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Wild Primate Microbiomes Prevent Weight Gain In Germ-Free Mice, Dimitrios N. Sidiropoulos, Gabriel A. Al-Ghalith, Robin R. Shields-Cutler, Tonya L. Ward, Abigail J. Johnson, Pajau Vangay, Dan Knights, Purna C. Kashyap, Yibo Xian, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Jonathan B. Clayton

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Background: The gut microbiome harbors trillions of bacteria that play a major role in dietary nutrient extraction and host metabolism. Metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes are associated with shifts in microbiome composition and have been on the rise in Westernized or highly industrialized countries. At the same time, Westernized diets low in dietary fiber have been shown to cause loss of gut microbial diversity. However, the link between microbiome composition, loss of dietary fiber, and obesity has not been well defined.

Results: To study the interactions between gut microbiota, dietary fiber, and weight gain, we transplanted captive and …

Does Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status Moderate The Association Between Adhd And Overweight/Obesity?, Ayanna N. Gilmore

Dissertations and Theses

This study aimed to examine whether neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (NSES) moderated the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-overweight/obesity association. Participants (N=568; mean (SD) age = 20.74 (3.20) years; 70.8% female) were part- time or full-time students attending the City College of New York. They were recruited through an online platform and participated in the study in exchange for course credit. Eligible participants were required to self-report their height, weight, from which body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Participants were categorized as Low BMI (Underweight or Typical BMI) or High BMI (Overweight or Obese BMI). Participants self-reported current ADHD symptoms using the ADHD-EF Index …

Ampk In The Ventromedial Nucleus Of The Hypothalamus: A Key Regulator For Thermogenesis, Hailan Liu, Yong Xu, Fang Hu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Obesity has become a global health issue, but effective therapies remain very limited. Adaptive thermogenesis promotes weight loss by dissipating energy in the form of heat, thereby representing a promising target to counteract obesity. Notably, the regulation of thermogenesis is tightly orchestrated by complex neuronal networks, especially those in the hypothalamus. Recent evidence highlights the importance of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) within the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) in modulating thermogenesis. Various molecules, such as GLP-1, leptin, estradiol, and thyroid hormones, have been reported to act on the VMH to inhibit AMPK, which subsequently increases thermogenesis through the …

Nutrition Abcs For Healthy Families, Lauren K. Sullivan

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This pamphlet informs the audience of basic nutrition principles for maintaining a healthy weight using healthy diet patterns and increased activity recommendations. It encourages healthful eating, regular activity and utilizing resources as a part of a healthy family lifestyle

Insurance Status And Obesity As Predictors Of Cost In Trauma Care, Emily Homer

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Insurance is a vital factor in the billed cost to the patient, but to what degree does insurance explain the amount a patient is left to pay? Also, does obesity further influence patient’s billed cost? This thesis assesses the type of thoracic trauma patient, insurance status, and their billed cost. Database variables were analyzed in IBM SPSS 25. Table 1 characteristics were evaluated based on demographics and systematic hospital factors. Linear regressions used Private0_Government1 and BMI Obese n_y_ as independent variables while Total Patient Cost was the dependent variable. Private0_Government1 insurance explained .03% of Total Patient Charges. Private0_Government1 and BMI …

A Modified Standard American Diet (Msad) Induces Physiological Parameters Associated The With Metabolic Syndrome In C57bl/6j Mice, Sophie Bru Chehade

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity manifests physiologically in multiple organ systems of the body, typically increasing the risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders. Researchers have questioned the causative role that western dietary patterns have on disease pathogenesis and have speculated that quality and quantity of dietary fats and/or carbohydrates have a predictive role in the development of these disorders. Standard reference diets such as the AIN-93 rodent diet have historically been used to promote optimal animal model health and reduce variation of results across experiments. These diets have been invaluable to murine research; however, their translational value in studying human nutrition-related pathologies is limited. Early …

Childhood And Adolescent Obesity Prevention In Twin Falls, Idaho, Allison Welch

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Obesity, a condition that negatively affects an individual’s physical and mental health, is a growing problem in Twin Falls, Idaho. Like the United States as a whole, Twin Falls County is experiencing an obesity crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ([CDC], n.d), the national obesity rate has increased by 12% from 2000 to 2018. The Twin Falls County obesity rate has increased from 21% in 2011 to 33% in 2020 (County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 2018). While it took the nation 18 years to increase the obesity rate by 12% (CDC, n.d.), it only took Twin …

Obesity Prevention In Morrow County, Oregon, Chris Humphreys

Selected Social Change Portfolios in Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation

Morrow County, Oregon, is a county located in the north central part of Oregon, right along the Columbia River. The county’s industrial profile is a mix between large agricultural producers, longtime family ranches, and major tech companies like Amazon and Facebook. The largest town, Boardman, only has a population of around 3400 persons (2018), with several other smaller towns making up the rest of the county. Many of the subjects who work in Morrow County commute from several larger towns in adjacent counties. One result of this is that there are no open-to-the-public fitness clubs in Morrow County. Any access …

Childhood Snap Receipt As A Protective Factor Against Adult Obesity: Examining The Interaction Of Snap Participation And Neighborhood Disadvantage, Thomas Vartanian, Linda Houser

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) with family fixed-effects (FE) models, we explore how neighborhood conditions and time receiving SNAP benefits during childhood interact to relate to time spent obese in adulthood. Results suggest that, for those growing up in less advantaged neighborhoods, SNAP receipt between the ages of 9–13 and 14–18 was associated with subsequently shorter periods of time obese in adulthood. Conversely, for those growing up in more advantaged neighborhoods, SNAP receipt during these same late childhood/ adolescent time periods was associated with relatively high proportions of time in adulthood spent obese. SNAP participation during early …

Increasing Staff Knowledge On Obesity In Pediatric Patients With Asthma, Oluwakemi Taiwo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Asthma is a chronic life-long lung disease that contributes to morbidity and mortality around the world. The increased prevalence of asthma, particularly in children who are obese, inadequate assessment of obesity in pediatric patients, and a gap in staff knowledge regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) body mass index (BMI) percentiles resulted in a need for strategies to minimize this health concern. The purpose of this staff education project was to increase staff’s knowledge about identifying asthma patients who are clinically obese using the CDC BMI percentiles. The framework for the project was based on Knowles’s adult …

Demographic, Lifestyle, And Psychosocial Predictors Of Obesity Among Nigerian Igbo Immigrants, Ahamefula Arthur Duru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is known as a risk factor for chronic diseases, and a contributor to health disparities among minorities and vulnerable persons. There is a paucity of data on Nigeria Igbos on obesity risks in the United States; therefore, studying obesity in this population may help policymakers tailor interventions that could reduce the prevalence of obesity. The purpose of the study was to examine the predictors of obesity among Nigerian Igbo immigrants in the United States. This study sought to examine lifestyle, psychosocial, and demographic factors as unique predictors of obesity in Nigeria Igbo immigrants. The social-ecological model and acculturation theory …

Obesity And Overweightness Among African-American Adolescent Population And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Emmanuel Anene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity and overweightness are a significant public health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to find the associations between gender, race, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among obese and overweight African American adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. An improved understanding of the health issues could help this population live a longer quality life and prevent serious health implications in adulthood. A quantitative approach with a sample size of 331 was used. The control variables were age and household income, the dependent variable was HRQOL, and the independent …

Association Between Obesity, Socioeconomics, Mental Illness, And Education In Native American Communities, Darrell D. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a profound health epidemic that adversely affects the health of all ethnicities. This growing health crisis has been found to be linked to several chronic diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. As in Native American populations, increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with obesity prevalence in minority populations has been linked to variables such as income, education, mental illness, and age. The purpose of this research was to examine the association of obesity with socioeconomic status, education, mental illness, and age in Native American populations. The theoretical framework used in this study was based …

Obesity, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, And Coronary Heart Disease, Maryam Khalilah Muhammad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant public health issue that affects communities across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. Risk factors for CHD include sleep apnea and snoring. Obesity with short sleep duration also places individuals at higher risk for CHD. Although limited research has been conducted on CHD and its relationship to obesity, sleep apnea, and snoring as individual risk factors for CHD, a gap exists as these factors had not been studied as paired in this study. The purpose of this quantitative, cross sectional study was to determine if a significant relationship existed between obesity, snoring, sleep apnea, …

Quality Of Life, Physical Activity, And Weight Status For A Sample Of Online Students, Walaa Awad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has been identified as a global health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. While previous studies discussed the weight status and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adults enrolled in traditional universities, few studies have yet estimated the obesity rate among adults who choose online education. Guided by the social cognitive theory, this descriptive exploratory quantitative study used a survey to collect primary data from adult online students of three higher educational institutions. The survey examined the effect of quality of life and physical activity level on the weight status of the participants; taking into …

Understanding The Impact Of Diet And Obesity On Anti-Tumor Immunity And Therapeutic Efficacy In Kidney Cancer, Rachael Miller Orlandella

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is regarded as a major risk factor for developing renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Advanced-stage RCC exhibits chemotherapeutic resistance, but is responsive to immunotherapies such as the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1). Despite some clinical successes, response rates remain low for anti-PD-1 monotherapy (20-30%). Preclinical evaluations of immunotherapeutic strategies typically use lean mice and do not account for patient comorbidities. This may explain the underwhelming success rates following clinical translation of new cancer treatments. Recent studies found that obesity was associated with favorable outcomes and responses to immunotherapy in melanoma. However, the effects of obesity on anti-tumor immunity …

Nutrition Transition And Ses As A Fundamental Cause: An Integrative Approach To Examine Weight Status Among Women In Nepal, Sanjeev Acharya

All ETDs from UAB

The increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in developing countries is a public health problem. Globally and in Nepal, women have higher burden of overweight and obesity. Over the recent years, Nepal has made progress in human development and is also experiencing nutrition transition. In this context, the goal of this study is to investigate the change in association between socioeconomic status (SES) and body weight over time, examine whether SES – body mass index (BMI) varies across region and occupation, and test for the double burden of malnutrition among adult women. Using a novel framework that integrates nutrition transition …

Dietary Nitrate And The Oral Microbiome In Obesity, Health And Exercise, Christian E. Behrens

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity ranks among the top growing health concerns worldwide. The prevalence of obesity at all life stages continues to rise with nearly 40% of adults and 35% of children/adolescents being affected. Equally troublesome is the increased risk for a number of comorbidities associated with obesity including cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and certain types of cancer. The successful treatment of obesity, particularly long-term, continues to prove challenging and is often met with limited success. This highlights the importance of continued investigation into alternative strategies that may reduce the incidence and severity of obesity and associated pathophysiologies. Regular physical …

Adolescent Fast Food Consumption: Underlying Factors And Related Health Outcomes, Lindsay Marie Stager

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity represents one of our nation’s leading public health issues. In 2017, over 30% of U.S. high school students presented with either overweight (15.6%) or obesity (14.8%). These trends are alarming as early childhood and adolescence are critical developmental periods for establishing healthy eating and exercise behaviors. Though past research has uncovered many factors related to adolescent eating behaviors, few studies have examined the longitudinal impacts of parenting and family variables on diet across the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Further, there is a lack of longitudinal research regarding health outcomes of fast food consumption during this same developmental period. …

Hot Food Takeaways Around Schools: Can Fast Food Be Healthier?, Claire Louise Turbutt

Other Faculty of Health Theses

Obesity is the greatest global health challenge facing this generation; over half of the adult population are overweight or obese. Calls for food environment interventions include recommendations for restriction or banning of new fast food retailers (FFRs). The Takeaway Toolkit was published by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and aimed to alter consumption of unhealthy takeaway food through reformulation and behavioural insights. A systematic review assessing evidence on FFRs in the environment around schools in the United Kingdom (UK) was completed and published. This revealed a research gap around food environment interventions. A study was designed to investigate “the …

Examining Body Mass Index And Sepsis Mortality At One Year After Sepsis, Jamie D. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Sepsis is a serious and life-threatening syndrome affecting 1.7 million Americans annually and resulting in approximately 270,000 deaths. An “obesity paradox” where obese individuals have lower sepsis mortality than their non-obese counterparts has been described. The problem is that the longevity of the effect is unknown, and few studies have examined the obesity paradox after 1-2 months post-diagnosis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined clinical, demographic, and biomarker variables thought to affect sepsis mortality at three-time points: 30 days, 180 days, and at one year post-sepsis diagnosis in order to shed light on specific factors that might define …

Examining The Role Of Racial Discrimination In Obesity Treatment Disparities Among African American Emerging Adult Women, Kristal Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The overarching goal of the proposed work was to examine how racial discrimination contributes to disparities in adiposity and treatment response between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White emerging adult women, and to identify potential protective and risk factors that might moderate this association—all in service of improving lifestyle interventions for this high-risk population. Project aims were achieved across three studies. In Study 1, we extracted data for emerging adults (N=261, BMI=33.8+4.9 kg/m², age=21.9+2.1 years) who recently completed a BWL program adapted specifically for emerging adults and compared treatment outcomes for non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black women. In Study …

Early Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery: A Single-Institute Preliminary Experience, Emre Günakan, Hakan Buluş, Yusuf Aytaç Tohma

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Pregnancy after bariatric surgery is an issue of growing importance with increasing number of women undergoing bariatric surgery. Therefore, in this study we present patients who conceived after sleeve gastrectomy and evaluate the obstetric outcomes. Materials and methods: This retrospective case-control study includes 23 women who conceived after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Patients were evaluated in two groups according to the number of months between surgery and conception (group 1: ≤12 months; group 2: >12 months). Results: The mean body mass index of patients before surgery and at the time of conception was 46.6 kg/m2 and 29.7 kg/m2, respectively. Nine …

Metabolic Profile And Adipokine Levels In Overweight And Obese Dogs, Paula Nassar De Marchi, Luiz Henrique Araújo Machado, Luciane Holsback, Jessica Ragazzi Calesso, Rafael Fagnani, Ademir Zacarias Junior, Mauro Jose Lahm Cardoso

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Obesity in dogs is increasingly present in the veterinary practice. In humans, it is known that there is a significant correlation between obesity and the development of hypertension and insulin resistance (IR), a clinical picture called metabolic syndrome. In dogs, however, there are only anecdotes about the syndrome. The objectives of this study were to determine serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin, glucose, homeostasis assessment of B cell function (HOMA-B), homeostasis assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in dogs with different body conditions (BC) and body fat (BF) without endocrine disease. For this purpose, …

Obesity And Obstructive Airways Disease: Clinical Correlates And Therapeutic Considerations, John Magagna, Cali Loblundo, Raymond B. Penn, Deepak A. Deshpande, Ajay P. Nayak

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Obese patients are more likely to suffer from severe asthma symptoms and less likely to be able to control them. In obese patients, there is evidence that shows decreased efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids and beta-2 adrenergic agonists, the core treatment options for achieving and maintaining asthma control. This may be due to mechanical reasons like decreased ventilation and medication delivery, but there are many more pathologies of obesity that interact with pathways of both asthma pathology and asthma control. This review explores the epidemiological significance of obesity, many physiological changes in patients with obesity, the physiological interactions of asthma and …

The Immunological Response To Chronic Stress In Obese Mice, Matthew Corey Parsley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Obesity and psychological stress are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and have a positive correlation with vascular dysfunction. This functional deficit has been linked to a pro-inflammatory milieu, exacerbated by an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Febuxostat, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, has been shown to rescue vascular impairment in these models. The purpose of this study was to examine the individual and combined effects of obesity and chronic stress on neuroimmune cell populations, and assess if febuxostat is able mediate immune alterations.

Male mice (n=48) were assigned into either normal chow (lean) and high-fat diet (obese) groups. The lean animals …

Fitnessgram Assessment Results In Five Rural Counties Of Georgia, Tara L. Underwood, Jimmie H. Smith Jr, Dawood H. Sultan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Childhood obesity continues to be more prevalent in the United States (US) than ever before. Youth who reside in rural areas tend to experience higher risks of obesity and overweight status, mainly due to barriers to physical activity. Even though the US federal government has mandated a daily requirement of physical activity for all school-age children, the majority of youth from rural communities tend to not achieve the recommended Health Fitness Zone (HFZ) goals.

Methods: The FITNESSGRAM is the instrument that has been used to measure and report students’ physical activity and body mass index (BMI) based …

Tracking Valued And Avoidant Functions With Health Behaviors: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of The Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Matrix Mobile App, Michael E. Levin, Jennifer Krafft, Seth Seifert, Jason Lillis

Psychology Faculty Publications

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the acceptability and additive effects of self- monitoring avoidant and valued functions of behavior, in the context of self-monitoring physical activity and dietary behavior in a mobile app. The self-monitoring approach was based on the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Matrix. A sample of 102 adults interested in improving their diet and physical activity were randomized to a Health Behavior Tracking app (HBT), HBT plus ACT matrix app (HBT+ACT), or waitlist condition. Online self-report assessments were completed at baseline, mid (2 weeks), and post-intervention (4 weeks). Participants reported high usability, but mixed satisfaction with both …

Designing Policy Solutions To Build A Healthier Rural America, Elizabeth Weeks, Sameer Vohra, Carolyn Pointer, Amanda Fogleman, Thomas Albers, Anish Patel

Scholarly Works

Disparities exist in the livelihood and opportunities for people living in America’s rural communities. These differences result in a much sicker rural America compared to its urban counterpart. Rural counties have higher rates of smoking, obesity, child poverty, and teen pregnancies than urban counties.1 More uninsured adults live in rural areas, causing rural hospitals to close and/or cut vital services such as obstetrics care.2 Rural hospitals also provide fewer mental health services.3 The result is Americans living in rural areas are more likely to die from the five leading causes of death than those living in urban areas: heart disease, …

A Systematic Review Of Culturally Sensitive Strategies To Address Obesity Among Hispanic-American Pediatric Patients In The Primary Care Setting, Rachel Vurbeff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity significantly increases morbidity and mortality, and its incidence amongHispanic-American children and adolescents exceeds that of any other ethnic group in the United States. Without proper intervention, these children and adolescents will experience the burden of costly comorbidities across the lifespan. Guided by Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality, the purpose of this project was to identify evidence-based, culturally sensitive strategies to prevent and treat obesity among Hispanic-American pediatric patients in the primary care setting through a systematic review of the literature utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute method. The practice-focused question that guided this review focused on finding …