Digital Commons Network^™

Is There Less Access To Quality Grocery Stores In Minority And Poor Neighborhoods In Houston, Texas?, Chin-Hsing Chen, Lei Zhou, Deborah Banerjee, Monica Slentz

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: There has been an enormous increase in obesity and diet-related diseases in the past decade. Limited access to nutritious foods and easier access to unhealthy foods is believed to be among those at fault. However, access to healthy foods, although studied extensively, does not have a standard measure and is conceptualized in multiple ways by researchers. The relationships between availability of quality grocery store and the socio-demographic profile of the neighborhood are not well understood, particularly in an ethnically and socially diverse city, such as Houston. Our study aims to explore the relationships between distribution of small, medium or …

Engaging Latino Adolescent Girls In Physical Activity Intervention Planning In A Low-Income, Urban Environment, Laura A. Esparza, Daisy Y. Morales-Campos, Cynthia M. Mojica, Deborah Parra- Medina

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Latino adolescent girls are less physically active than the general adolescent population, which puts them at increased risk for obesity and chronic disease. The Physical Activity Partnership for Girls (PG) uses a community-based participatory research approach to assess community needs and priorities related to physical activity (PA) behaviors of middle school girls living in low-income, urban sectors of San Antonio, Texas. Input was sought from girls, parents, and youth-serving agencies serving the community to inform the development of an innovative PA intervention utilizing low-cost, mobile technology (texting) and social media that will be delivered through Girl Scout troops. We …

Know Your Audience: Designing A Nutrition Education Game For Middle School Kids, Vinod Srinivasan, Lars Doucet, Christine Shimek, Cynthia A. Warren, Carol J. Spaulding, Kimberly Paulhill, Catherine J. Mcneal, John David Coppin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: In recent years video games have emerged as potential tools to tackle obesity. Games that use motion-sensing controllers and interfaces are often used to promote physical activity. Games are also used to impart education about diet, nutrition and health. Our goal in this project is to address childhood obesity through the design, development and implementation of a video game to teach nutrition concepts to middle-school-aged children.

Method: Our target audience is middle-school students in a low-income neighborhood in Dallas. To guide us in the game design, we collected data about students’ gaming preferences through surveys, focus groups and student …

A Community-Academic Partnership To Improve Access To Healthy Foods In Low-Income Communities, Heather Kitzman-Ulrich, Mark Dehaven, Cindy Romero, Nicole Beltran

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Access to healthy foods is often limited in low-income communities and prevents the adoption of a healthy diet needed to meet national dietary recommendations, reduce chronic disease, and prevent obesity. The Healthy Harvest Community Gardening Partnership is a community-based participatory research program between faith-based organizations, academic institutions, local philanthropy, and other non-profit institutions, created in 2009 for improving access to healthy foods and quality of life through a community garden network. Methods: Healthy Harvest uses a social ecological framework combining individual, interpersonal, and community level influences into a single program, and employs a train-the-trainer approach for providing expertise in …

Exercise Attenuates Weight Gain And Fat Accumulation In Cd1- Mice Consuming A High-Fat Diet, Whitney L. Breslin, Kelley Strohacker, Katie C. Carpenter, Nadia H. Agha, Thomas W. Lowder, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: Exercise training, in combination with a healthful diet, is a reliable method of weight loss or weight maintenance. It is unknown whether an exercise training program would sufficiently attenuate weight gain during chronic consumption of a high-fat diet. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an aerobic exercise training program to prevent excessive weight gain both before and during consumption of a high-fat diet in CD-1 male mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups (N=10 mice/group): 4-weeks of treadmill running followed by 6-weeks sedentary (EX-SD), 4-weeks sedentary followed by 6 weeks of …

The Effects Of Increasing Fat Intake On Body Composition And Blood Monocytes In Cd-1 Mice, Kelley Strohacker, Whitney L. Breslin, Katie C. Carpenter, Nadia Agha, Thomas W. Lowder, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose Obesity is a chronic, inflammatory state. Blood monocyte concentrations/proportions have been previously used to assess immune inflammatory status in humans. Although mouse monocytes exist in three subsets, shifts among these cells types have not been documented during a period of diet-induced weight gain. Thus, our purpose was to determine longitudinal changes in mouse monocyte subsets during 12 weeks of low, moderate or high-fat feeding. Methods: 40 CD-1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (N=10 per group): stock control (13.5% fat, CN), 30% fat (F30), 45% fat (F45) and 60% fat (F60). Non-lethal, saphenous vein blood samples (~70 μL) …

Relationship Between Dyslipidemia And Obesity In Children, Elias Humberto Avila-Rodriguez, Armando Avila-Rodriguez, Jesús Maria Araujo-Contreras, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia, Nelda Mier, Luis Joel Rodríguez-Ortega, Efren Rivas-Avila

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is a general term that refers to abnormal levels of lipids. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship among the nutritional state and the percentage of body fat with the levels of lipids in 10 to 13 year old children living in the city of Durango, Mexico. Method: The study was carried out with 823 elementary school children. The selection was done at random. The biochemical studies were done in a subpopulation of 425 children. Each child underwent the following studies: sociodemographic, anthropometric and corporal composition. After fasting overnight, a venous blood sample was obtained. …

Neighborhood Safety And Attractiveness Influence Physical Activity Among African American And Hispanic Or Latina Women, Angela M. Ho, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Introduction: Although the benefits of adopting physical activity (PA) are well publicized, physical inactivity rates remain high, and African American and Hispanic or Latina women do less PA compared to white women. Many interventions have begun to focus on conveniently performed lifestyle PA, such as walking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between neighborhood safety and attractiveness and PA in a sample of African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women participating in Health Is Power (1R01CA109403). Method: Women (AA N=202 and HL N=107) who enrolled in the study were middle-aged (M=45.8 years), overweight (M …

Exploring Obesity Among Wheelchair Users: Bmi Vs Body Compostion, Katherine Froehlich-Grobe

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Author(s): Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, PhD1 & Richard A. Washburn, PhD2 Affiliations: 1 University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, 2 Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to indicate weight status but has been critiqued for being insensitive to body composition. Americans with disabilities have significantly higher obesity rates than those without when BMI has been used as the indicator of weight status. Examining obesity prevalence based on body composition among this group is warranted. As the life expectancy of those with disabilities has increased to approximate …

An Assessment Of Us College Food Environments: From Food Service To College Students, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Debra Reed

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: As obesity continues to increase among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. and these populations enter college, Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) are facing a changing set of student health issues. With these students comes an increased responsibility to address the nutritional environment of the campus. College health educators and food service programs are on the forefront of this issue and can provide important insights into the challenges and opportunities of providing and promoting healthy food options on IHLs. Method: Initially, a series of focus groups, primarily comprised of college health educators, were conducted. Topics included the discussion …

Internet-Based Intervention To Improve Dietary Habits In Women Of Color: Saving Lives Staying Active (Salsa), Jacqueline N. Dinh, Christopher P. Sunseri, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee, Lorna Mcneill

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: The Internet is an inexpensive method to distribute information that spans large distances. With 2/3 of the country currently overweight or obese, the Internet is the obvious choice to delivering health information to those that need it most. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) and decrease fat consumption in women of color. Method: Women (N=50) were middle-aged (M=41.2 years, SD=9.6), overweight (M=29.6 kg/m2, SD=5.3) and well educated (74% were college graduates). Participants completed measures of FV and fat consumption at 4 time points (spaced …

Association Of Fat And Alcohol Consumption With Physical Activity Among Obese Women Of Color, Ygnacio Lopez Iii, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women are highly vulnerable to obesity and related conditions. Although it has been suggested increasing physical activity (PA) may lead to weight loss and consuming high fat foods and alcohol may contribute to weight gain, it is not clear how increased PA may be associated with improved dietary habits (DH). The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased PA was associated with decreased fat and alcohol consumption among AA and HL women participating in Health Is Power (1R01CA109403). Method: One hundred fifty-eight overweight or obese women (102 AA, 56 HL; …

Obesity And Physical Activity Variance By Income And Ethnicity In Kansas City, Katie M. Heinrich, Ws Carlos Poston, Nui Jitnarin, Anthony Randles, Joseph Hughey, Laverne Berkel, C Keith Haddock

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although obesity and physical activity prevalence systematically vary by income and ethnicity, it is unclear how well census data represent actual conditions. Using data from the Kansas City Built Environment and Health Study, we examined whether differences in measured obesity prevalence and self-reported physical activity would systematically vary by both census block group median income and percent ethnic minority and self-reported income and ethnicity. Methods: Participants included 586 adults; average age 45±14.7. Most participants were female (69.8%), married (51.5%), had some college or more (72.7%) and had incomes ≤$60,000 (54.6%). Households were solicited from 21 census block groups, stratified …

Lessons Learned From Juntos Y Saludables Peer-Led Parent Education, Daisy Escamilla, Desiree Acosta, Bonnie Dillon, Rebecca Adeigbe, Deborah Parra- Medina, Meizi He, Amelie G. Ramirez, Zenong Yin, Erica T. Sosa

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of training received by peer educators in the Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together) program. Juntos y Saludables is a multi-component childhood obesity prevention program for Head Start. Method: This study applied the peer led education approach to provide parents with education regarding healthy growth among their children. Seven parents were recruited through teachers, other parents, and the Parent Leadership Institute at a local Head Start center. Faculty and graduate assistants from local universities provided training to the parent educators in both English and Spanish. Training sessions were conducted …

A Preschool Aged Obesity Prevention Project Designed To Increase Moderate To Vigorous Physical Activity, Rebecca T. Adeigbe, Desiree Acosta, Alberto Cordova, Yingzhou Ma, Zenong Yin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of Juntos Y Saludables (Get Healthy Together [GHT]) is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by focusing on physical activity and healthy eating. GHT is an ongoing project, with phase one of three completed in May 2010.The GHT program was implemented in the Edgewood Independent School District’s Head Start centers located in San Antonio, TX. These centers were selected due to high prevalence of obesity (50%) and diabetes in children and adults living in the community. Method: The gross motor intervention was implemented at two of the three centers. The intervention consisted of teacher training and …

Mobilizing Community Based Organizations To Address Obesity: Our Communities, Our Solutions, Mandy J. Hill, Kimberly Johnson, Judson Robinson, Amanda Edwards, Tiffany Thomas, Roger Mitchell, Niiobli Armah, Jasmine J. Opusunju, Misha N. Granado

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of the focus groups is to: 1) explore existing thought patterns and lived experiences about eating habits and daily activity of African American (AA) children at risk for childhood obesity, 2) acquire an in-depth explanation of participants’ attitudes towards factors related to childhood obesity encompassing their social norms, dietary habits, and environmental influences, and 3) explore rationales for differences between children and parental perspectives of ideal health.

Method: Using a Community Based Participatory Research (CPBR) framework, the HAUL research team, comprised of public health professionals, local policy makers, physicians, and community leaders, will facilitate 20 focus groups …

Evaluating “Reach” In The Health Is Power (Hip) Study, Kristin L. Wolfe, Ygnacio Lopez Iii, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Jacqueline Reese-Smith, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: EVALUATING “REACH” IN THE HEALTH IS POWER (HIP) STUDY

Author(s): Kristin L. Wolfe1, Ygnacio Lopez III, MS1, Scherezade K. Mama, MPH1,2, Ashley V. Medina, BS1, Jacqueline Reese-Smith, PhD1,3, Rebecca E. Lee, PhD1

Affiliations: 1 University of Houston, 2 University of Texas School of Public Health, 3 University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Purpose. In the United States, minority women (African American [AA] and Hispanic or Latina [HL]) are most vulnerable to obesity and related health compromising conditions. Health Is Power (HIP; 1R01CA109403) was a randomized controlled community based trial to promote physical activity and vegetable and fruit consumption …

Improving Psychological And Physical Health In Women Of Color Via Salsa Dancing, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Raul O. Edwards, Lorna Mcneill, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Physical activity improves psychological and physical health. Latin dancing is popular and can be used to meet moderate to vigorous physical activity intensity recommendations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a Latin dance intervention reduced perceived stress and improved health. Method: SAving Lives, Staying Active (SALSA) was an 8-week randomized controlled cross-over design, pilot study to promote regular physical activity from Latin dance and fruit and vegetable consumption as a means to preventing obesity among women of color in Houston, Texas. Participants were randomized to a four week bi-weekly salsa dance or web-based dietary …

Cognitive Behavior Modification And Exercise + Group Counseling For Patients After Bariatric Surgery, Janet Buckworth, Caroline Carducci, Shirley Kindrick, Dean Mikami, Dara Schuster, Katharine Stough, Bradley Needleman

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

The growing obesity epidemic is paralleled by an increasing number of bariatric surgeries. Patients lose significant weight within the first 12-18 months post-surgery with corresponding resolution of many co-morbidities. However, weight loss stabilizes after 18-24 months and 50% or more of patients eventually regain weight (Bond, Phelan, Leahey, Hill, & Wing, 2009; Magro, et al., 2008). Weight regain after loss is associated with return of co-morbidities and deteriorations in health-related quality of life and mood (Karlsson, Taft, Ryden, Sjostrom, & Sullivan, 2007). The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the effects of a post-surgical behavioral plus counseling intervention …

Juntos Y Saludables: Outcomes Of A Peer Led Approach To Obesity Prevention For Head Start, Erica T. Sosa, Deborah Parra-Medina, Rebecca Adeigbe, Desiree Acosta, Daisy Escamilla, Meizi He, Debra Kibbe, Amelie Ramirez, Zenong Yin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together), a multi-component obesity prevention pilot tailored for Mexican American Head Start children (ages 3-5). For the parent education component, researchers trained seven peer parent educators to deliver health information via afterschool parent education sessions. When parents attended the sessions, they received a take-home bag with a book and family activity to promote physical activity in the home. Method: Parent intercept interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires were collected (average 80% participation rate). Results: Average participation rate at the parent education sessions was 46% and rates varied …

Magnitude And Predictors Of Weight Loss In A Free Ad Libitum Online Weight Loss Program, Amber W. Trickey, Weiwei Wang, Kevin O. Hwang

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

To evaluate the magnitude and predictors of weight loss among members of a free ad libitum online weight loss program. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a systematic random sample of members who joined SparkPeople.com between February-April 2008, and included follow-up data until May 2010. The main outcome was net weight change, calculated from self-reported weight entries. We conducted simple linear regression for associations between weight change and demographics (age, gender, referral source, geographic location, baseline body mass index [BMI]) and between weight change and website usage metrics (number of log-ins, weight entries, SparkPoints [website usage incentives], SparkFriends [friends in the SparkPeople …

Associations Between Physical Activity And Obesity In A Multi-Ethnic Sample Of Adolescent Girls, Abida B. Solomon

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The increasing prevalence of obesity and low participation in physical activity among young racial/ethnic minorities constitute serious public health issues. Research has shown that "overweight" and "obese" individuals have increased risks for the following conditions: coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon), hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint), and gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility). Because chronic diseases disproportionately impact ethnic and racial minorities, this study examined the association between physical activity and body mass index (BMI) in …

Gender, Weight Loss Efforts, And Fast Food Locations: Evidence Of Differential Effect On Bmi?, Maria C. Chang, Vincent Chen, Courtney P. Winston, Luisa Franzini, Deanna M. Hoelscher

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Research on the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and proximity of fast food restaurants surrounding schools, proxy measures for fast food access, have produced mixed results. We evaluated whether gender and self-report of weight loss behaviors modified the relationship between BMI and proportion of fast food restaurants (FFRp). Method: We obtained weight and height information for 6,456 11th graders from 108 schools that participated in the 2004-2005 Texas School Physical Activity and Nutrition surveillance. Internet searches were used to determine FFRp within 0.25 and 0.50 miles from schools. FFRp was determined by dividing the number of FFR by …

Relationship Between Leptin And Obesity In Mexican Chidren, Armando Avila-Rodríguez, E.Humberto Avila-Rodríguez, Jesus M. Araujo-Contreras, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia, L. Joel Rodríguez-Ortega, Efrén Rivas-Avila

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The expression and secretion of the leptin are thoroughly related with the regulation of food intake, energy balance and body fat. Obesity is defined as excess of body fat. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship among the nutritional state and the percentage of body fat with the levels of leptin in 10 to 13 year old children living in the city of Durango, Mexico. Method: The study was carried out with 823 elementary school children. The selection was done at random. The biochemical studies were done in a subpopulation of 425 children. Each child underwent …

Health Behaviors Among Students With Different Weight Change Outcomes, Katrina Serrano, Chanam Lee, Peter S. Murano, Xuemei Zhu

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Studies have identified various behavioral and environmental factors associated with physical inactivity and unhealthy diet among children and adults. While the lifestyles of college students may be risk factors to the development of an unhealthy body weight, they have not been sufficiently studied in previous research. Utilizing the dataset collected from a larger project, Campus Environment, Diet and Activity (CEDA), this study examines physical activity (PA), dietary behaviors, and perceptions of environmental barriers among those who have lost, maintained, or gained weight after living on a campus environment for one year. Method: The pretest data (focusing on past behaviors before …

Insulin Resistance And Obesity In Mexican Youth, Jesus M. Araujo-Contreras, E. Humberto Avila-Rodriguez, Nohe Vargas-Chavez, Efren Rivas-Avila, Armando Avila-Rodriguez, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Luis A. Sepulveda-Chapa, Nelda Mier, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although research shows that prevalence rates of insulin resistance (IR) is increasing in children, little is known about the impact of obesity in IR in Mexican youth. This study investigated the association between overweight, obesity, and insulin resistance in Mexican adolescents. Methods: Data were collected from 448 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from a random sample of a high school student population in Durango, Mexico. After fasting overnight, blood samples were obtained from participants. Glucose, insulin, lipid profile, leptin, insulin growth factor, growth hormone, cortisol, TNF-alpha, and C-reactive protein were determined in serum. Body Mass Index (BMI) was …

Acculturation, Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, And Physical Activity In Mexican Origin Women, Daisy Y. Morales-Campos, Jennifer J. Salinas, Deborah Parra-Medina, Deanne K. Hilfinger Messias, Patricia Sharpe, Alexis M. Koskan

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Longer time in the United States (US) is associated with increased risk of obesity in Hispanic immigrants, particularly for women. Although previous research has established an association between nutrition and acculturation, little attention has focused on physical activity. In this study, we examine the associations between acculturation on Mexican origin women’s body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and report of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Method: Mexican origin women ≥18 years (n=120) from South Carolina (n=60) and Texas Lower Rio Grande Valley (n=60) completed a survey and anthropometric measures. Participants reported MVPA in hours per week, country …

An Obesity Management Intervention For Hispanic Children In A Pediatric Clinic, Laura A. Rubalcava, Dorothy A. Long Parma, Deborah Parra- Medina, Cynthia M. Mojica

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: AN OBESITY MANAGEMENT INTERVENTION FOR HISPANIC CHILDREN IN A PEDIATRIC CLINIC: STUDY DESIGN AND BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS Authors: Laura A. Rubalcava, MA, Dorothy A. Long Parma, MD, Deborah Parra-Medina, MPH, PhD, Cynthia M. Mojica, PhD, MPH Affiliation: Institute for Health Promotion Research, Dept of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Purpose: This study describes a pediatric obesity management intervention trial in a rural Hispanic clinic. Methods: Hispanic children aged 5-14 (goal N=200) who are overweight (body mass index [BMI] 85th-94th percentile for age and gender) or obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and a parent …

C&I As A Tool To Elicit Change In Health, Jon Aoki

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: C&I AS A TOOL TO ELICIT CHANGE IN HEALTH Authors: Jon M. Aoki, Ed.D. Affiliations: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Houston-Downtown Purpose: American has become obesogenic and the trend of people gaining weight is a continuing problem. The purpose of this study was to describe an action research modified C&I (curriculum and instruction) unit on health in an upper-level university life science course for EC-6 and 4-8 pre-service teachers that elicited change in student knowledge and lifestyle of health. Method: A phenomenological approach using a constant comparative method was used to describe the post-unit responses from teacher candidates. …

Hispanic Parent Attitudes And Preschool Children's Time With Activity-Promoting Media, Carol J. Spaulding, Alexandra Loukas

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Home media that promote physical activity offer potential benefits in obesity prevention efforts for children, to the extent that they may represent “screen time” that is not sedentary. This study examined the relationships of home media density and parent media attitudes to preschool children’s time with TV, DVDs, and videogames, and children’s time with activity-promoting genres.

Methods: Hispanic mothers (N=237) of children aged six to 60 months reported on their preschool-aged children’s time with television, DVD players, and videogames, and time spent using activity-promoting programs or genres. Surveys in Spanish and English assessed the number of screen media channels …