Digital Commons Network^™

Nutrition For New Mothers: Healthy Defaults For A Healthier You, Stephanie Williams

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This pamphlet informs the audience about how to make healthier choices by utilizing healthy defaults. Tips will be discussed throughout the pamphlet on reducing your risk for obesity and other chronic diseases, postpartum healthy defaults, and breastfeeding for new mothers.

The Potential Role Of Phenolic Compounds On Modulating Gut Microbiota In Obesity, Gow-Chin Yen, Hsin-Lin Cheng, Li-Yu Lin, Shiuan-Chih Chen, Chin Lin Hsu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Obesity is a rising public health issue and challenge which is tightly correlated with socio-economic development paralleled with increased energy intake and sedentary behavior that subsequently cause adipose tissue accumulation. Physiological and metabolic status changes during obesity development have been suggested with low grade inflammation of gastrointestinal tract. The gut microbiota plays an essential role in regulating whole body energy metabolism and also lipid accumulation, and immunity of host. However, the detail mechanism of which the gut microbiota composition influence obesity development in humans still need deeper investigation owing to the complex pathophysiology of such disease. Recently, the consumption of …

Do Shape And Volume Of Subcortical Neural Structures Involved In Reward Processing Correlate With Body Mass And Food Reward In Adolescent Females?, Kelsey K. Zaugg

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The prevalence of adolescent obesity has increased drastically in the last few decades, spurring research examining causes and consequences of this chronic health condition. Neuroimaging techniques are being used to determine possible neural correlates of obesity that could help inform research in this field. However, the research among adolescents is not as abundant and findings so far are contradictory. This study sought to examine the association of the shape and volume of subcortical brain structures involved in reward processing with weight status in adolescent females. Additionally, this study sought to determine if the shape and volume of these structures …

Reducing Obesity In Rural Alabama: From Focus Groups To Community Coalitions, Onikia Brown, Wayde Morse, Mitch Carter

Journal of Extension

With an adult obesity rate of 35.6%, Alabama is the second most obese state in the United States. Alabama Extension and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined in the first collaboration between the CDC and land-grant institutions to prevent further incidence and reduce the prevalence of obesity. The objective of our study was to determine perceived barriers and assets related to nutrition education, food retail, and physical activity in 14 rural counties in Alabama where adult obesity rates are greater than 40%. Extension formed community coalitions in the counties to help identify community-specific needs and strategies related …

Eating For Two Without Eating Too Much: Optimizing Gestational Weight Gain, Sandra Pope

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

This evidence-based pilot project was implemented to optimize gestational weight gain (GWG) among women enrolled for prenatal care at a private practice. Evidence from meta-analyses and large studies show: 1) an association between excess GWG and increased risk of fetal macrosomia and increased cesarean delivery; 2) 66% of women do not know their healthy GWG target; 3) a 20% reduction in excess GWG in women receiving diet or exercise interventions or both. In addition, visual plotting of weight gain has helped overweight adults reduce and maintain weight loss over a one-year period. Nutrition assessment using a validated nutritional screening questionnaire …

Dismantling Of Obesity-Related Policies, Alexandra Borosova Morshed

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation fills an important research gap in the study of obesity policymaking by characterizing to what extent the phenomenon of dismantling is happening at the state level for obesity-related policies targeting the context of consumption, identifying determinants, and characterizing actors and processes involved. The five-year rate of dismantling of these policies is close to one-third for any attempts and one-tenth for enacted dismantling. Food and beverage tax policies face a particularly high rate of dismantling. Case studies and news coverage of state- level dismantling identified actors, motivations, and strategies used in the process of dismantling. Review of health-related empirical …

Pillars Of The Nutrition Transition: The Global Impacts Of Ultra-Processed Foods And Beverages On Overweight And Obesity And National Nutrient Supplies, Jacob Eaton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Malnutrition in some form impacts nearly one-third of the global population. Across the world, countries are undergoing the Үutrition transitionӠfrom traditional and largely unprocessed diets to Western-style, energy-dense diets. At the same time, rates of overweight and obesity and diet-related chronic diseases continue to climb. Ultra-processed foods (UPF), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and vegetable oils are three of the foods driving the nutrition transition. This dissertation calculates changes in the global food supply between 1961 and 2013 and quantifies the influence of UPF and SSB (as measured through sales) on national nutrient supplies between 2005 and 2013 and trends in adult …

The Role Of High-Fructose Corn Syrup Imports In Child And Women Obesity, Anna Subirana Bofill

Master's Theses

High Fructose Corn Syrup is believed to be responsible for the increase of the obesity epidemic that is affecting both developed and developing countries, yet to date there are no rigorous analyses that quantify this effect. To estimate the impact of consumption of HFCS on obesity, I have paired country-specific data on imports of HFCS from the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade) with women and child health data from around 70 countries from 1985 to 2018. The results show that conditional on space and time fixed effects, imports of HFCS with a high concentration of fructose have …

Pre-Surgery Leptin Level And Weight Loss In Female Bariatric Surgery Patients, Miriam Katz

Master's Theses

Background: Improving weight loss after bariatric surgery remains a clinical concern. An unstudied factor is the role of leptin, the appetite control hormone, as a pre-surgical predictor of weight loss. High serum levels, often seen in obesity, are an indicator of leptin resistance as the brain no longer responds to satiety signaling.

Methods: Leptin levels were ascertained in female bariatric patients (n=28) prior to surgery at a large tertiary care hospital. We calculated Pearson Correlation Coefficients (r) and unstandardized β coefficients using multivariate linear regression. Primary outcome: Percent Excess Weight Loss (%EWL) evaluated at 6- and 12-months post-surgery. …

Baseline Health Assessment Of A Rural Delta Community, Sydney Mitchell

Honors Theses

The Lower Mississippi Delta is characterized by poverty, chronic health issues, health disparities, and food insecurity. The rural Delta communities are primarily African American, experiencing disproportionately higher rates of poverty, job loss, and chronic health problems. Historically, chronic health issues have persisted in these areas over time, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which have only seemed to increase in this region. The food environment in this rural region tends to assist in the creation of the largely obesogenic population which, in turn, contributes to the increased prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and a lower quality of life. Many residents in …

Exploring The Relationship Between Dietary Self-Monitoring With A Mobile App And Weight Change, Jason Payne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Approximately 70% of the adult population in the United States has overweight or obesity and increased risk for developing chronic diseases. Dietary self-monitoring adherence using a paper diary is associated with weight loss; however, few studies have examined this association with dietary self-monitoring apps. Objectives: 1) explore if an association exists between app-based dietary self-monitoring and weight change among adults with overweight or obesity and 2) explore the relationships between the frequency, consistency, and completeness of self-monitoring and weight change. Methods: Participants self-monitored dietary intake for 8 weeks using the app Calorie Counter by FatSecret. Participants were assigned …

Mindfulness Based Approaches With Obese Clients: A Structured Literature Review On The Role Of Mindfulness, Obesity And Weight Management, Cannie G. Campbell

Educational Specialist, 2020-current

Mindfulness has been used to improve physical and psychological health in a variety of treatment modalities across the globe. Specifically, the use of mindfulness and mindful-based interventions relevant to those living with obesity has increased dramatically over the past decade, and substantial research is now being conducted in this arena. This paper includes a review of the literature on mindfulness-based interventions and implications for therapeutic use for counselors working with this population.

Compensatory Behaviors During A 12-Week Vigorous Interval Intervention In Post-Bariatric Men And Women, Kristen Byrne

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Strong links have been recognized between sedentary time, higher BMI, and waist circumference among post-operative bariatric surgery patients. The time-efficient aspects of the High Intensity Interval Training show a significant influence in creating a habitual strategic exercise for fighting obesity and controlling compensatory components. Ten post-operative bariatric participants (9 females, 1 male) with BMI of 33.65 ± 2.90 kg/m², undergoing a 12-week Vigorous Intensity Interval Training (VIIT) program, were assessed for the compensatory mechanisms of sedentary behavior and caloric intake. Participants were evaluated through 4-day food intake records and ActivPal accelerometers, assessed using Nutrition Data System for Research …

Implementing A Health Promotion Physical Activity Program For Middle School Youth In A Rural, Faith-Based Organization, Karmin Maher-Hasse

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Problem: Childhood obesity is more prevalent in rural areas, and these areas have fewer resources to address it. Geographic distance to available resources, health care provider shortages, parental obesity, and poverty contribute to higher prevalence of obesity in rural children compared to urban children.

Rationale: Obesity prevention and treatment often requires long-term healthy lifestyle behavior changes including nutrition counseling and physical activity (PA). It is likely an obese pre-adolescent will have obesity as an adult, and the likelihood increases if obesity continues into adolescence. Pre-adolescence provides a window of opportunity to influence healthier PA habits to prevent overweight (OW) and …

A Multicomponent Tailored Intervention Program Protocol For Weight Loss In An Underserved Adult Patient Population With Obesity, Rita R. Arnold

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Obesity is a multifactorial, individualized, chronic disease that increases known risk factors for significant comorbidities and mortality. The primary purpose of this Evidence-Based practice project was to improve indicators of obesity (weight, BMI) among patients served by a free medical clinic, using a tailored multicomponent intervention. The secondary purpose was to determine if the weight loss intervention was associated with a decrease in blood pressure and depression symptoms. The intervention was guided by the Health Promotion Model by Nola Pender. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence Based Practice Model (JHNEBP) guided implementation of the project. A comprehensive literature review was completed …

Identifying Protective Factors Against Overweight And Obesity Within The Social Environment Of Women With Low Incomes., Monica M. Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over two-thirds of the United States population have overweight or obese (OW/OB) weight statuses due in large part to an obesogenic environment that encourages unhealthful weight related behaviors. The obesogenic environment appears to place a larger burden on women with low incomes as they experience OW/OB disproportionately compared to other groups. Studies seeking to understand the impact of the obesogenic environment on this population have been deficit focused, largely examining environmental risk factors for OW/OB and ignoring protective factors against it. Most women with low incomes do not have an obese weight status and some women who have OW/OB statuses …

Sleep, Quality Of Life, And Depression In Endometrial Cancer Survivors With Obesity Seeking Weight Loss, Nora L. Nock, Anastasia Dimitropoulos, Kristine M. Zanotti, Steven Waggoner, Christa Nagel, Mladen Golubic, Chad M. Michener, John P. Kirwan, Jay Alberts

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: Incidence and mortality rates of uterine cancer are increasing and, obesity, which is also rising, has been associated with uterine cancer development and mortality. A recent study found that poor sleep quality is common among endometrial cancer survivors and those with obesity had more sleep disturbances than those having normal weight. However, it is unclear if higher levels of obesity (Class III, BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), which are rising rapidly, are differentially associated with sleep as well as depression and quality of life in endometrial cancer survivors. Methods: We evaluated sleep, depression, and quality of life in 100 Stage …

Heads Up: Design And Methods Of A Louisiana State-Funded Surgical And Non-Surgical Weight Loss Program, Phillip J. Brantley, Win Guan, Ricky Brock, Dachuan Zhang, Gang Hu

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

This paper describes the methodology, design and procedures used in the HEADS UP Project, an observational study to examine the feasibility of a state-funded weight loss program. HEADS UP offered two weight loss approaches: Bariatric surgery or a non-surgical intervention composed of medical management, a low-calorie liquid diet and lifestyle change promotion. Participants were recruited through a multi-stage screening process, in-person interviews, and an initial low-calorie diet program. Eligible participants were entered into a lottery system, with 100 participants selected for the surgical group and 200 selected for the non-surgical group annually for five years. Anthropometric, clinical, and psychosocial assessments …

The Effect Of Breakfast Macronutrient Composition In Children Ages 7-17 Years Old As A Potential Method To Combat Childhood Obesity, Angela M. Tacinelli

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is an ongoing concern. Currently, approximately 20% of children in the United States are obese. While obesity was once regarded merely as excessive adiposity within the body, it is has emerged as a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Obesity is multifactorial in nature. Weight gain can result from an energy imbalance in the body due to excess energy intake (calories in) and decreased energy expenditure (calories out). Identifying methods to combat obesity is essential. Nutritional intervention may be a strategy to help …

A Multifactorial Intervention To Reduce Weight Bias In Healthcare Providers, Rose M. Flinchum

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

No abstract provided.

Provider-Led Intervention For Overweight Or Obese African American Women Ages 18-65 With A Bmi 25 Kg/ M₂, Tonya A. Harvey

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Overweight and obese African American women tend to suffer most from the impacts of diseases, health disparities, disabilities, and decreased qualities of life (Sutton et al., 2016). Most weight loss programs are not culturally specific, despite the benefits of dietary changes and increased physical activity for all groups. The purpose of this EBP project was to implement a provider-led program including lifestyle, dietary, and activity components to decrease weight, BMI, waist circumference and blood pressure in African American women. The Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to promote quality care was used to guide the EBP project, aimed to address obesity …

The Effects Of A Nutritional Intervention On Healthy Eating Habits And Body Mass Index, Kelley Eshenaur

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

In the US, overweight and obesity are growing concerns, as both can have life altering consequences if not prevented or treated. Since 2000, there has been nearly a 10% increase of adults who are obese, from 30.5% (85.8 million) to 39.8% (93.9 million) in 2016 (CDC, 2017). These conditions are preventable with early intervention and motivation. Obesity statistics are especially of interest during the transition to young adulthood. The purpose of this project was to improve student outcomes by identifying barriers, effective strategies, and healthy choices that would ultimately impact weight, increasing healthy food choices, and decreasing overall BMI in …

Respiratory And Perceptual Responses To High Intensity Interval Exercise In Obese Adults, Nicholas Andrew Ross

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose: Obese adults experience low lung volume breathing at rest and during exercise, which provokes ventilatory constraints and dyspnea on exertion. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has emerged as an alternative to continuous exercise (CE); however, the effects of HIIE on lung volumes, ventilatory constraints and dyspnea on exertion have not been studied in obese adults and thus tolerability of HIIE remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the differences in respiratory and perceptual responses during HIIE versus CE in obese adults when compared with nonobese adults. Methodology: Ten healthy, nonobese (24.1 ± 6.2 yr., BMI: 23 …

From Fighting Wasting To Shedding Excess: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Method Study Of Obesity Among People Living With Hiv In Nigeria, John Olajide Olawepo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global epidemic, with initial high mortality rates since the first diagnosis over three and a half decades ago. However, the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to longer, healthier lives for many people living with HIV (PLHIV). Accordingly, aging comes with associated co-morbidities like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to further understand the emergent phenomenon of obesity and overweight among PLHIV who are on treatment with ART, using Nigeria as a case study.

An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was used that involved the analysis …

Increasing Accessibility To Key Social Determinants Of Health In Monterey County, Tabitha Vargas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Monterey County Health Department’s Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Unit provides agency-wide support in promoting health equity. Obesity and diabetes rates in Monterey County are too high and there needs to be an increase of accessible data, which may help increase targeted prevention services. A health brief was developed for the purpose of increasing access to county-wide obesity and diabetes data and increasing knowledge of the role of how social determinants of health may affect health outcomes. A survey was conducted to measure the effectiveness of the health brief with results demonstrating that 100% of respondents agreed that the brief was …

Association Of Perfluorinated Chemicals With Endocrino-Carcinogenetic, Obesogenic And Metabolic Health And With Markers Of Chronic Inflammation And Oxidative Stress, Ogbebor Enaholo Omoike

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

First, this study examined the association of perfluorinated chemicals with 1) cardio-metabolic health outcomes and 2) the association of phthalates with cardiometabolic health outcomes, and 3) cardio-metabolic health outcomes while assessing the possibility of additive interactions between perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and phthalates. Second, association with markers of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress were explored. Finally, this study examined the association of these chemicals with estrogenic cancers- Breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer.

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), logistic regression models were used to investigate the relationship between PFCs and the cardio-metabolic …

Hypothalamic Circuits Mediating Consumption And Anxiety, Ryan Cassidy

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

From 1960-2016, U.S. obesity prevalence increased 13-40% and diabetes increased from 3-15%. There is an epidemic of metabesity, the aggregate metabolic disorders produced by chronic overeating. Drugs for metabesity were developed in the 1930s with limited effectiveness; agents today rely on the same principles and are similarly ineffective. Particularly surprising has been the failure of satiety enhancers; this indicates it may not be that physiologic hunger drives chronic overeating. Although hunger and satiety affect traditional reward circuitry (Cassidy & Tong 2017), evidence for the primacy of this effect is mixed. Being hungry reduces anxiety-like behavior in mice; whether the …

Health And Academic Achievement In College And University Students, Amber Beane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between academic achievement and health in a national sample of college students using quantitative data analysis. Specifically, the researcher analyzed the relationship between three health-promoting behaviors (physical activity, strength training, and fruit and vegetable consumption), three negative health behaviors (cigarette, e-cigarette, and opioid use) and obesity with GPA.

Cross-sectional data on student health collected from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA-II) and completed by 426,650 college students from 650 U.S. colleges during the semesters between 2015 and 2019 formed the foundation for …

Examination Of Perceptions Of Weight Loss And Weight Loss Methods, Andrew Seiber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine individuals’ perceptions of weight loss and weight loss methods. Respondents were employees and customers attending health/wellness events at local supermarkets in June, July, and August 2019. Participants completed a survey to assess their understanding and perceptions of weight loss and methods used to achieve weight loss. The majority of participants were white females, 60 years or older with a college degree and a Body Mass Index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese. Data revealed most participants had a variety of misconceptions relating to weight loss and weight loss methods that were obscure …

Nutritional Supplementation And Skeletal Muscle Health In Chronic Diseases, Hexirui Wu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of chronic diseases in the United States keeps increasing in recent years. There are approximately four in ten adults having chronic diseases in America. Chronic diseases include obesity, aging, heart diseases, cancer and many others. This thesis mainly focuses on obesity and aging. Skeletal muscle performance is impaired in obesity and aging conditions. One common reason causing this could be higher fat mass and lower muscle mass. However, there is no study showing what pathways are involved in the imbalance of body composition. Therefore, the first objective of the thesis is to determine gene expression of selected pathways in …