Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of The Washington State Covid-19 Lockdown On 5-10-Year-Ol School-Aged Children Residing In Kitties County, Peyton Rondeau

All Master's Theses

Background: The Washington State COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent school closures brought increased dependency on parents to provide nutritious meals and opportunities for physical activity for their children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the impacts of the Washington State COVID-19 lockdown on the dietary, physical activity, and screen time habits of children ages 5-10-years-old residing in Kittitas County.

Methods: A researcher-developed Qualtrics survey was created and validated via the Index of Item Objective Congruence. The survey was administered to parents via Facebook, using local Kittitas County Facebook groups.

Results: Most parents identified that the Washington lockdown negatively …

The Impact Of Universal Free Meals During Covid-19 On Family Life And Perspective Of School Meals In Central Washington State, Charlotte Green

All Master's Theses

This study explored the impact of the USDA COVID-19 Universal Free Meal (UFM) waivers on family life, school meal participation, and child eating habits from parents with children in Central Washington state (WA) schools. n = 119 parents/caregivers with students who were in K-12^th grade in Central WA from August 2019-February 2023 completed a 10 question electronic, and descriptive survey. The survey measured changes in participation in school lunch/breakfast pre to post COVID-19 waiver, which provided free meals for all children, and whether UFM were beneficial to families, impacted perception of school food, child’s sense of community at school …

Validation And Reliability Of A Questionnaire That Measures Food Waste Knowledge, Attitudes, And Motivations Of Adolescents, Joanna Fung

Master's Theses

The goal of this thesis was to develop a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure food waste knowledge, attitudes, and motivations of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in the United States (U.S.). This questionnaire was created with the objective to address gaps in adolescent food waste literature and to aid the creation and refinement of targeted food waste programs and policies. Questions were specific to the home, school, and restaurant settings, as well as, behaviors related to discarding food, composting food, and food expiration. Additionally, the questionnaire sought to understand how friendships and familial relationships affect adolescent food waste-related behaviors. …

High Resting Energy Expenditure In Women With Episodic Migraine: Exploring The Use Of Predictive Formulas, Laís Bhering Martins, Jéssica Sales Ribeiro, Ana Maria Dos Santos Rodrigues, Luana Caroline Dos Santos, Antonio Lúcio Teixeira, Adaliene Versiani Matos Ferreira

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: Migraine is a common and disabling primary headache, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. Previous studies have suggested that pain can increase humans' Resting Energy Expenditure (REE). However, no previous study has investigated whether the REE of individuals with migraine differs from the general population. Therefore, this study aims to assess whether the REE of women with migraine differs from that of women without headaches. We also tested the accuracy of REE predictive formulas in the migraine patients.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study involves 131 adult women aged between 18 and 65 years, 83 with migraine and 48 without …

‘A Healthy Mtu’ A Mixed Methods Baseline Programme Of Research To Empirically Inform A Campus Health Promotion Initiative Within An Irish Higher Education Setting, Andrea Bickerdike

Theses

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been called to lead global health promotion actions, yet there remains a dearth of empirically informed ‘Healthy University’ (HU) initiatives. This thesis constituted a baseline mixed methods needs assessment to inform a settings-based health promotion (HP) initiative (‘A Healthy MTU’) within a multi-campus ‘case’ HEI in Ireland (Cork campuses of MTU, formerly CIT). Specific aims were to (i) investigate student and staff health metrics, and (ii) identify the cultural and environmental determinants of health and wellbeing within the case HEI setting. Using a phased, mixed methodology (QUAN-QUAL), five sequential empirical studies were undertaken. Quantitative data …

Timing Is Everything, But Does It Really Matter? Impact Of 8-Weeks Morning Versus Evening Iron Supplementation In Ballet And Contemporary Dancers, Caitlin Attwell, Alannah Mckay, Marc Sim, Cory Dugan, Joanna Nicholas, Luke Hopper, Peter Peeling

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The effectiveness of a morning versus evening oral iron supplement strategy to increase iron stores was explored. Ballet and contemporary dancers with serum ferritin (sFer) < 50 g/L (n = 14), were supplemented daily with 105 mg elemental oral iron in either the morning (FeAM) or evening (FePM) for 8 weeks. A control group (n = 6) with sFer > 50 g/L were given no supplement over the same period. Dancers’ sFer were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Assessment of daily training load, dietary intake, and menstruation were made. A significant interaction (p < 0.001) showed the within group sFer change over the 8-week intervention in FeAM (+25.9 ± 10.5 g/L) and FePM, (+22.3 ± 13.6 g/L) was significantly different to CON (−30.17 ± 28.7 g/L; both p = 0.001). This change was not different between FeAM and FePM (p = 0.778). sFer levels within FeAM and FePM significantly increased over the 8-weeks; however, they significantly decreased in the CON group (all p < 0.05). Post-intervention sFer levels were no longer different between the three groups (p > 0.05). Training load, dietary intake, and number of menstrual cycles incurred were similar between FeAM and FePM (p > 0.05). Oral iron supplementation in either the morning or evening appears equally effective in increasing sFer levels in dancers with sub-optimal iron status.

Vitamin K1 Intake And Incident Diabetes In The Danish Diet Cancer And Health Study: Supplemental Information, Pratik Pokharel, Jamie W. Bellinge, Frederik Dalgaard, Kevin Murray, Marc Sim, Bu B. Yeap, Emma Connolly, Lauren C. Blekkenhorst, Catherine P. Bondonno, Joshua Lewis, Gunnar Gislason, Anne Tjønneland, Kim Overvad, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Carl Schulz, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Rural Nutrition And Dietetics Research—Future Directions, Laura Alston, Susan Heaney, Katherine Kent, Stephanie Godrich, Lucy Kocanda, Jaimee Herbert, Tracy Schumacher, Leanne J. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: The aim of this study was to summarise key evidence from recent Australian rural nutrition research and provide recommendations for future nutrition and dietetics research with rural communities. Context: Clear evidence demonstrates that diet plays a role in the health gap between rural and metropolitan Australia. Despite the opportunity to address the health of rural Australians through better nutrition, alarmingly low investment in nutrition and dietetics research has occurred historically, and over the past decade. Approach: A review of the evidence was undertaken by rural nutrition and dietetics leaders to provide a commentary piece to inform future rural nutrition …

Investigating Pre-Professional Dancer Health Status And Preventative Health Knowledge, Joanna Nicholas, Sara Grafenauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Dance is a highly demanding physical pursuit coupled with pressure to conform to aesthetic ideals. Assessment of health status and preventative health knowledge of pre-professional dancers may help inform educational strategies promoting dancers’ health and career longevity. The aim of this research was to establish a baseline understanding of dance students at a single pre-professional institution based on metrics focused on current health, nutrition, lifestyle, and wellbeing while also gauging knowledge of longer-term health implications. Methods: Adopting a cross-sectional study design, the Dance-Specific Energy Availability Questionnaire was tailored for Australian participants and administered online. Results: The response rate was …

Nourishing The Brain On Deep Space Missions: Nutritional Psychiatry In Promoting Resilience, Nihar N Pathare, Flavia Fayet-Moore, Jennifer A Fogarty, Felice N Jacka, Philip Strandwitz, Gary E Strangman, Dorit B Donoviel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The grueling psychological demands of a journey into deep space coupled with ever-increasing distances away from home pose a unique problem: how can we best take advantage of the benefits of fresh foods in a place that has none? Here, we consider the biggest challenges associated with our current spaceflight food system, highlight the importance of supporting optimal brain health on missions into deep space, and discuss evidence about food components that impact brain health. We propose a future food system that leverages the gut microbiota that can be individually tailored to best support the brain and mental health of …

Effectiveness Of The Catch (Coordinated Approach To Child’S Health) Rainbow Program In Elementary Schools For Change In Fruit And Vegetable Intake, Ashley M. Valinskas

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Background: There is currently a lack of nutrition education programs that effectively increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake among children. Not meeting the recommendations for fruits and vegetables increases the risk for poor academic achievement, obesity, and chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, asthma, and more. Nutrition, cooking, and gardening lessons individually and together have shown to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption in school-aged children.Methods: Two-Hundred Twenty-five 4th and 5th graders participated in six cooking and six gardening lessons between September 2021 and May 2022 at Genoa Elementary school. Each nutrition education session was 25-minutes long, …

The Effect Of Pomegranate Consumption On The Gut Microbiome, Brant Bandow

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Pomegranate is known to have antioxidant and prebiotic qualities that have been shown to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while reducing inflammation in the gut. Inflammation in the gut is an issue that results in many health problems including obesity and colon cancer. In this study, an experimental group received a daily pomegranate supplement for three weeks where a control group did not receive any supplement. After sequencing gDNA isolated from fecal samples from both before and after the trial period there was a significant difference between the two groups. The largest amount of variability is attributed to the …

Viral Chemotaxis Of Paramecium Bursaria Altered By Algal Endosymbionts, Huy V.N. Ho, David Dunigan, Miranda E. Salsbery, Irina Agarkova, Zeina Al-Ameeli, James L. Van Etten, John Delong

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Chemotaxis is widespread across many taxa and often aids resource acquisition or predator avoidance. Species interactions can modify the degree of movement facilitated by chemotaxis. In this study, we investigated the influence of symbionts on Paramecium bursaria’s chemotactic behavior toward chloroviruses. To achieve this, we performed choice experiments using chlorovirus and control candidate attractors (virus stabilization buffer and pond water). We quantified the movement of Paramecia grown with or without algal and viral symbionts toward each attractor. All Paramecia showed some chemotaxis toward viruses, but cells without algae and viruses showed the most movement toward viruses. Thus, the endosymbiotic …

Evaluating The Feasibility And Efficacy Of A Brief Motivational Interviewing Nutrition Intervention For Women With Type 2 Diabetes In Primary Care, Charlotte M. Adams

DNP Projects

Background: The American Diabetes Association recommends lifestyle modification to prevent and treat diabetes in their 2021 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. Evidence suggests that motivational interviewing (MI) is an effective intervention that clinicians can use to facilitate behavior change in patients with type two diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate a brief motivational interviewing intervention that could be delivered by a PCP to provide individualized nutrition counseling for adult women with type two diabetes in a primary care clinic in Lexington, KY. This study was a continuation of a previous quality improvement project at this …

“So We Create Happy Synergies” How An Overall Enabling Environment Helped Lao Pdr Legislate The Who Code On Breastmilk Substitutes: Lessons Learnt, Devina Buckshee

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding rates in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) remain at 44% against a global goal of at least 50%, partly due to a weak understanding of the multifactorial and multilevel determinants of breastfeeding (UNICEF, 2021). Therefore, evidence-based advocacy efforts call for a systems approach to improve the enabling environment around breastfeeding. Aim: This study aims to stitch together the comprehensive patchwork of actors and dynamic ‘gears’ in the socio-ecological environment that came together to develop a much more enabling environment to improve child nutrition through breastfeeding promotion and protection in Lao PDR. Further, it aims to …

The Microbiomes Of Wildlife And Chemical Pollution: Status, Knowledge Gaps And Challenges, R. D. Handy, N. J. Clark, L. P. Hutt, R. Bescós

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The effect of chemical pollution on the microbiomes of wildlife has been given little attention. A new concept is emerging where microbiomes are vital to host animal or plant health, and for ecosystems. Data are mainly on mammals, birds, and fish. Changing environmental conditions (e.g., salinity, pH, season) and exposure to chemicals alter the composition of gill, gut and skin microbiomes. Gut microbiomes are also modulated by diet, and exposure to chemicals including metals, nanomaterials, fungicides or microplastics. However, a change in the microbiome does not necessarily infer adverse effects on the host, with some evidence of co-adaptation. Environmental risk …

Implementation Of A Food Science And Nutrition Module In A Dental Undergraduate Curriculum, Michael Crowe, Michael O'Sullivan, Lewis Winning, Oscar Cassetti, Brian O'Connell, Aifric O'Sullivan, Eileen Gibney, Suzanne Doyle, Annemarie Bennett, Paula Moynihan

Articles

Although it is generally acknowledged that nutrition should be a core subject in curricula, most dental programmes do not specifically include nutrition education.1–5 The rationale for improving the nutrition education of dental students is supported by the multidirectional and synergistic relationship between nutrition and oral health.6,7 As highlighted recently, achieving a population-wide reduction in free sugar consumption has now become a central tenet for public health authorities and professional healthcare workers globally.8 However, dentists do not have the confidence or competencies to assess or deliver appropriate dietary interventions.

The Iris Clinic: A Protocol For A Mixed-Methods Study Evaluating The Management Of Hyperemesis Gravidarum, Eileen O'Brien, Jean Doherty, Sarah Louise Killeen, Melanie Bennett, Lillian Murtagh, Sinead Curran, Suzanne Murphy, Helen Mchale, Lucille Sheehy

Articles

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that affects 0.3–3% of women and has profound nutritional, physical and psychological consequences. Research is lacking regarding the most effective management of the condition. In response to patient feedback, a multidisciplinary HG day-case service (IRIS Clinic) was launched in 2020 at The National Maternity Hospital, Ireland. The clinic provides routine, day-case care in a comfortable space with pre-booked appointments. The MDT involves midwives, dietitians, perinatal mental health, obstetrics and pharmacy, and the nature of the clinic enables peer-to-peer support. As this clinic is the first of its …

Research Review: "Food Insecurity Among Veterans Examining The Discrepancy Between Veteran Food Insecurity And Use Of The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap)", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This research review addresses food insecurity among veterans, linking it to adverse health outcomes and increased suicide risk. Despite routine screenings by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, food-insecure veterans have lower enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) than nonveterans. The research examines nuanced reasons for veterans' SNAP participation, highlighting disparities in initiation, termination, and benefit utilization patterns. Older veterans and those with disabilities are identified as underserved groups, emphasizing the need to improve SNAP accessibility for them. The findings also stress the importance of early interventions to support at-risk service members. This IVMF review also provides valuable …

Variation In The Gut Microbiome In Response To Nutrition In Danio Rerio, George Brian Hadley Green

All ETDs from UAB

Like humans, Danio rerio, commonly known as the zebrafish, generally harbor millions of gut microbes, whose commensal microbial organisms aid in digestive physiology, nutrition, and host health. The emergence of high throughput sequencing technology (HTS) enables researchers to sequence collective microbial genomes, providing information on the composition of entire microbial communities, as well as the dynamics across taxa encompassing the overall community. Thus, the advancement of genome sequencing and metagenomic analysis have provided a broader understanding of resident and exogenous microbes across biological model organisms. These technologies have enabled researchers to review a spectrum of endogenous and exogenous factors influencing …

Nutrient Intakes, Compliance With Recommendations And Key Sources In Women Of Child-Bearing Age (18-50 Y) In Ireland, Abigail O' Mahony

Theses

Women’s pre-conceptional health (including nutritional status) is important for both the health of the individual themselves and also for the lifelong health of any occurring offspring. However, it has been estimated that up to 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, thus optimal nutritional status is important for all women of child-bearing age (WCBA) not just those with pregnancy intentions. Despite the accumulation of evidence of the importance of nutritional status at this life-stage, nutrient recommendations for WCBA for the most part don’t differ from recommendations for other population groups. The notable exception to this is that all WCBA are recommended to …

Dietary Antioxidant Insufficiency Is Associated With Increased Inflammatory Markers And Poorer Health-Related Quality Of Life In Patients With Heart Failure, Jia-Rong Wu, Eun Kyeung Song, Debra K. Moser, Terry A. Lennie

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Antioxidant insufficiency, elevated inflammatory markers, and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the associations among dietary antioxidant intake, inflammatory markers, and HRQOL in patients with HF. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 265 patients with HF who completed a 4-day food diary. We assessed intake of 10 antioxidants: alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, vitamins C and E, zinc, and selenium. Antioxidant insufficiency was reflected by a measured level for each antioxidant that was below the estimate average …

Translating Energy Balance Research From The Bench To The Clinic To The Community: Parallel Animal-Human Studies In Cancer, Miriam B Garcia, Keri L Schadler, Joya Chandra, Steven K Clinton, Kerry S Courneya, Zobeida Cruz-Monserrate, Carrie R Daniel, Andrew J Dannenberg, Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Mark W Dewhirst, Carol J Fabian, Stephen D Hursting, Melinda L Irwin, Neil M Iyengar, Jennifer L Mcquade, Kathryn H Schmitz, Karen Basen-Engquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Advances in energy balance and cancer research to date have largely occurred in siloed work in rodents or patients. However, substantial benefit can be derived from parallel studies in which animal models inform the design of clinical and population studies or in which clinical observations become the basis for animal studies. The conference Translating Energy Balance from Bench to Communities: Application of Parallel Animal-Human Studies in Cancer, held in July 2021, convened investigators from basic, translational/clinical, and population science research to share knowledge, examples of successful parallel studies, and strong research to move the field of energy balance and cancer …

Determining The Food Choice Motivations Of Irish Teens And Their Association With Dietary Intakes, Using The Food Choice Questionnaire, Aisling Daly, Elizabeth O'Sullivan, Janette Walton, Laura Kehoe, Breige A. Mcnulty, Albert Flynn, John M. Kearney

Articles

During adolescence, teens start making their own food choices. While health and nutrition are important, practical and social concerns are also influential. This study aims to determine factors that motivate the food choices of Irish teens (using Food Choice Questionnaire), using data from the National Teens' Food Survey II (N = 428, 50% male, 13-18 years), and to identify how these motivations relate to dietary intakes (4-day semi-weighed food diaries). Data analysis used PCA to determine the food choice motivation subscales, and correlation and comparative statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA). Eight motivating factors were identified for Irish teens: Sensory Appeal, Price …

Development Of A Scoring Tool For Australian Rural Food Retail Environments, Tracy L. Schumacher, Carissa A. Alderton, Leanne J. Brown, Susan Heaney, Laura Alston, Katherine Kent, Stephanie L. Godrich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Current tools scoring the healthiness of food retail outlets do not reflect outlets found in rural locations. This study aimed to adapt pre-existing Australian scoring tools to represent non-metropolitan areas. Rural nutrition experts were identified, and a modified Delphi technique was used to adapt two pre-existing, food-scoring tools in five iterative stages. Stages included identifying all relevant outlets, providing a description and score for each, ensuring consistency between outlet scores and pre-existing, metro-centric tools, and providing instructions for correct use. Six rural nutrition experts were identified and engaged in the modified Delphi technique. The final tool consisted of 12 categories …

A Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention For Fear Of Cancer Recurrence In Young Breast Cancer Survivors, Lisa R. Murphy

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Objective: A significant challenge facing young breast cancer (BC) survivors is learning how to manage fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) during survivorship. Limited tailored FCR interventions and age-appropriate support exist. This Doctor of Nursing (DNP) project, based upon best practice guidelines, aimed to evaluate how a Lifestyle Management Coaching Intervention (LMCI) could help young female BC survivors learn how to decrease and manage their FCR more effectively and experience improved health outcomes.

Method: Eligible participants were female BC survivors aged 18-59 with Stage I-III BC demonstrating elevated baseline FCR screening scores during the extended survival period recruited from the …

Effects Of A Residential Lifestyle Intervention Program On Selected Lipid Measures And Nutritional Choices, Delores M. Rugless

DNP Research Projects

Abstract

Objective: Cardiovascular disease has been the leading cause of death since the early 1920s. As with other chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease is primarily influenced by behaviors and the environment, with poor nutrition being a major contributing factor. Despite knowing the importance of lifestyle modification to manage cardiovascular disease effectively, many individuals have difficulty adhering to lifestyle modification principles. Residential lifestyle modification centers provide the education and support necessary to assist individuals with implementing behavioral changes. This DNP project aimed to demonstrate the value of diet modification implemented at a residential lifestyle center to decrease specific cardiovascular risk factors. Method: …

Lifestyle Tools For Men’S Health And Disease Prevention: Well-Being Through Nutrition, Physical Activity, Stress Management, And Connection, Leigh A. Frame

Clinical Research and Leadership Faculty Publications

Mental health is an often-overlooked aspect of overall health and wellness (well-being). Mental illness is increasingly common with 1 in 5 American adults experiencing it annually, and 1 in 20 suffering from a serious mental illness each year [1]. Treatment rates for mental illness are lower in men (37.4%) compared to women (51.2%) [1]. Globally, treatment rates are similar with an estimated cost to the global economy of $1 trillion annually, yet less than 2% of government health expenditure is for mental health worldwide [2]. Despite this, only nine studies have been published specifically targeting men’s mental health through lifestyle …

Aa And Dha Are Decreased In Paediatric Ad/Hd And Inattention Is Ameliorated By Increased Plasma Dha, John J. Miklavcic, Ellen Ivity, Ian M. Macdonald, Liana Urichuk, Vera C. Mazurak, Christina Rinaldi, Michael T. Clandinin

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The purpose of this study was to assess long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) status in relation to socio-behavioral outcomes in children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). In a case-control design, plasma phospholipid fatty acid content was assessed in children aged 5–12 years with AD/HD and in typically functioning children. Dietary intakes of LCPUFAs arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n3) were quantified using a four-day food record, polymorphisms were determined in FADS1 and FADS2, and socio-behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Conners 3 Parent Rating Scales in a cross section of children with AD/HD. Compared to …

Breakfast Consumption And Diet Quality Of Teens In Southwestern Ontario, Nicolas Woods, Jamie A. Seabrook, Jess Haines, Saverio Stranges, Leia M. Minaker, Colleen O'Connor, Sean Doherty, Jason Gilliland

Human Environments Analysis Lab (HEAL)

Background

Breakfast skipping has previously been associated with worse diet quality among adolescents; the latter increases the risk of chronic disease. However, many studies do not consider diet quality as a function of calories, which is problematic as skippers tend to consume less energy than consumers. Additionally, due to the lack of one accepted definition of both breakfast skipping and diet quality, it is unclear how differences found may change when using varying definitions.

Objectives

We aimed to compare the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores and nutrient intakes of teen breakfast skippers and consumers in Southwestern Ontario, Canada.

Methods

Cross-sectional, …