Digital Commons Network^™

Overweight Children And Adolescents: Impact On Psychological And Social Development, Kimberly K. Mcclanahan, Marlene B. Huff, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The global epidemic of childhood and adolescent overweight has become a major public health concern. Not only are these youth more likely to become obese as adults, and thus more prone to obesity-related diseases than their non overweight peers, they are also likely to suffer emotional and social effects associated with overweight. Overweight in youth has been linked to depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders, negative body image, and stigma. It appears to be bi-directional in nature, with overweight sometimes predicting certain psychological effects and psychosocial issues sometimes predicting overweight. Effective assessment and treatment of psychological and mental health issues in …

Transcriptional Regulation Of Adipocyte Function, Kivanç Birsoy

Student Theses and Dissertations

The increased white adipose tissue mass associated with obesity is the result of both hyperplasia and hypertrophy of adipocytes. While adipocyte development and transcriptional processes are well studied in vitro, regulation of in vivo genes (such as leptin), the identity of the adipocyte progenitor cells and the development of the adipose organ have not been defined invivo. In this thesis, firstly KLF4 was discovered to be an essential early regulator of adipogenesis. KLF4 together with Krox20 cooperatively transactivates C/EBPβ, suggesting that KLF4 and Krox20 are part of an immediate early transcriptional network. This network is upregulated in a lipodystrophic animal …

The Effects Of Eating Behaviors And Exercise Patterns On The Processing Of Food And Exercise Related Stimuli, Carrie Potter

Honors Theses

The effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for eating disorders has established a link between cognitive processes and unhealthy eating behaviors. However, the relationship between individual differences in unhealthy eating behaviors that are not related to clinical eating disorders, such as overeating and restrained eating, and the processing of food related verbal stimuli remains undetermined. Furthermore, the cognitive processes that promote unhealthy and healthy exercise patterns remain virtually unexplored by previous research. The present study compared individual differences in attitudes and behaviors around eating and exercise to responses to food and exercise-related words using a Lexical Decision Task (LDT). Participants …

Fit Camp A Behavioral Weight Loss Program The Effects Of Self-Monitoring, Social Support, Attendance, And Motivation, Erin Marie Murnan

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Almost half of Americans between 17 and 24 years of age are enrolled in higher education. College is an important life transition period when many young adults establish independence and adopt lasting behavior patterns, especially with regard to diet and physical activity. The first years of college are often associated with weight gain therefore making weight loss and weight gain prevention interventions necessary in this population. Behavioral weight loss programs (BWLP) have shown to be effective in adults, however, to our knowledge, there have been no reports of BWLP focused solely on college-aged young adults. This study compared a 10-week …

Obesity Management In Adults With Ckd, Holly Kramer, Katherine R. Tuttle, David Leehey, Amy Luke, Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, David Shoham, Richard Cooper, Srinvisan Beddhu

Faculty Publications

All adults, including those with and without CKD, should receive counseling on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation. In people with CKD who are overweight, but not obese, potential benefits of weight loss to the recommended "ideal" range are uncertain. Nevertheless, obesity is associated with increased inflammation, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and overweight adults with CKD should be counseled about the risks of weight gain. In persons with CKD and generalized or abdominal obesity, weight loss should be encouraged. For patients on dialysis therapy, survival can be greatly increased …

Pathways To Obesity In Women : The Role Of Coping And Emotional Eating, Veronica Nicole Stotts

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Obesity is a major health crisis in the United States, with approximately two-thirds of the population qualifying as overweight and, of those, almost one half qualifying as obese (CDC, 2007). While there are a myriad of causes of obesity, a great deal of evidence shows that many individuals, and particularly women, eat as a coping response to stress (e.g., Greeno & Wing, 1994). Therefore, one's ability to cope, or the process by which individuals deal with situations that involve stress or threat, may be a factor that contributes to increased body mass index, or BMI, a common measure of obesity. …

Patterns Of Commodity Food Use Among American Indians, Michelle Chino, Darlene R. Haff, Carolee Dodge Francis

Environmental & Global Health Faculty Research

Objectives: To better understand risks for obesity and diabetes among American Indians.

Methods: Adults from tribes across the country surveyed to explore commodity food use patterns and food choice.

Results: Respondents reported second and third generation commodity food use. Current commodity users stated preferences for canned and packaged meals and were more likely to participate in other federal food programs.

Conclusions: Low-income, nutritionally stressed families relying on federal food programs may be at increased risk of obesity and diet-related chronic conditions due to long-term use of foods that are high in fat and calories and low in fiber.

Obesity And Hyperandrogenism, Amit M. Deokar, Shawn J. Smith, Amanda J. Goodwin, Hatim A. Omar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This chapter has a two-fold objective. One, it addresses the association of hyperandrogenism and obesity and the complex metabolic derangements that are part of the problem. Clinical management of these co-morbidities is challenging and complex. Second, this article will aid health care providers with the key features to an early diagnosis and intervention to decrease the morbidities in the short as well as long term. Method: Systematic review of articles and information on the topic of interest that were published in the last 15 years. Conclusion: Obesity and hyperandrogenism are integral parts of Metabolic Syndrome/Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)/Hyperandrogenism, Insulin resistance, …

Obesity And Lack Of Physical Activity, Hatim A. Omar, Efrat Merrick-Kenig, Joav Merrick

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Lack of physical activity and overweight status continues to be a significant health problem in the United States. To assess the actual prevalence of these problems, we reviewed data from the School-based Health Promotion Centers in one middle school, and one high school in central Kentucky. A total of 232 6th graders and 607 9th graders were included. A total of 92% of 6th graders and 45% of 9th graders reported complete lack of regular exercise. 37% of 9th graders and 59% of 6th graders had inappropriate nutrition, 47% of 9th graders and 33% of 6th graders had Body Mass …

Does Employment Status Influence Obesity Prevalence Among Females? A Comparative Study From Ankara, Turkey, Di̇lek Aslan, Zeynep Altin, Necmi̇ye Beydağ, Celi̇le Hati̇poğlu

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Aim: In this study, we aimed to compare the nutritional habits and obesity status of employed and not-employed (i.e. homemakers) women from an urban population in Ankara between April 2 and 17, 2007. Materials and methods: Employed females (107) were amongst Keçiören (a district of Ankara) municipal employees, and homemakers were selected among the residents of the catchment area of a primary health care unit (PHCU) within the same district. The 2 groups (employed and homemakers) were high school and university graduates and were similar to each other in terms of education and age. The World Health Organization defines "overweight" …

Nutrition And Eating Habits In Adolescent Television Programs: A Content Analysis Of Food And Beverage Consumption On Popular Teen Television, Carly Nicole Dickson

LSU Master's Theses

Media research often argues that viewing certain media can significantly increase the likelihood someone will develop an eating disorder or become obese. This study uses social cognitive and drama theory to discuss how adolescents may learn nutrition information and eating habits by watching television programs. Since adolescence is when people form eating habits, this exploratory study will analyze the nutrition content in three top teen television shows. This quantitative content analysis found that the characters in teen television primarily have a healthy body size but consume unhealthy items. This may be sending a message to adolescents that unhealthy nutrition maintains …

Assessing Laws And Legal Authorities For Obesity Prevention And Control, Lawrence O. Gostin, Jennifer L. Pomeranz, Peter D. Jacobson, Richard N. Gottfried

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This is the first paper in a two part series on the laws and legal authorities for obesity prevention and control, which resulted from the National Summit on Legal Preparedness for Obesity Prevention and Control in 2008. In this paper, the authors apply the “laws and legal authorities” component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) legal framework on public health legal preparedness to demonstrate the essential role that law can play in the fight against obesity. Their analysis identified numerous laws and policies in the three vital domains of healthy lifestyles, healthy places, and healthy societies. For …

Generating Sustainable Weight Loss: Investigating The Efficacy Of A Behavioral Based Weight Loss Intervention, Michael James Bordieri

Theses

Two thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Traditional obesity interventions (e.g. drug therapy, diets, behavior therapy) generate moderate short-term weight loss but have little evidence of long-term weight maintenance. The cultural phenomenon of "yo-yo dieting" mirrors empirical findings which suggest that weight loss, albeit demanding, is a far easier process to target than weight maintenance. The present study sought to evaluate the efficacy of an acceptance based behavioral intervention designed to generate improvements in psychological health and quality of life in obese and overweight adults as well as encourage gradual and sustainable weight loss. The therapy package combined the …

Claims Of Mistaken Identity: An Examination Of U.S. Television Food Commercials And The Adult Obesity Issue, Cristina Delgado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Obesity is one of the major public health issues in the United States, often regarded as part of a global crisis. Companies invest billions of dollars each year towards television advertising campaigns aimed at convincing audiences how their ground-breaking discovery 'battles the bulge' or somehow offers an increased health benefit. This study examined how advertisers presented health-related claims, including health and nutrient-content claims, in U.S. adult-targeted television food commercials. The claims were compared to FTC, FDA, and USDA laws, regulations, and recommendations. A content analysis of food advertising was conducted of commercials from major and cable network programs broadcast during …

Improving Laws And Legal Authorities For Obesity Prevention And Control, Lawrence O. Gostin, Jennifer L. Pomeranz

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

This is the second paper in a two part series on the laws and legal authorities for obesity prevention and control. In this paper, the authors present the applicable laws and legal authorities that public health professionals and lawyers can consider implementing to close the legal gaps identified in the first paper (“Assessing Laws and Legal Authorities for Obesity Prevention and Control”). This set of legal action items encompass the federal, tribal, state, local, and community levels and should be considered when developing, implementing, and evaluating obesity prevention and control strategies and interventions.

The paper organizes the action items within …

The Influence Of Socioeconomic And Environmental Determinants On Health And Obesity: A West Virginia Case Study, Anura Amarasinghe, Gerard D'Souza, Cheryl Brown, Hyungna Oh, Tatiana Borisova

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

A recursive system of ordered self assessed health together with BRFSS data were used to investigate health and obesity in the Appalachian state of West Virginia. Implications of unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity of lifestyle outcomes on health were investigated. Obesity was found to be an endogenous lifestyle outcome associated with impaired health status. Risk of obesity is found to increase at a decreasing rate with per capita income and age. Intervention measures which stimulate human capital development, diet-disease knowledge and careful land use planning may improve health and obesity outcomes in Appalachia in particular and rural America in general.

Occupational Stress, Dietary Self-Efficacy, Eating Habits And Body Composition In Police Officers, Rebecca Witten Grizzle

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a paramount public health threat in the U.S. as approximately twothirds of the adult population is overweight. Police officers have an even higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. Police officers often attribute their above average cardiovascular disease risk to shift work, jobrelated stress, and poor dietary habits while working. Occupational stress is a major concern among police officers. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationships among occupational stress, obesity, and diet habits. However, few research studies have characterized these relationships in police officers. The specific aims of this study were to determine …

Pulmonary Delivery Of Anorectic Gut Secreted Peptides For Appetite Suppression In Rats, Priya Nadkarni

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation project aimed to demonstrate that pulmonary delivery of two anorectic gut secreted peptides, peptide YY (PYY) and oxyntomodulin (OXM) enabled food intake suppression and reduced body weight gain in rats via their systemic absorption from the lung and interaction with the brain. After PYY and OXM were administered to the lungs at varying doses, food intake and body weight gain were monitored in freely feeding rats. Significant 30-35 % food intake suppression was achieved for 4-6 h following pulmonary administration of endogenously active PYY3-36 and OXM1-37 at 0.80 and 0.50 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, when administered daily for 7 …

A Descriptive Study Of The Diet And Physical Activity Practices Of Overweight And Obese College Students Enrolled In A Weight Loss Program, Laura Brooke Walters

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The effect of weight gain on college students may lead to physical and emotional problems that could continue into adulthood. Identifying behavioral, demographic, and psychological factors that impact college student’s weight status could aid in developing programs to help reduce weight and prevent weight gain in overweight and obese college students. This study evaluated the dietary habits, physical activity, and psychosocial characteristics of college students entering a university-sponsored weight loss program. Results suggest that the majority of participants have experienced weight gain in the past year and none have experienced weight loss. The student’s diets tended to include less than …

Increased Myocardial Susceptibility To Repetitive Ischemia With High-Fat–Diet-Induced Obesity, Geeta D Thakker, Nikolaos G Frangogiannis, Pawel T Zymek, Saumya Sharma, Joe L Raya, Philip M Barger, Heinrich Taegtmeyer, Mark L Entman, Christie M Ballantyne

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Obesity and diabetes are frequently associated with cardiovascular disease. When a normal heart is subjected to brief/sublethal repetitive ischemia and reperfusion (I/R), adaptive responses are activated to preserve cardiac structure and function. These responses include but are not limited to alterations in cardiac metabolism, reduced calcium responsiveness, and induction of antioxidant enzymes. In a model of ischemic cardiomyopathy inducible by brief repetitive I/R, we hypothesized that dysregulation of these adaptive responses in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice would contribute to enhanced myocardial injury. DIO C57BL/6J mice were subjected to 15 min of daily repetitive I/R while under short-acting anesthesia, a protocol …

Predictors Of Depressive Symptoms And Obesity In African American Women Transitioning From Welfare To Work, Mayola Rowser

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Depression and obesity are significant public health problems that adversely affect the health and quality of life of women in the United States, particularly female African American welfare recipients transitioning to work. African American women are twice as likely to experience depressive symptoms as women of other races. Fifty percent of African American women are obese. The prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms and obesity is higher among African American women who receive welfare benefits. These health conditions jeopardize their health status, ability to work, and chances to become self-sufficient. To ensure the successful transition of recipients to work, health …

European Union Food Law Update, Emilie H. Leibovitch

Journal of Food Law & Policy

The European Union (EU) is facing major institutional challenges because Ireland rejected the Treaty of Lisbon last summer. The Treaty of Lisbon aims at modifying the institutional framework of the EU; more precisely, it aims in part at modifying the interaction of the various EU regulatory bodies with one another, as well as the interaction between the EU regulatory bodies and the national ones. The next few months will be decisive in determining whether the Treaty of Lisbon will finally replace the Treaty of Nice.

Adolescents And Teachers As Partners In A School-Based Research Project To Increase Physical Activity Opportunities In A Rural Community, James Rye, Nancy O'Hara Tompkins, Darlene Mcclure, Jacqueline Aleshire

The Rural Educator

Schools are an important resource in combating the physical inactivity and obesity epidemics in rural economically depressed areas. Through a University-community partnership, teachers and adolescents in a rural West Virginia county with one of the highest obesity rates in the state developed a school-based research intervention to increase physical activity opportunities. The intervention included walking routes, educational sessions, and pedometers. A survey about barriers to physical activity revealed that “lack of willpower” was a barrier of concern among program participants (mostly school employees) and had a statistically significant (p = .0033) pre to post mean score decrease during the year …

Health And Behavioral Problems Associated With Symptoms Of Pediatric Sleep Disorders, Rachel B. French

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence rates of symptoms of several sleep disorders in young children, and the relationship between symptoms of pediatric sleep disorders and other childhood problems. Two-hundred-seventy-six children aged 2 to 5 years were studied through examination of a pre-existing database. Children rated as high risk for having a sleep disorder displayed significantly more aggressive behavior and attention problems, as compared to children whose sleep was rated in the normal range. However, no relationship was found between symptoms of sleep disorders and body mass index, asthma, or allergies. In addition, no relationship was found …

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Markers Are Associated With Obesity In Nondiabetic Subjects, Neeraj K. Sharma, Swapan K. Das, Ashis K. Mondal, Oksana Hackney, Winston S. Chu, Philip A. Kern, Neda Rasouli, Horace J. Spencer, Aiwei Yao-Borengasser, Steven C. Elbein

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Adipocyte and hepatocyte endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is activated in dietary and genetic models of obesity in mice. We hypothesized that ER stress was also activated and associated with reduced insulin sensitivity (S_I) in human obesity.

Research Design and Methods: We recruited 78 healthy, nondiabetic individuals over a spectrum of body mass index (BMI) who underwent oral and iv glucose tolerance tests, and fasting sc adipose and muscle biopsies. We tested expression of 18 genes and levels of total and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, c-jun, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 in adipose tissue. We compared …

Health And Nutritional Need Assessment Of Hispanics In South Carolina, America Chavez-Martinez

All Dissertations

From 1990 to 2000, South Carolina's Hispanic population increased 211%. Now, states such as South Carolina have the fastest growing Hispanic population in the U.S. Hispanics have a high incidence of obesity and related chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, hypertension and heart disease, these diseases could be avoided through diet. Meanwhile, nutrition education interventions help to reduce weight and to change behaviors, leading to better health. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine Hispanics health and nutritional needs to develop a cultural compatible nutrition program for this audience. The qualitative methods explored predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors …

An Experiment Analysis Of The Impact Of Advertising And Food Packaging On Women's Eating Behavior, Amy S. Collings

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Obesity is considered a national epidemic and is associated with increased eating behavior and decreased physical activity. Research has demonstrated biological underpinnings, but the dramatic increase in prevalence rates in recent decades (Flegal et al., 2002) suggests that environmental influences also contribute (Hill et al., 2008). This led researchers to speculate about the impact of our purported “Toxic Environment,” in which high-calorie, energy-dense foods are readily available for consumption and technological advances have decreased physical activity (Wadden et al., 2002). Most of the literature examining the theory of the Toxic Environment is correlational in nature, limiting causal inference. A pilot …

Assessment Of The Relationship Of Hepatic Enzymes With Obesity And Insulin Resistance In Adults In Saudi Arabia, Ali I. Al-Sultan

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the relationship of hepatic enzymes and serum albumin to obesity and insulin resistance in adults in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A comparative study of 136 Saudi adults, comprising of 68 obese and 68 non-obese was conducted. Anthropometric measurements, hepatic enzymes, serum albumin, blood glucose, serum insulin, lipid profile, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA IR) were measured. Results: The study showed significantly higher levels of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and HOMA IR p < 0.001, <0.004 < 0.005, <0.0001, <0.0001, among obese subjects. Hepatic enzymes correlated with both anthropometric measures (body mass index (BMI), and waist to hip ratio) and markers of insulin resistance (HOMA IR, insulin, and fasting glucose). However, the study found that GGT had the strongest associations. Significant inverse correlation was found between serum albumin and BMI, HOMA IR, and serum insulin, p< 0.01, <0.05, <0.01, respectively. Conclusion: Deranged liver functions, especially GGT, had the strongest correlations with obesity and HOMA IR. GGT might be a better marker of hepatic pathology associated with obesity and insulin resistance in Saudi adults with restricted alcohol intake. The results also propose that albumin metabolism might be altered in obesity.

The "Goal Setting Approach" For Overweight And Obese Patients: Results Of A Retrospective Cohort Study In A Dietetic Consultation, Maaike Kruseman, Magali Volery, Patrick A. Bovier

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: To describe the performance of a dietary procedure based on a cognitive behavioral approach among overweight or obese patients. Methods: Standardized 45 minutes consultations were conducted by a dietician to obese (n=139) and overweight (n=56) patients followed between 1998 and 2003 at the dietetic consultation of the Outpatient clinic of the University Hospitals of Geneva. Outcome measures were the proportion of eating behavior changes and weight change over time. Results: Patients attended a mean of 7 consultations and reached on average 57% of their dietary behavioral goals. At the end of follow-up, 36 (19%) patients had lost at least …

Oppression Of Obesity, Brad Johnson

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation study investigated the cultural influences and oppressive effects of obesity among 10 highly visible adults in contemporary USA media. The following research questions guided the study: (a) What are the influential cultural factors affecting the increase of obesity in the USA? (b) What are the oppressive effects of contemporary cultural biases perpetuated toward overweight/obese/fat people in the USA? Participant characteristics assumed to indicate the cultural factors of influence on the development of obesity as well as the lived experiences of oppression were identified through the analysis of participant responses to constructed interview questions. The following cultural studies tenets …