Nutrition Commons^™

Prediction Models Of Basal Energy Expenditure In Children And Adolescents Across The Bmi Spectrum Based On Room Calorimetry: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study, Maurice Puyau, Roman Shypailo, Nancy F Butte, Salma Musaad, Fida Bacha

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Existing equations for prediction of basal energy expenditure (BEE) may not be accurate in children with overweight or obesity (OW/OB).

Objectives: We aimed to develop BEE prediction equations applicable to children and adolescents across a wide BMI spectrum using gold standard room calorimetry.

Methods: We measured weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, body composition (DXA), and BEE (whole room calorimetry) in a cross-sectional cohort of 1155 healthy children, 5-19 years of age. 67% of the males and 51% of the females were classified as OW/OB. We applied multiple linear regression analyses to develop BEE prediction models for each sex. …

Exploring Nutrition Teachers' Perspectives Of Enacted Nutrition Policies To Address Childhood Obesity In The Bahamas, Shondell M. De Velde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition teachers' perspectives on enacted nutrition policies aimed at combating childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The central phenomenon of the study is teachers' perspectives of enacted nutrition policies to address childhood obesity in The Bahamas. The Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Irwin M. Rosenstock in the 1950s was used to provide a theoretical framework, that can be used to understand nutrition teachers' perceptions and actions related to enacted nutrition policies. The HBM delves into an individual’s motivation to accept healthy behavior and is thus constructed to …

Five A Day, The Rainbow Way: A Nutrition Education Toolkit For Elementary School Aged Children, Sasha Menard

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Learning Outcome: Develop a nutrition educational toolkit based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) for obesity prevention among elementary school-aged children by improving determinants of fruit and vegetable intake.

Background: Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables is a major contributing factor to childhood obesity, increasing the risk for chronic diseases later in life. There is a need for multicomponent nutrition educational tools to influence children to improve their eating behavior by increasing their awareness and self-efficacy. The current project describes the development of a 3-component toolkit for improving participants’ knowledge and values related to fruit and vegetable intake among 6-11-year-olds.

Methods: …

Emotional Eating In Adolescents With Obesity: Case Series, Paula Dayan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern, with substantial implications for physical and mental well-being. This thesis aims to explore the intricate relationship between emotional eating and obesity among adolescents, with a focus on identifying emotional triggers and assessing their psychological impact. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design at a university in southern California, data were collected from two adolescents aged 13-18 years. Through surveys and body composition measurements, participants' emotional barriers to weight loss and readiness for change were assessed. The findings underscore the presence of varying degrees of emotional hurdles among adolescents with obesity, including depression, frustration, and …

Using Mobile Technology For Family-Based Prevention In Families With Low Incomes: Lessons From A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program, Thomas G Power, Susan S Baker, Karen V Barale, M Catalina Aragón, Jane D Lanigan, Louise Parker, Karina Silva Garcia, Garry Auld, Nilda Micheli, Sheryl O Hughes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Researchers are increasingly using web-based technologies to deliver family-based, prevention programming. Few studies have examined the success of such approaches for families with low incomes. The purpose of this study was to describe the level of in-class and online engagement in a childhood obesity prevention program for parents with low incomes, to examine the demographic correlates of parent engagement, and to examine dosage effects on parental feeding outcomes as a function of online exposure. All participants attended in-class nutrition education classes (Eating Smart · Being Active) as part of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Colorado and …

Time, Money, Or Knowledge: What Factors Are Associated With Implementing Youth Cooking Programs?, Alison C. Berg, Nancy O. Taylor, Courtney S. Brown, Silvia Q. Giraudo

Journal of Extension

Research suggests participating in youth hands-on cooking programs, like those offered by Extension and 4-H, can improve nutrition behaviors and reduce the risk for obesity. We surveyed [STATE] Extension professionals (n = 127) to explore factors (e.g., employee characteristics, resources, county demographics) related to offering youth hands-on cooking programs and curricula used. Over 2/3 of participants offer programs and reported creating their own curriculum. More years of experience, having received Extension Specialist training, and increased confidence were positively related to offering these programs. Results suggest training could increase confidence and program implementation and standard curricula may be needed.

Encouraging Healthier Habits In Children, Krysta Hughes

IPS/BAS 495 Undergraduate Capstone Projects

Childhood obesity rates in America are the highest they've ever been. In this research we are focused on encouraging healthier habits in children. The method used was an observational, cross-sectional online survey of 5 children and 4 parents. All of the children and parents wanted to pick healthier behaviors after reading my book. A Qualtrics survey was used to record each surveyor's response. Further research on this topic should include researching how many children have began to implement healthier habits and measure if the rate of obesity in children has been affected through yearly health visits.

Style Of Meal Service And Feeding Practices Among Mexican American Fathers And Mothers: An Analysis Of Video-Recorded Children’S Evening Mealtime At Home, Carlos Penilla, Jeanne M Tschann, Lauri A Pasch, Elena Flores, Julianna Deardorff, Suzanna M Martinez, Nancy F Butte, Louise C Greenspan

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The aim of this study was to examine video-recorded observations of evening family mealtime at home among Mexican American children to help elucidate style of meal service, fathers' and mothers' feeding practices and child's eating behavior. Consistent with guidelines for coding behaviors, we analyzed observational data of evening mealtimes of 71 Mexican American children aged eight to 10 years. Regarding style of meal service, in almost all cases (96%), parents plated the child's food, with more available on the table or counter in 40% of the observations. Mothers almost always served the child (94%). Regarding parental feeding practices, parents used …

Validation Of The Family Health Behavior Scale For The Brazilian Population, Luiza Tweedie Preto, Camila H Scarpatto, Laura Lessa Gaudie Ley, Carolina Silveira, Margareth Rodrigues Salerno, Jennette Palcic Moreno, Stela Maris De Jezus Castro, Linda Booij, Rita Mattiello

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: To validate the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS) for Brazilian families.

Methods: The sample included 272 children aged 5 to 12 years old. Caregivers and their healthy answered the FHBS and questions about physical activity. In addition, anthropometric measurements of the children's weight and height were performed, as well as the bioimpedance exam. The scale was translated and the following validities were assessed: content (qualitative analysis and content validity index), construct (factor analysis) and concurrent validity (difference between domains and the total score with the categories of BMI, fat percentage and physical activity). Reliability (Cronbach's alpha, ceiling-floor effect, two-half …

Prioritization Of Features For Mobile Apps For Families In A Federal Nutrition Program For Low-Income Women, Infants, And Children: User-Centered Design Approach, Summer J. Weber, Elyse Shearer, Shelagh A. Mulvaney, Douglas Schmidt, Chris Thompson, Jessica Jones, Haseeb Ahmad, Martina Coe, Pamela C. Hull

Human Sciences Faculty Research

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a federal nutrition program that provides nutritious food, education, and health care referrals to low-income women, infants, and children up to the age of 5 years. Although WIC is associated with positive health outcomes for each participant category, modernization and efficiency are needed at the clinic and shopping levels to increase program satisfaction and participation rates. New technologies, such as electronic benefits transfer (EBT), online nutrition education, and mobile apps, can provide opportunities to improve the WIC experience for participants.

Objective: This formative study applies user-centered …

Healthy Eating For Preschoolers, Amanda Soleim

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This brochure educates parents on how to encourage healthy eating habits in their preschoolers to prevent childhood obesity. It provides ideas on how parents can adjust their normal routines or environments in order to make healthy choices easier and more convenient.

Weighing The Effects Of Food Marketing To Children, Serena Panos

BU Well

The marketing tactics used to promote food products in the United States has grown exponentially over recent years. Companies no longer promote products through traditional television commercials alone but utilize their ability to reach consumers through a multitude of modern social media outlets. Because of this, food promotions are all around us. However, the advertising and marketing of food targeted at children and adolescents may not be as harmless as it seems. This article explores why the progressive target marketing of food to children may be a key factor in the rapid growth rate of childhood obesity in the United …

The Effects Of Nutrition Smartphone Applications On Parents’ Grocery Shopping And Meal Planning Behaviors, Lacey Bertram

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this experimental research study was to determine the effects that nutrition smartphone applications, specifically grocery list generation applications, have on parents’ overall grocery shopping experience and meal planning behaviors for their families. The prevalence of adolescent obesity in today’s society has significantly increased to an alarming rate and family mealtimes together have decreased. Family mealtimes together can impact a child’s weight status and future health outcomes. A total of 10 participants investigated and classified the aspects in a nutrition smartphone application that were beneficial to meal planning and grocery shopping. The findings indicated that a nutrition smartphone …

The Relationship Between Food Rules And Childhood Obesity In Rural And Non-Rural Families, Anna Venjohn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Childhood obesity is continuing to rise, leading to long-term health consequences. Research shows that rural populations have higher rates of childhood obesity. There is a lack of research on how the home environment may affect this health disparity. Parents often enforce food rules to control their child’s eating habits, but the difference between the rural and non-rural populations in enforcing these rules is unknown.
Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to determine if there is a significant difference in food rules between rural and non-rural school-aged children, and if these differences correlate to BMI categories.
Methods: Secondary …

It’S Your Choice. Create Your Healthy Weight! (A Handout), Micheline D. Cormier

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This handout gives information and tips to achieve a healthy energy balance. It encourages calorie neutral hydration, exercise, fruit, vegetable and whole grain intake as well as cooking at home while creating a positive and healthy environment for continued support.

Food Preferences Among Children At Arcadia Elementary School, Laurel Lee

Community Based Research

My research, conducted from September through November of 2017, showed that the children preferred more processed foods and starches instead of healthier options such as fruits and vegetables, even when healthy options were available. According to the parents/caregivers surveyed, their children prefer to eat processed American meals. Parents/caregivers desired for their children to eat a variety of different foods including fruit, vegetables, proteins, and traditional Hispanic food. This study acknowledges that healthy meal options are available at schools, but there needs to be more research on how to best encourage students to take advantage of these nutritious choices in order …

The Impact Of School Nutrition Education And Physical Education Programs On Weight Status Of Obese Children Aged 5-12 Years, Lamia Alotaibi

Masters Theses

Epidemiological studies indicate that 12.5 million children and adolescents are considered obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Obesity is on the rise globally, and while it affects both children and adults, early measures can be taken to reduce the number of children who are obese, and therefore, come into adulthood at a higher risk for obesity-related diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. There are many studies in which programs are implemented and tested for effectiveness; therefore, a systematic review of these studies that examine which factors play into overall obesity prevention and health improvements among …

Simple Health Snacks For Parents & Kids, Hannah Harvey

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This pamphlet touches upon risk factors of childhood obesity and obesity in general, and provides lifestyle recommendations for reducing risk and improving health. It includes suggestions for behavior and good habits that can be implemented in daily life to improve health and well-being, as well as various food type and meal suggestions.

Healthy Alternatives For Your Child, Katrina Lobs

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This pamphlet informs parents of children, roughly aged 6-10, about healthy defaults. It includes statistics, meal prep suggestions, how to make meal time fun, and tips on how to incorporate healthy defaults into all parts of a child’s life.

Creating A Healthier Life Through Food And Physical Activity, Une Applied Nutrition Program

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This educational handout provides tips for adolescents to adopt in order to create a nutritional and healthful lifestyle based on the HHS and USDA 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines and the HHS Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

Having Fun And Getting Healthy, Whitney Huff

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This handout is geared toward children and families on how to create healthy defaults in order to help their children and other family members get healthy.

Quality Of Life Associated With Physical Activity But Not Sedentary Time In Youth, K. Kattelmann, E. Hofer, C. Merfeld, J. Meendering, M. Olfert, J. White, S. Colby, R. Meade, L. Franzen-Castle, T. Aquirre, D. Matthews, A. White

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Purpose: It has been reported that youth who engaged in more screen time had lower quality of life scores compared to those that were more physically active. Furthermore, increased sedentary behavior increases health risks particularly the risk for obesity. A cross-sectional analysis was completed to examine the relationship between healthrelated quality-of-life (HRQOL) and accelerometer-measured sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) in 9-10-yearold youth who were recruited for the family-based, childhood obesity intervention, iCook 4-H. It was hypothesized that objectively measured ST would be negatively correlated and PA would be positively correlated with HRQOL.
Methods: A subset of participants (n=118) …

Why To Target Young Families On Social Media To Increase Csa Shares, Nicole Lindsay

All Student-Created Educational Resources

This infographic shows the key reasons why it would be beneficial for a local farm to target social media campaigns for an audience of young families. Business and financial benefits are explained, in addition to public health and nutrition improvements for young children and families.

Teens Implementing A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program In The Community: Feasibility And Perceptions Of A Partnership With Hsta And Icook 4-H, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Jade A. White, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah E. Colby, Kendra K. Kattelmann, Adrienne A. White, Melissa D. Olfert

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

High school student researchers and teen leaders from the Health Science Technology Academy (HSTA), under the supervision of HSTA teachers, led a childhood obesity prevention (COP) program (iCook 4-H). The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and perceptions of having teen leaders implement a COP program for dyads of youth (9–10 years old) and their primary adult food preparer. Behavior change and perceptions were assessed through surveys and open-ended interviews. Across eight HSTA organizations, 43 teen leaders participated in teaching the iCook 4-H program to 24 dyads. Increased frequency of culinary skills, physical activity and mealtime behavior were reported by …

Preventing Childhood Obesity In School-Aged Children: Relationships Between Reading Nutrition Labels And Healthy Dietary Behaviors, Kimberly S. Bogers

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Childhood obesity is a prevalent problem in the United States. Obesity increases the risk for many diseases. Obese children are likely to become obese adults with additional comorbidities. Studies have reported mixed findings regarding associations between reading nutrition labels and improved dietary behaviors/healthy weight status. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the frequency of children reading nutrition labels is related to frequency of performing 12 dietary behaviors. De-identified baseline data from a previous quasiexperimental pilot study were analyzed. Data were collected from 4th and 5th graders (n = 42) at an after-school program. An adapted paper survey …

Teens Implementing A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program In The Community: Feasibility And Perceptions Of A Partnership With Hsta And Icook 4-H, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Jade A. White, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah E. Colby, Kendra K. Kattelmann, Adrienne A. White, Melissa D. Olfert

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

High school student researchers and teen leaders from the Health Science Technology Academy (HSTA), under the supervision of HSTA teachers, led a childhood obesity prevention (COP) program (iCook 4-H). The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and perceptions of having teen leaders implement a COP program for dyads of youth (9–10 years old) and their primary adult food preparer. Behavior change and perceptions were assessed through surveys and open-ended interviews. Across eight HSTA organizations, 43 teen leaders participated in teaching the iCook 4-H program to 24 dyads. Increased frequency of culinary skills, physical activity and mealtime behavior were reported by …

The Role Of Programs And Policies In Shaping The Observed School Nutrition Environment And Rural Childhood Obesity, Shadai Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Childhood obesity is an ongoing public health concern that impacts many children in the United States. Research has shown that the prevalence of childhood obesity is higher in rural populations compared to non-rural populations. This may be attributable to differences in the school nutrition environment, particularly school meals and school wellness policy implementation. In order to design effective intervention targeted at weight management and obesity reduction, information regarding the school nutrition environment must be known. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine the school nutrition environment, particularly school lunch participation and weight outcomes between metro, non-metro and rural …

Snac_Oshc: Exploring A Multifaceted Approach To Develop Outside Of School Hours Care As A Health Promoting Setting, Karen Forde

Theses : Honours

Background: Outside of school hours care (OSHC) services are underutilised as health promoting settings, yet are well positioned to influence health behaviours. OSHC Professionals are ideally placed to become positive influencers in this setting, although may require training to confidently perform this role.

Aim: This research trialed a multifaceted intervention strategy to increase OSHC Professional’s confidence and competencies, to support a health promoting OSHC environment with a nutrition and PA activity focus.

Design and Methods: This exploratory study adopted a mixed methods approach. The three-pronged, multifaceted intervention included: a workshop, a closed Facebook group, and a website. 19 OSHC Professionals, …

Healthy Lifestyle At Headstart In Monterey County, Leticia Manriquez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

In Monterey County, the rate of childhood obesity is too high among the Latino/Hispanic community. The Head Start program in Monterey County serves more than 1,245 children each year with the majority of them being Latino/Hispanic. The causes of childhood obesity are a lack of physical activities, cultural beliefs, and financial issues among families. It leads to serious health problems that impact children academically and psychologically. This capstone project is to increase knowledge and awareness on how to live a Healthy Lifestyle among Head Start parents so that they can apply that to their lives and their children. The project …

Obstacles To Preventing Obesity In Children Aged 2 To 5 Years: Latino Mothers’ And Fathers’ Experiences And Perceptions Of Their Urban Environments, Carlos Penilla, Jeanne M. Tschann, Emma V. Sanchez-Vaznaugh, Elena Flores, Emily J. Ozer

School of Education Faculty Research

Background

The prevalence of obesity among Latino children is alarmingly high, when compared to non-Latino White children. Low-income Latino parents living in urban areas, even if they are well-educated, face obstacles that shape familial health behaviors. This study used qualitative methods to explore parents’ experiences in providing meals and opportunities to play to their children aged 2 to 5 years. In contrast to most prior studies, this study examined perceptions of familial behaviors among both mothers and fathers.

Methods

An ecological framework for exploring the associations of parental feeding behaviors and children’s weight informed this study. An interview guide was …