Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exploring The Role Of Nutrition Education In Reducing Obesity Among The U.S. Adult Population, Nikitha Reddy Ravula

Master's Projects and Capstones

Obesity is a major concern among the low-income groups, yet the problem lacks adequate awareness. It is observed that the prevalence of obesity in the United States is increasing in the U.S., this paper is focused on obtaining information on low-income participants’ knowledge about consumption of nutritious food and its contribution in preventing obesity. This paper focuses on identifying the steps that participants have been taking to prevent obesity. To reach the goal of this qualitative study two surveys were designed by the researcher. From the study, it was found that majority of the participants were aware that consumption of …

Teen, Parent, And Clinician Expectations About Obesity And Related Conditions During The Annual Well-Child Visit, Andrew S. Bossick, Charles Barone, Gwen L. Alexander, Heather A. Olden, Tanya Troy, Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: This study aimed to examine family (patient, parent/guardian) and clinician preferences for identification and management of obesity and obesity-related conditions during the well-child visit.

Methods: Four focus groups with teen patients (n = 16), four focus groups with parents (n = 15) and one focus group with providers (n = 12) were conducted using a structured moderator guide tailored to each population. Eligible patients had a well-child visit during the past 12 months and a diagnosis of overweight, obesity, hyperlipidemia or elevated blood pressure. Parents who attended their child’s well-child visit and whose child met the diagnostic …

Trading Pounds For Points: Engagement And Weight Loss In A Mobile Health Intervention, Sarah Hales, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Sarah Wilcox, Rachel Davis, Arjang Fahim, Michael N. Huhns, Homayoun Valafar

Faculty Publications

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to describe participant engagement and examine predictors of weight loss and points earned through the point-based incentive system of the Social Pounds Off Digitally (POD) app.

Materials and methods Overweight and obese adults with Android smartphones/tablets (body mass index 25–49.9 kg/m2; N = 24) were recruited for a 3-month weight loss intervention. Participants completed a survey assessing demographics and personality and had their weight measured. Participants received the content of the intervention via podcasts and used the Social POD app to self-monitor diet, physical activity, and weight. The Social POD app contained: …

Exploring The Nutrition And Physical Activity Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Of Low-Income Parents Of Peruvian Preschool Children, Kathleen Mcinvale

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity and related chronic diseases are emerging public health issues among children in Peru, where more than 13 percent of children five years and younger are overweight or obese. Although parents have been identified as one of the most important determinants of healthy weight in young children, there are no known studies that have explored the perceptions of Peruvian parents regarding obesity prevention. This study assessed the nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of Peruvian parents, and sought to determine if there is a relationship between their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. The cross-sectional survey study sampled 204 parents …

Obesity And Learned Eating Behavior: A Review Of First Bite: How We Learn To Eat, Winnie Eke

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Bee Wilson's book, First Bite: How we learn to eat is reviewed.

Kuwait : Obesity, Sabrina Difiori

Global Public Health

The country of Kuwait is known for their extremely high prevalence of obesity. It is a major public health issue for people of both genders. For men, the prevalence for obesity is 36 percent and 48 percent for women. A type of intervention that is often used to fix this problem is stomach stapling: the process of making the stomach smaller to reduce the amount of food intake. If children can start becoming more educated about this issue early on in their lifetime, the prevalence of obesity might not be so high in years to come.

Spain : Childhood Obesity, Emily Haygood

Global Public Health

Throughout the world, obesity is increasing as a public health issue. Specifically, in Spain, which is on the rise for childhood obesity. It is reported that around 1/3 of children in Spain have an excess of weight. Part of this high rate of obesity can be attributed to the high income status. This exposes the population to activities and habits that may lead to poor lifestyle choices. For example, the access to television can decrease activity in children as well as access to fast food can allow for poor nutritional habits.

Diabetes Self-Management Problems Of Older, Low-Income African American Women, Pearlean Day Day

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects low-income African American women, age 50 years and older: 30% to 40% of this population has this chronic disease. Two significant factors affecting poor diabetes practice adherence are food insecurity and depression; another is obesity. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if either food insecurity or depression significantly affect Type 2 diabetes self-management practices; and/or if food insecurity significantly influences practice adherence indirectly, through the mediator of depression, while controlling for obesity. The research questions were aligned with the theoretical pathways posited in Matthews's reserve capacity model (RCM) and used the …

Development And Validation Of An Adult Diet And Physical Activity Program In Primary Care Setting, Christiana Chinyere Keke-Ekekwe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a national health problem with serious medical, psychological, and economic outcomes. Nurses and nurse practitioners (NPs) are frequently the first point of patient contact and play an essential role in the management of obesity. The current literature noted that practitioners working in primary care settings demonstrate inadequate knowledge related to evidence based practice (EBP) strategies to treat obesity, including diet modification and physical activity. The purpose of this DNP project was to develop and validate an EBP provider educational module related to diet modification and physical activity education for adult patients diagnosed with obesity in a primary care …

Assessing For Awareness And Knowledge Regarding Diabetes In Pre-Diabetes Obese Patients, Remona Lysa Brown

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in prevalence of diabetes in the United States. Prevention of diabetes and improving patients' knowledge and awareness of diabetes are crucial for healthcare providers. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical foundation, the student used the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to improve awareness and knowledge of diabetes among obese individuals with prediabetes. The key research question of this project was to determine whether the patients' diabetes knowledge and awareness improved after the NDPP program. A convenience sample of …

The Experiences Of African American Women Participating In Church-Based Weight Loss Programs, Mangle L. Shanks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While obesity is a nationwide phenomenon, African Americans - especially women - continue to be more severely affected than any other ethnic group. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 20% of African American women are obese compared to 15.6% of Caucasian women. The church is an important community center for many African Americans, and is often a site for health promotion programs, though little is known of the effectiveness of these programs. The purpose of this qualitative study was to study the experiences and attitudes of African American women who have gone through a church-based weight-loss …

A Minority Perspective On The Public Health Response To The Obesity Epidemic, Rickey L. Ford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is currently viewed as one of the most important health concerns in the United States. Researchers have minimally investigated perspectives surrounding obesity within the African-American female population. This lack of research presented a gap in knowledge concerning the perceived social, environmental, and cultural influences of obesity within this population. The research questions asked African-American females about their views toward these influences. This research was guided by tenets of the social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model for behavioral change. Thirteen African-American females participated in the interviews. The data collected were reviewed and coded using word frequencies and themes. Findings …

10,000 Step Challenge For Bedside Registered Nurses Working 12 Hour Shifts, Katherine Louise Schnebly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a pandemic that directly affects chronic health problems and mortality. Researchers have shown that more than 54% of nurses are obese. The increasing rate of obesity among nurses and the long hours they work make healthy lifestyles, including daily physical activity, difficult. Tracking daily activity using a pedometer or fitness application has shown improved awareness and sustainability of daily physical activity. This project was an investigation of the daily steps of bedside nurses working a 12-hour shift, and their subsequent awareness of their daily physical activity. Pender's Health Promotion Model was used to consider motivating factors for improving …

Perceived Barriers To Lifestyle Change In Obese, Low-Income Hispanic Women, Mariana Daniela Torchia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Low-income Hispanic women are the fastest growing minority population in the United States, and they have increased risks of obesity and secondary health issues, such as diabetes, related to their obesity. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the barriers to lifestyle change among obese, low-income Hispanic women (OLHW). A health belief model lens was used. The study sample consisted of 15 OLHW who were clinic patients and ranged in age from 20-59. Recruitment occurred in a low-income, Southern California, outpatient clinic setting through volunteer participation from recruitment flyers. Fifteen women took part in 1-hour, in-depth interviews, which …

Engaging Parents To Promote Children’S Nutrition And Health: Providers’ Barriers And Strategies In Head Start And Child Care Centers, Dipti A. Dev, Courtney Byrd-Williams, Samantha Ramsay, Brent A. Mcbride, Deepa Srivastava, Ashleigh L. Murriel, Chrisa Arcan, Anna M. Adachi-Mejia

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Purpose: Using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics benchmarks as a framework, this study examined childcare providers’ (Head Start [HS], Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP] funded, and non-CACFP) perspectives regarding communicating with parents about nutrition to promote children’s health.

Design: Qualitative.

Setting: State-licensed center-based childcare programs.

Participants: Full-time childcare providers (n ¼ 18) caring for children 2 to 5 years old from varying childcare contexts (HS, CACFP funded, and non-CACFP), race, education, and years of experience.

Methods: In-person interviews using semi-structured interview protocol until saturation were achieved. Thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: Two overarching themes were barriers and …

Influence Of Media Messages On Obesity And Health Perceptions Among African American Women, Carolyn Grant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, thus increasing their risks for chronic diseases. Their understanding of their health status and response to it could be triggered by messages in the media, yet few researchers have examined this topic with African American women. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore how advertisement and editorial content in media contributed to perceptions African American women have about overweight and obesity. Following the theoretical foundation of the social cognitive theory, the research questions explored what messages study participants encountered and which messages prompted …

Assessing Plant-Based Food Lifestyle To Reduce Obesity Risk, Erna Siregar

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite an increasing number of healthy lifestyles throughout the country, Americans, including Native Hawaiians, keep gaining weight. Unlike several American lifestyles that have resulted in weight gain within the American population, the vegetarian lifestyle is a scientifically proven method for decreasing body weight and maintaining the weight loss for more than 1 year. This study aimed to compare the lifestyle patterns of 4 vegetarian lifestyles and 1 nonvegetarian lifestyle among Native Hawaiians aged 21 and older using their body mass index (BMI). This quantitative study utilized a correlational design, which is particularly suitable for examining the relationship of BMI to …

Neighborhood And Community Influence On Adolescent Obesity, Peggie Arnzellique Harrison

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, over two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, and the number of children and adolescents who are overweight is increasing. Obesity is a significant issue as obesity-related chronic diseases can result in diminished quality or life, high morbidity and mortality, and substantial healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to examine neighborhood social capital and how it relates to adolescent obesity. The socio-ecological model was used as the theoretical framework of this study to examine how the environment and social contexts influence health behaviors. Utilizing a quantitative cross-sectional research design, bivariate and multivariate analyses were …

Contributing Factors Of Obesity Among Over-The-Road Truckers, Shari Weiss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity among over-the-road truckers (OTRs) is an epidemic creating significant public health issues among this population. The consequences of obesity (hypertension, diabetes, heart disease) put both truckers' health and their medical clearance at significant risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of gender, physical activity, diet, and sleep on obesity among OTRs. Through a socioecological lens, this study examined whether obesity is significantly impacted by gender, physical activity, nutrition, and sleep. This study also examined the impact of the trucking environment on obesity. The study used a quantitative research design and data were collected through a …

Parental Self-Efficacy, Feeding Practices And Styles, And Obesity In Mexican American Children, Maria Carmen Goodwin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity rates among Mexican Americans have risen along with the concerns of public health professionals. The purpose of this cross-sectional study, based on social cognitive theory, was to investigate the relationships among parental self-efficacy, parental feeding practices and styles, and childhood obesity, as measured by the parental perception of child weight, among Mexican Americans in Texas. Mothers and fathers (n=83; 33 males, 64 females), with at least 1 child between 8 and10 years, formed the sample. Relationships were assessed using the Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy questionnaire, the Parental Feeding Practices Questionnaire for Mexican American parents, the Parenting Dimensions …

Nutrition And Exercise Resources For Clinton County, Paige M. Wood

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

The obesity epidemic is a nation wide problem that has increased prevalence in Clinton County, NY when compared to the surrounding areas. Obesity leads to many co-morbid health conditions and is associated with a large increase in health care spending costs. This brochure tackles the limited resources, such as limited number of fitness centers, lack of nutrition education and an overall lower socioeconomic status, that is present in the Clinton County area. This brochure offers help in these areas through free phone applications which cover nutrition education, healthy shopping guidance, at home exercise routines, motivation, habit trackers and mindfulness exercises.

Vermont Food Insecurity: Implementing Screening Tools And Interventional Assistance At Thomas Chittenden Health Center, Quinn Self

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Hunger Free Vermont estimates that over 11% of Vermonters experience Food insecurity defined as a lack or access to adequate nutritious food due to lack of money or other resources. Food insecurity has been linked with numerous health problems including obesity, depression, poor school performance, heart disease, anemia and increased number of hospitalizations. Despite the adverse health outcomes associated with food insecurity, primary care providers don't usually screen for it. There are short validate tools to screen with high sensitivity and specificity for food insecurity. The goal of this project was to generate a screening poster for waiting rooms and …