Digital Commons Network^™

How Do Food And Physical Activity Policies Affect Our Health?, Chris Long

Diet, Food, Exercise, and Nutrition (D-FEND)

Policy is generally defined and then tied into how food and physical health policies affect our everyday lives.

Learn Grow Eat, Laura Dolezal, Arianne Kozeluh, Rachel Mannen

Health Fair: Tools & Lessons for K-12

No abstract provided.

Food Availability And Cost Patterns In Mississippi Retail Stores Participating In The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Virginia B. Gray, Sylvia H. Byrd, Laura Downey

Journal of Extension

Research has suggested that availability of healthful food varies according to rurality/urbanicity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and sociodemographic variables. We investigated differences in variety and cost of fruits and vegetables in convenience stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets across Mississippi. We collected data using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey–Corner Store. Among stores surveyed (n = 453), fruit and vegetable variety was greater in nonmetro versus metro areas for convenience and grocery stores but not supermarkets. Elucidation of food availability in retail establishments serving SNAP Education (SNAP-Ed) clients is valuable for planning outreach efforts; smaller retailers may be important …

Identifying And Predicting Food Parenting Practice Profiles Among Canadian Parents, Claire N Tugault-Lafleur, Olivia De-Jongh González, Teresia M O'Connor, Sheryl O Hughes, Louise C Mâsse

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Food parenting practices (FPP) can affect children's eating behaviours, yet little is known about how various FPP co-occur. The primary aim was to identify profiles of FPPs use among Canadian parents. Secondary aims included examining sociodemographic correlates of FPP profiles and evaluating whether children's eating behaviours differed across FPP profiles.

Methods: Parents (n = 799) of 5-12-year-old children completed a validated FPP Item Bank and the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was used to identify distinct FPP profiles. Regression analyses were used to explore associations between FPP profiles, sociodemographic variables (race, sex and education) and children's …

How Background Factors Affect Culinary Skills And Knowledge, Mackenzie Harrell

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Students preparing to be registered dietitians must learn and retain culinary skills and knowledge so they can use it in their future career. If dietitians’ nutritional knowledge is limited to medical situations, they cannot educate the public about planning and preparing healthy meals. The purpose of this study was to determine if a student’s history of cooking, shopping for groceries, and other background factors affect culinary skills and knowledge, and to determine the appropriate curriculum for undergraduate students to prepare them for their career as a dietitian. This study was in part a continuation of an assessment conducted by my …

An Intron Variant Of The Gli Family Zinc Finger 3 (Gli3) Gene Differentiates Resistance Training-Induced Muscle Fiber Hypertrophy In Younger Men, Christopher G. Vann, Robert W. Morton, Christopher B. Mobley, Ivan J. Vechetti, Brian K. Ferguson, Cody T. Haun, Shelby C. Osburn, Casey L. Sexton, Carlton D. Fox, Matthew A. Romero, Paul A. Roberson, Sara Y. Oikawa, Chris Mcglory, Kaelin C. Young, John J. Mccarthy, Stuart M. Phillips, Michael D. Roberts

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

We examined the association between genotype and resistance training-induced changes (12 wk) in dual x-ray energy absorptiometry (DXA)-derived lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) as well as muscle fiber cross-sectional area (fCSA; vastus lateralis; n = 109; age = 22 ± 2 y, BMI = 24.7 ± 3.1 kg/m2). Over 315 000 genetic polymorphisms were interrogated from muscle using DNA microarrays. First, a targeted investigation was performed where single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) identified from a systematic literature review were related to changes in LSTM and fCSA. Next, genome-wide association (GWA) studies were performed to reveal associations between novel SNP targets with …

Nutritional Data And Corresponding Performance Impacts Of Uri Student-Athletes, Abigael Fenbert

Senior Honors Projects

This research project investigates the diets of various sport athletes at the University of Rhode Island. The question that this project aims to answer is if our athletes are meeting recommended daily values nutritionally, and if not, why? Research continues to grow regarding how performance implications are tied to varying nutritional disparities for athletes. Various studies show malnourishment leads to performance decline, increased injury risk, and improper recovery. This is influenced by factors such as deficits in caloric intake, macronutrient and micronutrient availability, and dehydration. For college athletes, a lack of food availability and nutritional knowledge leaves them especially predisposed …

The Effect Of Whey Protein Supplementation At Breakfast On Tryptophan Levels, Food Intake, And Mood In Postmenopausal Women In A 16-Week Randomized Controlled Trial, Danielle Warren

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Whey protein isolate supplementation has been recognized as having potential for regulating appetite, thereby potentially improving mood and food intake.

The objectives of this project were to 1) analyze the effects of high-quality whey protein intake on overall diet, and 2) identify and examine a correlation between tryptophan levels and mood regulation.

This research was conducted using a randomized experimental design. A total of 13 post-menopausal women (12+ months after last reported menstrual cycle) were recruited and allocated to one of two dietary intervention (DI) groups: 1) control (maintain current lifestyle; CON; n = 6), and 2) whey protein isolate …

Exploring How Maternal Phosphorus Status Affects Calf Growth And Performance, Elizabeth Lafferty

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study will focus on how maternal phosphorus status of beef heifers affects the growth and performance of their calves. Heifers have been offered free-choice mineral with either 0 or 4% supplemental phosphorus from 30 days after weaning until calving. A study by H. Hilfiker, a University of Arkansas honors student, investigated the effects of these treatments from 30 days after weaning until 60 days after the breeding season when heifers were confirmed to be bred or open. For this developing heifer project 64 crossbred Angus heifers were assigned randomly into 8 groups (8 heifers/ group) before assigning each group …

Impact Of Different Plant-Based Foods Consumption On The Composition And Diversity Of Gut Microbiota, Ayoub Al Othaim

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plant-based diets are primarily derived from plant sources, including fruits and vegetables. Such patterns are associated with health benefits by promoting general health and preventing many diseases and metabolic disorders. Fruits and vegetables are key sources of high-quality nutrients such as dietary fibers and polyphenols. Since they are rich in dietary fibers and polyphenols, whole fruits and vegetables represent unique and somewhat understudied modulators of the gut microbiota and its associated functions. This study aims to (i) investigate the impact of varying dilutions of cherry juices concentrate on the composition of the murine gut microbiota, (ii) investigate the impact of …

Sarcopenia Screening By Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (Rdns) In The United States (U.S.), Madison Marcom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sarcopenia is a disease of muscle wasting primarily seen in older adults. Although this term was first coined over three decades ago, there is a lack of consensus on a definition, screening criteria, and treatment protocol for sarcopenia. The primary purpose of this study is to determine whether registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the United States (U.S.) screen for sarcopenia. Study participants were recruited through a randomized email list and included RDNs throughout the U.S. Respondents completed a survey questioning knowledge of sarcopenia, screening tools and company protocols in place, and the need and desire for sarcopenia education. Data revealed …

N-3 Fatty Acid Biomarkers And Incident Type 2 Diabetes: An Individual Participant-Level Pooling Project Of 20 Prospective Cohort Studies, Frank Qian, Andres V Ardisson Korat, Fumiaki Imamura, Matti Marklund, Nathan Tintle, Jyrki K Virtanen, Xia Zhou, Julie K Bassett, Heidi Lai, Yoichiro Hirakawa, Kuo-Liong Chien, Alexis C Wood, Maria Lankinen, Rachel A Murphy, Cecilia Samieri, Kamalita Pertiwi, Vanessa D De Mello, Weihua Guan, Nita G Forouhi, Nick Wareham, Interact Consortium Frank B Hu, Ulf Riserus, Lars Lind, William S Harris, Aladdin H Shadyab, Jennifer G Robinson, Lyn M Steffen, Allison Hodge, Graham G Giles, Toshiharu Ninomiya, Matti Uusitupa, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Jaana Lindström, Markku Laakso, David S Siscovick, Catherine Helmer, Johanna M Geleijnse, Jason H Y Wu, Amanda Fretts, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Renata Micha, Dariush Mozaffarian, Qi Sun

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Prospective associations between n-3 fatty acid biomarkers and type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk are not consistent in individual studies. We aimed to summarize the prospective associations of biomarkers of α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with T2D risk through an individual participant-level pooled analysis.

Research design and methods: For our analysis we incorporated data from a global consortium of 20 prospective studies from 14 countries. We included 65,147 participants who had blood measurements of ALA, EPA, DPA, or DHA and were free of diabetes at baseline. De novo harmonized analyses were performed …

A Hindbrain Dopaminergic Neural Circuit Prevents Weight Gain By Reinforcing Food Satiation, Yong Han, Guobin Xia, Yanlin He, Yang He, Monica Farias, Yong Xu, Qi Wu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The neural circuitry mechanism that underlies dopaminergic (DA) control of innate feeding behavior is largely uncharacterized. Here, we identified a subpopulation of DA neurons situated in the caudal ventral tegmental area (cVTA) directly innervating DRD1-expressing neurons within the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN). This neural circuit potently suppresses food intake via enhanced satiation response. Notably, this cohort of DAcVTA neurons is activated immediately before the cessation of each feeding bout. Acute inhibition of these DA neurons before bout termination substantially suppresses satiety and prolongs the consummatory feeding. Activation of postsynaptic DRD1LPBN neurons inhibits feeding, whereas genetic deletion of Drd1 within the …

Unraveling Host-Gut Microbiota Dialogue And Its Impact On Response To Immune Checkpoint Blockade, Alexandria Cogdill

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cancer is a disease with only one degree of separation, affecting one in two men and one in three women in their lifetimes; accounting for 1 of every 6 deaths. While cancer mortality rates continue to improve, incidence rates are expected to rise and shift through 2050 due to epidemiological and demographic transitions worldwide. As such, it is imperative to continue to investigate and improve our understanding of both disease etiology and hallmarks of response to treatment. Currently, conventional therapies include, but are not limited to, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, within the past decade, major advances have been made …

Perceived Adult/Child Health And Diet By Snap Usage And Food Security In A Rural, Appalachian Mississippi Community, Georgia Inglis

Honors Theses

This study examined if there were differences in perceived adult health score, perceived adult diet score, parent-perceived child health score, and parent-perceived child diet score by SNAP usage and food security in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi community. Adults (n=1084) with elementary school- aged children were surveyed in a rural, Appalachian Mississippi school district. Demographic, household adult food security (USDA 10-item measure), and perceived health and dietary data were collected. Using IBM SPSS version 24, demographic statistics were calculated to summarize data. Independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was utilized to assess for differences between groups. P.05) …

Challenges And Benefits Experienced By Mississippi Schools In The Adoption Of Farm To School Programs, Manuel Aldair Franco Pech

Honors Theses

Mississippi obesity rates are the second highest in the United States. An appropriate target group to combat the state’s high obesity rates are school age children (ages 18 and under), because healthy eating habits developed at this age translate into adult years. An avenue to encourage and develop healthy eating habits are Farm to School (F2S) programs, which provide in-school accessibility to healthy, locally produced foods. The objective of this study was to analyze the results from the 2015 United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) F2S Census, which collected details regarding F2S participation across the country, to determine the benefits …

The Effect Of Fiber And Omega-6:Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio On Asthma And Asthma-Related Symptoms In An Adult U.S. Population, Korie As Nelson

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Asthma is one of the most common diseases in the world affecting more than 10% of adults in many westernized countries and 339 million globally. Studies have shown a positive association between increased dietary fiber and improvement in asthma-related inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to help mitigate inflammation in general. No identified studies have looked at the synergistic effect of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids alone and as a ratio with fiber on asthma, lung function, and respiratory morbidities. A positive association could mean that dietary interventions of fiber and fatty acids could significantly improve asthma and …

How Covid19 Has Impacted Students Nutrition And Eating Habits With The Abrupt Closure Of Restaurants And Campuses, Chloe Sermet

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causing college campuses, restaurants, and businesses to shut down, many college students found themselves having to return home or find alternative food resources. Due to these factors, it was imperative to examine how college student’s eating habits have changed throughout the pandemic, dealing with lots of stressors, and whether having prior education on nutrition influenced those eating habits. To examine those effects, 17 nutrition minors and 126 non-nutrition minors participated in the current study in which they took the College Students Eating Habit survey and the Perception of Peer Pressure Scale. The outcome of the …

Patterns Of Use In A Division I University Fueling Station Before And After Implementing A Nutrition Education Intervention, Cady L. Peters

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Well-timed nutrition strategies are a well-established way to improve athletic performance and minimize recovery time, however, athletes often do not prioritize nutrition as a strategy to gain an edge over their competitors. Even with a resource such as a Fueling Station, which provides athletes with nutrient dense, convenient pre- and post-workout snacks, athletes still struggle understanding which foods are an appropriate choice for their purpose of eating.

The purpose of this research was to examine the changes in the appropriateness of the athlete’s meal choices at the Fueling Station based on their macronutrient distribution and timing of workout or training …

Determination Of Perceived Calorie Content Of Common Foods, Sarah Leticia Ruiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Currently, dietary weight-loss interventions focus on recommended caloric intake aimed at creating an energy deficit through the use of calorie-based education. This approach assumes individuals can accurately estimate caloric content of foods and beverages, yet little is known about the validity of such assumptions. This study assessed the accuracy of perceptions of calorie content for individual food items and mixed meals and determined its association with education level, nutrition background, body composition, fruit and vegetable intake, and the domains of eating (emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint). A cross-sectional survey assessed calorie perceptions using both visual food displays and …

Mindful Eating And Perceived Stress In College Students, Emily G. Garrett

Graduate Theses

Background: Evidence suggests that in college student populations, stress levels often manifest as maladaptive eating and/or functional gastrointestinal disorders. These conditions can degrade wellbeing and academic performance if not addressed.

Research aim/question(s): The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between students’ perceived stress, their overall mindfulness, and mindful eating patterns. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and bowel habits were also investigated to determine whether these factors were stress-related or influenced mindfulness behaviors.

Materials and Methods: An online survey was conducted during the 2020-2021 academic year. Demographic information, including smoking, alcohol, and drug use patterns, was gathered in addition to …

Thinking About Availability And Accessibility, Di Fang

Diet, Food, Exercise, and Nutrition (D-FEND)

Food environments are described, including food deserts and food access.

Effect Of Nutrition On Resilience In Adults With Childhood Trauma, Carrie Merrill, Nicole Wickstrom, Katie Munn, Timothy Mclaughlin

Thinking Matters Symposium

While previous studies have shown that healthy nutrition has a positive effect on our physical and emotional well-being (Marsman et al., 2018; Harbottle, 2019), it is unknown whether those benefits extend to individual levels of resilience among those who have suffered childhood trauma. The purpose of this research is to better understand how nutritional habits influence the relationship between childhood trauma and resilience. A Qualtrics survey design was used to collect data related to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), resilience, and nutritional intake, and was sent via email to University of Southern Maine students and faculty of the school of social …

Perivascular Adipose Tissue In Relation To Diet, Thermogenesis And Cardiovascular Health, Ginger Paquette, Caitlin Stieber, Ashely Soucy, Benjamin Tero, Lucy Liaw

Thinking Matters Symposium

Adipose tissue is a diverse and crucial component to vascular health due to its role in energy storage and heat production. The primary function of white adipose tissue (WAT) is energy storage while the function of mitochondria-rich brown adipose tissue (BAT) is heat production. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT), which surrounds blood vessels, contains both WAT and BAT adipocytes. Dietary calorie restriction is associated with increased lifespan with decreased adiposity. Increased prevalence of WAT-like PVAT, due to high-fat diets and obesity, leads to increased metabolic disfunction and cardiovascular-disease. We used a calorie-restriction model in C57BL6/J mice to test the hypothesis that …

Food Insecurity Associated With Double-Burden Of Malnutrition Among Women In Reproductive Age In Ciampea Sub-District, Bogor, West Java, Seala Septiani, Ismi Irfiyanti, Tran Thi Hai, Luh Ade Wiradnyani, Aria Kekalih, Paulus Daniel Sahanggamu

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Double burdens of malnutrition among women have occurred across most developing countries including Indonesia. This study compared the associated factors among overweight and underweight of women in reproductive age (WRA) in rural Ciampea Sub-district, Bogor, West Java. This cross-sectional study surveyed the nutritional status of 575 mothers (16-49 years old) who have under two-years-old children. Nutritional status was assessed by body-mass-index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), food security status by US-Food Security Survey Module (US-FSSM), dietary intake by a single 24-H dietary recall. The prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obese among this group were 10%, 15.8%, and 34.2%. Food …

Fulfilment Of Minimum Acceptable Diet As Dominant Factor In Wasting In Children Aged 6–23 Months In Central Jakarta, Indonesia, 2019, Ervida Andina, Madinar Madinar, Endang Laksminingsih Achadi

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Wasting is a form of acute malnutrition characterized by significant and rapid weight loss resulting from inadequate food intake and infectious diseases. This study was to investigate the factors associated with wasting in children aged 6–23 months and the dominant factor among these. The study followed a cross-sectional study design. A total sample of 261 children was selected using multistage random sampling from 13 integrated healthcare centres in six administrative villages located in three sub-districts of Central Jakarta. Data was collected by measuring body weight and height and questionnaires completed through interviews carried out by trained data collectors. This study …

Underweight In Child Aged 24-59 Months In North Sumatra: The 2014 Indonesia Family Life Survey Data, Salsabila Kurnianingtyas, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Winda Mulia Ningsih

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Underweight has the biggest risk against burden of disease. The aim of the study was to determine the factors related with underweight in child aged 24-59 months lived in North Sumatra based on three characteristics caused an underweight; there are child characteristics, maternal characteristics, and parenting characteristics. This study used cross-sectional design and using chi-square statistical analysis. The sample used in this study was 280 child aged 24-59 months living in North Sumatra province, Indonesia. The data was obtained from 2014 Indonesian Family Life Survey collected by RAND Corporation. Prevalence of underweight in child aged 24-59 months lived in North …

Do Bagasi Change The Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge And Attitudes?, Wido Gamani, Laras Sitoayu, Rachmanida Nuzrina, Lintang Purwara Dewanti, Anugrah Novianti

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

The achievement of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the world and in Indonesia is still low. One of the obstacles to EBF is that the mother works. Cooler bag is a familiar media for working mothers to provide breast milk. This research uses modified cooler bags which contain information on how to provide EBF for working mothers, called bagASI. This study aims to determine the effect of bagASI on the EBF knowledge and attitudes of working pregnant women. The research method is Quasi Experimental with Pre Test - Post Test and the number of respondents is 34 working pregnant women. Respondents …

Factors Associated With Underweight Among Two Years Old Children In Dki Jakarta Province (Indonesian Family Life Survey 2014), Nabilla Atelya, Ratu Ayu Dewi Sartika, Winda Mulianingsih

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

A good health status, cognitive development, and productivity cannot be achieved without good nutrition. Nutritional status and its fulfilment of two years old children will be shaping the health status in the next age period. Unfortunately, nutritional problems like underweight is still a significant health problem in Indonesia, especially Special Capital Region of Jakarta. This study used secondary data achieved from Indonesian Family Life Survey 5 data in 2014. This study used a cross-sectional study design with a total of 135 samples of two years old children using a total sampling. Accordingly, the chi square test was used to find …

The Analysis Of Folate-Dependent Transcription Factor Zinc Finger Protein 410, Feifan Xu

Senior Honors Theses

A previous study that introduced dietary folate to mice in the form of folic acid to determine if gene activity would be altered based on this biological molecule demonstrated that mice without folic acid had cognition deficits, and this phenomenon was correlated with altered gene expression in their brains. The included bioinformatic analysis revealed two main transcription factors that bind to proteins in the nucleus, and one is known as the Zinc Finger Protein 410 (Zfp410). Due to the lack of literature explaining the function of this transcription factor, this project is intended to analyze Zfp410 in detail from scratch. …