire was used to record owner perceptions and food availability. …

Dietary Strawberries Improve Cardiometabolic Risks In Adults With Obesity And Elevated Serum Ldl Cholesterol In A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial, Arpita Basu, Kenneth Izuora, Nancy M. Betts, Jefferson W. Kinney, Arnold M. Salazar, Jeffrey L. Ebersole, R. Hal Scofield

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Background and aims: Dietary berries, such as strawberries, are rich in bioactive compounds and have been shown to lower cardiometabolic risk. We examined the effects of two dietary achievable doses of strawberries on glycemic control and lipid profiles in obese adults with elevated serum LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Methods: In this 14-week randomized controlled crossover study, participants were assigned to one of the three arms for four weeks separated by a one-week washout period: control powder, one serving (low dose: 13 g strawberry powder/day), or two-and-a-half servings (high dose: 32 g strawberry powder/day). Participants were instructed to follow their usual diet …

A Mixed Methods Evaluation Of An Intensive Therapeutic Lifestyle Change Program For Nurses With Obesity, Theresa L. Free

DNP Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Disordered Eating, Food Insecurity, And Weight Status Among Transgender And Gender Nonbinary Youth And Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using A Nutrition Screening Protocol, Whitney R. Linsenmeyer, Ian M. Katz, Jaime L. Reed, Andrea M. Giedinghagen, Christopher B. Lewis, Sarah K. Garwood

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of and relationships among disordered eating, food insecurity, and weight status among transgender and gender nonbinary youth and young adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved a screening protocol to assess disordered eating and food insecurity risk from September to December of 2019 at a gender clinic using five validated measures: (1) previous eating disorder diagnosis (yes/no); (2) Sick, Control, One Stone, Fat, Food Questionnaire (SCOFF); (3) Adolescent Binge Eating Disorder Questionnaire (ADO-BED); (4) Nine-Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS); and (5) Hunger Vital Sign. Age, assigned sex at …

Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, And Hemoglobin A1c In The Lower Income African Americans, Lisa Gabel, Joci Verb, Lauren Windham

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The Honors project is in conjunction with a larger, state funded, intervention study, the Finding A Better U! (FABU) project, by Carolyn J. Murrock, PhD, RN, Mary Jo MacCracken, PhD, Judi-Juvancic-Heltzel PhD, and Alex Holt. While the larger study focuses on the effects of a weekly exercise and nutrition intervention on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) outcomes, the honors project will analyze data to determine preliminary findings, specifically, the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and hemoglobin A1C in the lower income African Americans (AA). The honors students will also assist the FABU team in …

Effectiveness Of Behavior-Based Counseling For Weight Loss Maintenance: A Systematic Literature Review, Jaime V. Stanczyk

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Obesity is linked to the development of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) at an annual expense of $147 billion in related healthcare costs. Effective lifestyle modification treatment for long-term WLM remains elusive. Traditional advice from primary care providers regarding dietary modification and increased physical activity has not led to WLM as a long-term outcome. Newer guidelines for the treatment of obesity now recommend high-intensity behavior-based counseling (BBC) programs that deliver traditional weight loss education in tandem with behavior-change strategies. Methods: A database search was conducted for peer reviewed literature published in 2012-2020 on …

Examining The Ecological Validity Of The Power Of Food Scale, Lindsay M. Howard, Kristin E. Heron, Kathryn E. Smith, Ross D. Crosby, Scott G. Engel, Stephen A. Wonderlich, Tyler B. Mason

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose

Appetite for palatable foods may impact eating-related behaviors in everyday life. The present study evaluated the real-world predictive validity of the Power of Food Scale (PFS) using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Methods

30 women who reported binge eating completed the PFS and related measures. Subsequently, during a 14-day assessment period, participants completed five daily EMA surveys of appetite and binge eating via text message and web.

Results

Results of generalized estimating equations showed that higher PFS scores were associated with higher momentary levels of hunger, eagerness to eat, and urge to eat but were unrelated to fullness, preoccupation with …

Where Are You Hiding, Sugar? (Sugar Content Of Popular Drink And Snacks, With Suggestions For Healthier Alternatives), Ashta Narain

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Two flyers, with associated dotphrases, on the actual sugar content of popular drink and snack foods were created. Also provided is information about the long-term impact of sugar on our bodies over time from local dieticians, and healthier alternative food and drink choices with less sugar content.