Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Public Health Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Public Health

Urban-Rural Differences In School Districts' Local Wellness Policies And Policy Implementation Environments, Swati Iyer, Timothy J Walker, Alexandra L Macmillan Uribe, Chad D Rethorst, Rebecca A Seguin-Fowler, Jacob Szeszulski Mar 2024

Urban-Rural Differences In School Districts' Local Wellness Policies And Policy Implementation Environments, Swati Iyer, Timothy J Walker, Alexandra L Macmillan Uribe, Chad D Rethorst, Rebecca A Seguin-Fowler, Jacob Szeszulski

Journal Articles

Higher rates of obesity in rural compared to urban districts suggest environmental differences that affect student health. This study examined urban-rural differences in districts' local wellness policies (LWPs) and LWP implementation environments. Cross-sectional data from two assessments in Texas were analyzed. In assessment one, each district's LWP was reviewed to see if 16 goals were included. In assessment two, an audit was conducted to identify the presence of a wellness plan (a document with recommendations for implementing LWPs), triennial LWP assessment, and school health advisory councils (SHACs) on the district website. Rural districts' LWPs had a smaller number of total …


Evaluation Of The Coordinated Approach To Child Health (Catch) Program In Third Through Fifth Graders In Northern Illinois, Paulina Karecka Jan 2020

Evaluation Of The Coordinated Approach To Child Health (Catch) Program In Third Through Fifth Graders In Northern Illinois, Paulina Karecka

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) is a school-based education program designed to improve dietary habits and increase physical activity among children and adolescents based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of CATCH program, delivered by dietetic interns and Northern Illinois University (NIU) students, to 3rd-5th graders in Northern Illinois, in increasing their nutrition knowledge and healthy choices behavior. Methods: In total, 167 elementary school children in grades 3-5 in Northern Illinois participated in a non-experimental program evaluation study. We delivered 6 CATCH lessons throughout the academic year …


Alcohol Use, Dietary, And Exercise Behaviors: A Latent Profile Analysis Of Young Adult Lifestyle Behaviors, Ryan Wesley Grant May 2019

Alcohol Use, Dietary, And Exercise Behaviors: A Latent Profile Analysis Of Young Adult Lifestyle Behaviors, Ryan Wesley Grant

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As individuals enter adulthood, their lifestyles and lifestyle behaviors begin to change drastically. These lifestyle behavior changes in emerging adulthood provide a foundation for future health behaviors that often persist through all of adulthood. The aim of this study was to use Latent profile analyses (LPA) to discover distinct profiles of homogenous groups of young adults based on alcohol, diet, and exercise behaviors. Overall, five distinct profiles for both males and females were identified: Moderates, Unhealthy Eaters, Medium Drinkers, Healthier Eaters and Exercisers, and Heavy Drinkers. Heavy Drinkers and Unhealthy Eaters were the highest risk groups and reported the highest …


Preventing Paediatric Obesity; Recommendations From A Community-Based Qualitative Investigation, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Meizi He, G. Pollett May 2013

Preventing Paediatric Obesity; Recommendations From A Community-Based Qualitative Investigation, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, L. Sangster Bouck, Meizi He, G. Pollett

Trish Tucker

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and interventions targeted at pre-school-aged children are essential for the primary prevention of this disease. Physical activity programming and decreasing screen viewing may be advantageous ways to reduce the early onset of obesity. Parents' perceptions regarding effective tools and programmes to target obesity are needed to develop an efficacious programme. Ten semi-structured focus groups were conducted for this qualitative study. Two experienced moderators facilitated all focus groups which were conducted in local day cares, workplaces and play groups, frequented by parents. All focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness of …