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Impact Of Healthy Food Labels On Consumer Choice And Valuation, Mattingly Perlinger

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The obesity epidemic is prevalent across the entire United States, but minority communities are affected most of all. The Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota is a minority community that has been particularly affected by the obesity epidemic, exhibiting higher rates of obesity and lower life expectancy than the rest of the country.

In this study we conducted a hypothetical choice experiment to test the effectiveness of three healthy food labels in increasing the likelihood of consumers choosing to purchase healthy products. We also calculated the consumer willingness to pay for each of these labels and examined differences in label …

Is There A Relationship Between Physical Fitness And Student Academic Achievement?, William Rushton Parker

Dissertations

The study utilized a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between students’ levels of fitness to students’ academic achievement as well as addressing the attitudes of elementary administrators, fifth grade regular education teachers, and elementary physical education teachers towards physical fitness and academic achievement. Instruments used in the study were the Mississippi Curriculum Test, 2^nd Edition (MCT2) and the FITNESSGRAM. The data from the FITNESSGRAM and MCT2 were archival, coming from the 2013-2014 academic school year. The MCT2 provided scores from the areas of language arts, mathematics, and science, and the FITNESSGRAM provided the fitness scores of those students. …

A Spatial Analysis Of The Relationship Between Obesity And The Built Environment In Southern Illinois, Shiloh Leah Deitz

Theses

Scholars have established that our geographic environments – including infrastructure for walking and food availability - contribute to the current obesity epidemic in the United States. However, the relationship between food, walkability, and obesity has largely only been investigated in large urban areas. Further, many studies have not taken an in-depth look at the spatial fabric of walkability, food, and obesity. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) to explore reliable methods, using sociodemographic census data, for estimating obesity at the neighborhood level in one region of the U.S. made up of rural areas and small towns – southern …

Autophagy Regulation After Diet And Exercise In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Megan Elizabeth Rosa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Along with the rise in obesity, rates of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have also increased. NAFLD may begin with fat accumulation in the liver, but can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and eventual cirrhosis. With no pharmacological treatment for NASH, lifestyle interventions appear vital to maintaining liver health. Previous work has shown aberrant mitochondrial content/quality and autophagy in models of NAFLD. Exercise is known to improve mitochondrial health and possibly autophagy, thus autophagy may be a key regulatory factor for treatment of obesity induced-NAFLD. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine how weight loss from diet …

“Un Pueblo Tan Dulce”: Diabetes, Depression, And Obesity Syndemics In Puerto Rico, Shir Lerman

Doctoral Dissertations

Diabetes, depression, and obesity are global health crises that disproportionately affect people with low socioeconomic status and other marginalized identities. These diseases have high incidence and prevalence rates in Puerto Rico due to high poverty and unemployment rates, changing dietary patterns, and Puerto Rico’s political status as a U.S. commonwealth. The myriad problems on the island contribute to the flight of Puerto Ricans to the mainland in search of better education and employment; there are currently more Puerto Ricans living on the mainland than there are in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico’s political status is of particular importance, as it simultaneously …

Rescue Of Diet-Induced Obesity And Estrous Cycle Irregularity With Omega-3 Rich Fish Oil Diet, Simone Marie Godwin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Reproduction, an energetically costly process, is subject to nutritional and metabolic control. There is a high occurrence of female infertility in obese women, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a condition characterized by androgen excess and oligo- and amenorrhea, is highly associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus. Obesity is characterized by chronic, low-grade inflammation and increased circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. These pro-inflammatory molecules can alter insulin signaling, thereby contributing to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, both hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. This study seeks to elucidate the relationship between obesity, inflammation, and reproductive dysfunction through diet intervention. Diets rich in n-3 poly-unsaturated …

Na/K-Atpase Amplification Of Oxidant Stress; A Universal But Unrecognized Clinical Target?, Zijian Xie, Phd, Joseph I. Shapiro, Md

Marshall Journal of Medicine

The Na/K-ATPase has a signaling function which appears to be separate from its ion pumping function. This signaling function refers to the transduction of conformational changes in the Na/K-ATPase alpha1 subunit into activating Src’s tyrosine kinase activity, triggering a cascade which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), modulates other signaling pathways, and causes many physiological and pathophysiological effects. We have recently observed that ROS themselves as well as cardiotonic steroids can actually initiate the signal by directly inducing conformational changes in alpha1. It therefore appears that the Na/K-ATPase signal cascade can serve as a feed forward amplification for ROS with circulating …

The Relationship Between Obesity And Use Of Electronics For Individuals Under The Age Of 21, Zeeshan Haque

Honors College Theses

Today, obesity is one of the largest health problems in America. There are several factors that contribute to obesity – but one problem that has been rising in this generation is the issues of children deciding to play video games, watch television, or spend time on the computer instead of healthier alternatives such as exercising or playing sports. One factor that could attribute to this is the large advancements in technology over the last few decades. The purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between electronics and obesity by analyzing data provided by the NHANES codebook. In this …

Body Image And Anthropometric Measurements In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Julie Ann Varns

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore body image and anthropometric (body mass index) measurements in bariatric surgery patients over three months. Conceptual framework: The dimensions of body image are body attitude, Appearance Evaluation, body checking, body space, body size, and Appearance Orientation. Body attitude is affective distress related to one’s weight, shape, size, and fatness. Appearance Evaluation is feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with one’s looks. Body checking is the repeated scrutiny of one’s body size, shape, and weight. Perceived body space is the amount of space individuals perceive their bodies to occupy. Perceived body size is …

Tobacco, Alcohol, And Processed Food Industries – Why Do Public Health Practitioners View Them So Differently?, Katherine Smith, Lori Dorfman, Nicholas Freudenberg, Benjamin Hawkins, Shona Hilton, Oliver Razum, Heide Weishaar

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Georgia Southern students assess characteristics for weight underestimation of children with obesity

Healthy Communities In Southern Illinois, Shiloh L. Deitz

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

Due to industrial and lifestyle changes, rural and small town areas are losing population and suffering economic hardship. These areas also suffer from the poorest health. However, most rural or small town residents also believe in the American Dream, revitalizing their local area, and preserving the small town or rural way of life. In this paper, I look at the relationship between obesity and local infrastructure – including walkability and access to healthy food – in southern Illinois. I then make suggestions for development policies for the region in the context of local public opinion.

Adapting A Physical Activity Intervention For Youth In A Rural Area: A Case Study, Moya L. Alfonso, Gavin Golquitt, Ashley Walker, Akrati Gupta

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Physical activity offers children and youth many well-documented positive effects on health. The present study adapted a community-based prevention marketing campaign (CBPM), VERBTM Summer Scorecard (VSS) to promote physical activity among minority youth in rural, southeast Georgia. The purpose of this paper is to describe the adaptation process, emphasizing methods used and lessons learned.

Methods: A qualitative study design was used to identify social marketing concepts that informed program adaptation, including two focus groups with 12 children and two focus groups with 14 parents. Qualitative thematic data analysis was used to analyze formative research. The adapted program was implemented …

The Need For Culturally-Tailored Smartphone Applications For Weight Control, Stephen S. Coughlin, Dale Hardy, Lee S. Caplan

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Approximately 35% of U.S. adults are obese, and this rate is expected to increase by almost 50% by 2030. New media such as smartphone applications (apps) provide a useful and low-cost way to disseminate weight control information. For many culturally distinctive population subgroups, however, there is currently an absence of research-tested smartphone apps for weight control.

Methods: In this commentary, we highlight the need for culturally tailored smartphone apps for weight control and offer recommendations for further research by providing two specific examples: 1) the characteristic dietary patterns and absence of smartphone apps for weight loss for Hispanic Americans, …

Evaluation Of A Diabetes Prevention Program For Rural Citizens, Barbara B. Kawulich, Diana Mindrila, Gina Brandenburg

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Georgia has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the US. Obesity and inactivity contribute to the onset of this disease. Tanner Health System addressed the obesity epidemic in three rural counties of Georgia through a 16-week diabetes prevention program (DPP) for 176 residents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the DPP.

Methods: The multiple methods design of this project used pre- and post-surveys from January/February, 2014, classes to determine diabetes-related lifestyle factors, 11 mid-point telephone interviews, and focus groups with 17 members to identify lifestyle changes that were implemented. Additionally, initial and final measurements of body mass …

The Association Between Obesity, Depression, And Anxiety: Evidence From A Community Health Needs Assessment Survey, Grace B. Adams, Angela Murcia

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The obesity epidemic has garnered much attention as a public health crisis. In order to make progress, it is necessary to understand the factors associated with obesity. One area of research needing more development is the link between obesity and other chronic health conditions. The objective of the present study was to further understand the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of anxiety and depression in Athens-Clarke County in northeast Georgia.

Methods: Data from the 2015 Athens-Clarke County Community Health Needs Assessment (n=1234) were used to assess the relationship between obesity and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among …

Weight Status And Satisfaction With Healthcare Received In The U.S. And Georgia, Saswat Panda, Koichiro Otani, Janani R. Thapa

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, and, in Georgia, adult obesity rates are among the highest. Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer, and adherence to treatment of such disease conditions is affected by patients’ perception of healthcare received. The present study examined the association between weight status and satisfaction with healthcare received in the U.S. and in Georgia.

Methods: The association between weight status and satisfaction with healthcare received in the U.S. and Georgia was examined using multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for demographic and other healthcare-related …

Growing Fit: Georgia’S Model For Engaging Early Care Environments In Preventing Childhood Obesity, Kelsey Mcdavid, Catalina Piedrahita, Emily A. Vall, Christi Kay, Jean O’Connor

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: In the United States, one in three children is overweight or obese by their fifth birthday. In Georgia, 35 percent of children are overweight or obese. Contrary to popular belief, children who are overweight or obese are unlikely to outgrow their weight status as adults, making early childhood an essential time to address weight status. An estimated 380,000 Georgia children attend early care and education environments, such as licensed child care centers, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten programs, which provide an opportunity to reach large numbers of children, including those at risk for obesity and overweight.

Methods: To address this …

Obesity A Sociological Analysis Of The Body Image Attitudes Among Young Emirati Men, Richard Benson Hoffman

Dissertations

This Dissertation is concerned with the problem of obesity in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This UAE has a high prevalence of obesity (Hajat, Harrison & Al siksek 2012 :909) This Dissertation provided recommendation to improve obesity interventions in the UAE by exploring the body image attitudes (how people think and feel about their bodies and the bodies of others) of young ,Emirati men. The sample was 340 Emeriti citizen men between the ages 18-29from all seven emirates. The data was collected through a survey and individual and focus –group interviews. The prevalence of overweight and obesity of the of …

Perspectives On The Illinois Healthcare Delivery System Challenges, Structural Issues And Opportunities For Reform, Linda Baker

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

As fourth year students in the program, students at SIU School of Medicine have enrolled in classes at the Institute and have spent a rotation studying public policy choices that impact the delivery of health care services and the profession itself. The choices made by these public entities will have ramifications for physicians, nurses, administrative support staff and most importantly, for patients and their families. Students have studied state healthcare policy formation up-close and have learned a great deal about the forces and factors that shape their fields of study. Common to all students’ findings and much of the literature …

Winning The Obesity Battle, Daniel S. Blumenthal

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Winning the Obesity Battle

Gender Disparities In Weight Gain Among Offenders Who Are Obese Upon Entering Correctional Facilities, Madison L. Gates, Nancy C. Webb, Rebecca Stone, Darra Ballance, Wonsuk Yoo

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: Obesity is a significant health issue for offenders, who have a higher prevalence of obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, compared to non-incarcerated populations. Within incarcerated populations, there are obesity disparities in terms of race, gender, and age, as well as excess weight gain during incarceration.

Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted for 2005 – 2010 in collaboration with a Department of Corrections in the east south central region of the United States. From electronic health records of 10,841 offenders, weight, height, and demographic data were extracted. As determined from these data, 2,622 offenders met the inclusion criteria (two or …

A Quantile Regression Approach To Measuring The Educational Effect On Body Mass Index, Dakshina G. De Silva, Bradley T. Ewing, Catherine P. Slade, Mark A. Thompson

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: By use of a publically available database, the effects of education and geography on obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) were evaluated with a quantile regression approach. The focus of the analysis was on the practical interpretation of the regression results to inform health policy decision makers about the importance of educational attainment for the growing public health issue of obesity in the US, particularly in the Southeast.

Methods: With data from the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), quantile regressions were employed to estimate the educational effect on BMI while controlling for relevant lifestyle, socioeconomic, …

Genome-Wide Association Studies Suggest Sex-Specific Loci Associated With Abdominal And Visceral Fat, Yun Ju Sung, L. Pérusse, M. A. Sarzynski, M. Fornage, S. Sidney, B. Sternfeld, T. Rice, J. G. Terry, D. R. Jacobs Jr., John Blangero, Joanne E. Curran

School of Medicine Publications

Background:

To identify loci associated with abdominal fat and replicate prior findings, we performed genome-wide association (GWA) studies of abdominal fat traits: subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT); visceral adipose tissue (VAT); total adipose tissue (TAT) and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio (VSR).

Subjects and Methods:

Sex-combined and sex-stratified analyses were performed on each trait with (TRAIT–BMI) or without (TRAIT) adjustment for body mass index (BMI), and cohort-specific results were combined via a fixed effects meta-analysis. A total of 2513 subjects of European descent were available for the discovery phase. For replication, 2171 European Americans and 772 African Americans were available. …

Targeting Iκb Kinase Β In Adipocyte Lineage Cells For Treatment Of Obesity And Metabolic Dysfunctions, Robert N. Helsley, Yipeng Sui, Se-Hyung Park, Zun Liu, Richard G. Lee, Beibei Zhu, Philip A. Kern, Changcheng Zhou

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

IκB kinase β (IKKβ), a central coordinator of inflammation through activation of nuclear factor-κB, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic dysfunctions. In this study, we evaluated an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) inhibitor of IKKβ and found that IKKβ ASO ameliorated diet-induced metabolic dysfunctions in mice. Interestingly, IKKβ ASO also inhibited adipocyte differentiation and reduced adiposity in high-fat (HF)-fed mice, indicating an important role of IKKβ signaling in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation. Indeed, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion of IKKβ in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes blocked these cells differentiating into adipocytes. To further elucidate the role of …

Anti-Fat Attitudes And Weight Bias Internalization: An Investigation Of How Bmi Impacts Perceptions, Opinions And Attitudes, Laurie Schrider

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Americans hold negative and judgmental attitudes towards obese and overweight individuals and these anti-fat attitudes and weight stigma have become a damaging form of discrimination. The internalization of weight bias and anti-fat attitudes contributes to negative health outcomes including: feelings of devalue, self-hate, anxiety, depression, body dissatisfaction and eating disturbances. The purpose of this study was to investigate weight bias internalization in individuals who perceive themselves as overweight as well as to examine differences in anti-fat attitudes among normal and overweight individuals. A sample of 202 male and females completed an online survey that assessed anti-fat attitudes via the Anti-Fat …

Depression And Body Mass Index, Differences By Education: Evidence From A Population-Based Study Of Adult Women In The U.S. Buffalo-Niagara Region, Ashley Wendell Kranjac, Jing Nie, Maurizio Trevisan, Jo L. Freudenheim

Sociology Faculty Articles and Research

The relationship between obesity and depression is well described. However, the evidence linking depression and body mass index (BMI) across the broad range of body size is less consistent. We examined the association between depressive symptoms and BMI in a sample of adult women in the Buffalo-Niagara region between 1997 and 2001. Using logistic regression, we investigated whether increased weight status beyond normal-weight was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, and if educational attainment modified the association between obesity and depression. There was a trend for increased weight status to be associated with higher depressive symptoms (obese II/III, …

Are Dietary Intakes Related To Obesity In Children?, Dimitrios Papandreou, Kali Makedou, Areti Zormpa, Maria Karampola, Anastasia Ioannou, Areti Hitoglou-Makedou

All Works

AIM: The purpose of this study was to report obesity status and identify any dietary substances that may be related to obesity in healthy school children from Northern Greece. METHODS: Four hundred and twenty-five (n = 425) children were randomly selected to participate in the study. A 24-h recall of three days (two weekdays and one weekend day) was used to analyze the dietary data of the subjects. RESULTS: Out of 425 subjects, 146 (34.3%) of them were found to be overweight and obese. Energy, protein, carbohydrate and thiamin intake was statistically positively correlated with obesity while dietary iron intake …

The Limitations Of Body Mass Index (Bmi) As An Obesity Assessment Scale And The Implications For Practice: A Nursing Perspective, Sinead Impey

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Session presented on Saturday, November 7, 2015 and Sunday, November 8, 2015:

Rising obesity rates have a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and subsequent delivery of health services globally. Therefore accurate assessment of individual weight status is vital (Carpenter et al. 2013). Although, frequently used in clinical practice and research, the ability of the body mass index (BMI) to accurately assess obesity in individuals has been much criticised. Raising awareness among nursing staff of the limitations of BMI is important. By understanding the various inadequacies, the use of BMI as an assessment tool for obesity, and thereby a proxy measure …

An Interdisciplinary Study To Examine Obesity And Inactivity As Early Predictors Of Gestational Diabetes, Janeen S. Amason, Rebecca L. Shabo, Katherine H. Ingram

Biennial Convention (CONV)

Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015:

Gestational Diabetes (GD) is a serious condition that affects approximately 9% of pregnancies and is characterized by an insufficient response of blood glucose to the actions of insulin. In early pregnancy, GD can result in birth defects, over-nutrition, and large babies that increase risks of childbirth. The offspring are more likely to develop obesity and diabetes within their lifetimes. The risks of these disorders perpetuate a transgenerational cycle of obesity and diabetes, underscoring the need for effective interventions that reduce maternal obesity and GD. The current standard of …