Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

What Can Parents Do To Reduce Youth Obesity? An Initial Study With A Diverse Sample, Marilyn Frenn, Amy Heinrich, Claire Schmidt Dohmen, Jessica E. Pruszynski

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The body mass index (BMI) of diverse, low-income fifth grade students (n = 36) was regressed on physical activity (Child Adolescent Activity Log), percentage dietary fat (Food Habits Questionnaire), and the Food/Activity Parenting Practices Questionnaire. The model explained 50% of the variance in student BMI, adjusted R² = .50, F (4, 19) = 6.84, p = .001. Students accurately perceived their weight status. Students' perception of parenting strategies, along with dietary fat, was significantly associated with their BMI. Parent's (n = 14) BMI, not the child's, was associated with the strategies they used. Three parents tested an …

Fit Into College: A Program To Improve Physical Activity And Dietary Intake Lifestyles Among College Students, Robert V. Topp, Jean S. Edward, S. Lee Ridner, Dean E. Jacks, Karen Newton, Patricia Keiffner, Deborah Woodall, Kathleen P. Conte

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 10-week program could improve physical activity, physical fitness, body weight, dietary intake, and perceptions of exercise and diet among college 30 healthy college freshmen. Outcomes were measured at baseline, and following the 10-week program. The weekly sessions incorporated constructs of the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change and were administered by fitness interns who were junior or senior college students enrolled in health-related majors. The participants presented with low physical activity, physical fitness, and poor dietary intake, and 50% were overweight/obese (BMI > 25). Participants demonstrated gains in their physical fitness …

Parental Perceptions Of The Rural School’S Role In Addressing Childhood Obesity, Ann M. Stalter, Mary Beth Kaylor, Jessica D. Steinke, Rosanta M. Barker

Nursing Faculty Publications

This study employed cross-sectional, descriptive design with convenience sampling to explore rural parent perceptions of child obesity, use of Body Mass Index (BMI) in schools, preferences for receipt of BMI information and, the rural school’s role in obesity prevention/treatment. The survey “Parental Perceptions of BMI and Obesity in the School-Age Child” was used. Of the 183 surveys distributed, 65 were returned (35.5%). Fifty-five percentage of parents were in agreement of school-based BMI screening. Fifty-four percentage of parents selected a combination of ways to receive BMI information (letter from school nurse, face-to-face conference with nurse, or via report card). Few parents …

The Composite First Person Narrative: Texture, Structure, And Meaning In Writing Phenomenological Descriptions, Marcia Stanley Wertz, Marcianna Nosek, Susan Mcniesh, Elizabeth Marlow

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

This paper illustrates the use of composite first person narrative interpretive methods, as described by Todres, across a range of phenomena. This methodology introduces texture into the presently understood structures of phenomena and thereby creates new understandings of the phenomenon, bringing about a form of understanding that is relationally alive that contributes to improved caring practices. The method is influenced by the work of Gendlin, Heidegger, van Manen, Gadamer, and Merleau-Ponty. The method’s applicability to different research topics is demonstrated through the composite narratives of nursing students learning nursing practice in an accelerated and condensed program, obese female adolescents attempting …

Web-Based Interventions For Weight Loss And Weight Maintenance Among Rural Midlife And Older Women: Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial., Patricia A. Hageman, Carol H. Pullen, Melody Hertzog, Linda S, Boeckner, Susan Noble Walker

Journal Articles: Physical Therapy

BACKGROUND: Weight loss is challenging and maintenance of weight loss is problematic among midlife and older rural women. Finding effective interventions using innovative delivery methods that can reach underserved and vulnerable populations of overweight and obese rural women is a public health challenge.

METHODS/DESIGN: This Women Weigh-In for Wellness (The WWW study) randomized-controlled trial is designed to compare the effectiveness of theory-based behavior-change interventions using (1) website only, (2) website with peer-led support, or (3) website with professional email-counseling to facilitate initial weight loss (baseline to 6 months), guided continuing weight loss and maintenance (7-18 months) and self-directed weight maintenance …