Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Now Trial: A Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial Of Personalized, Genetic-Based Lifestyle Advice, Justine Rochelle Horne

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: The impact of nutrigenomics and lifestyle genomics interventions on health outcomes and behaviours remains controversial and under-explored.

Objectives: To determine the short-term (3-month), moderate-term (6-month) and long-term (12-month) impact of providing personalized, genetic-based lifestyle information and advice on anthropometric measures, as well as dietary intake and adherence.

Methods: The nutrigenomics, overweight/obesity and weight management trial (NOW Trial) is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that was incorporated into the Group Lifestyle Balance™ (GLB) program (N=140). Inclusion criteria: overweight or obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²), ≥ 18 years of age, English-speaking, having access to internet at least …

The Difference In A1c Of Children And Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Using Carbohydrate Counting Compared To Those Using A Structured Meal Plan, Alia El Kubbe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Carbohydrate counting (CHO) is a nutrition education tool used by patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The primary objective was to assess glycated hemoglobin (A1C) in participants with T1DM using CHO counting vs. those using a structured meal plan (SMP). The secondary objectives were to determine if BMI-for-age, parental income, parental involvement, and mothers’ educational level were associated with their children’s glycemic control. A cross sectional study was conducted, where participants aged 4-18 years, or their parents completed a survey. Total sample size was 88 participants (77 in the CHO counting group and 11 in the SMP group). There …

Differences In Quadriceps Muscle Layer Thickness (Qmlt) And Contributing Risk Factors To Muscle Mass In Community-Dwelling And Institutionalized Older Adults, Nesrine Cheikh

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sarcopenia, a major concern in the older adult population, is defined as age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) measured using ultrasonography (US) is a newly-validated tool to measure muscle mass, which can be used to identify sarcopenic individuals. Our objective was to determine the association of factors such as handgrip strength (HGS), protein intake, nutritional status (via Subjective Global Assessment-SGA) and fat mass (FM) percentage with QMLT size (measured by US) in community-dwelling and institutionalized older adults. Additionally, we aimed to understand how perceived food intake of protein-rich foods could have an impact actual …

The Development And Evaluation Of A Smartphone Nutrition Intervention For Adolescents, Sarah A. Cappuccitti

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

A diet high in fruit and vegetables is associated with the prevention of many chronic diseases; however, only one in ten Canadian students in grades 6 to 12 consume the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Using smartphones to deliver nutrition interventions is an emerging area of research, although to-date these interventions typically limit their focus to weight loss. The overarching purpose of this research is to redevelop and evaluate an existing smartphone application for an adolescent population. This thesis used a mixed-methods approach to gain adolescent perspectives on how to redevelop the app and to evaluate its use …

The Application Of Self-Administered Nutrition Screening Tools And Evaluations Of The Impact Of Malnutrition On Quality Of Life In Individuals With Head And Neck Cancer, Mark J. P. Lynch

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Abstract

Background: Individuals with head and neck cancer (HNCa) are at an increased risk of malnutrition. Therefore, self-administered nutrition screens which attempt to address their nutritional concerns may yield benefits for treatment outcomes and quality of life (QOL).

Methods: 34 participants (26 men, 8 women) completed one demographic and two QOL surveys, two nutrition self-screening tools, a nutrition assessment and an ease-of-use questionnaire. Results of the screens were compared to those of the assessment, and relationships between QOL, nutrition status, and demographics were examined.

Results: 32.3% of participants were identified as nutritionally compromised. The sensitivity and specificity for the PG-SGA …

Dietary Sodium And Hypertension Status: A Quantitative Study Exploring Older Adults’ Food Purchasing And Consumption Behaviour, Asma Aktar

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relation between hypertension (HTN) status and the amount of sodium purchased and consumed by community dwelling older adults. The secondary objective was to compare their accordance with the DASH dietary pattern according to hypertension status.

Method: A dietary survey of 30 community dwelling older adults was conducted. The amount of daily sodium purchased and consumed, DASH score and DASH accordance were compared between the hypertensive and normotensive older adults using grocery receipts and 24-hour dietary recall. Participants’ knowledge, concern and behaviour regarding dietary sodium were also assessed using a researcher …

Vitamin D Deficiency And Possible Risk Factors Among Middle Eastern University Students In London, Ontario, Canada, Amal A. Alshahrani

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Objectives: To investigate vitamin D deficiency in Middle Eastern men and women aged 18-33 years who have immigrated to Canada for 5 years or less and attending Western University by measuring serum vitamin D 25- hydroxyvitamin level.

Hypothesis: Middle Eastern population who has been living in Canada for 5 years or less would commonly have vitamin D deficiency as a result of multiple risk factors.

Methodology: Fifty-one healthy Middle Eastern men and women aged 18-33 years who have been living in Canada for five years or less studying at the University of Western Ontario participated in the study. …

The Impact Of Protection Motivation Theory Grounded Messaging On Diabetes Prevention Behaviours Following Gestational Diabetes, Jennifer M. Jacob

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GDM) are more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM). Despite this risk, few women are engaging in diabetes prevention behaviours. Methods: The Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) was employed to design and evaluate a post-GDM diabetes prevention information session. The utility of this theory in predicting intentions and diabetes prevention behaviours was assessed using regression analysis. Results: Two of the four PMT variables, response efficacy and self efficacy were found to be consistent predictors of intention across most of the recommended behaviours, accounting for between 25% and 77% of the variance in intention. Intention was …

The Relationship Between Diet Quality And Obesity In Canadian Adults: Evidence From The 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, Kalaivaani Sundararajan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: The relationship between diet quality and obesity is unknown in Canadian adults.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to examine the association of diet quality with obesity in Canadian adults.

Methods: Data were taken from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey. Three indices were constructed using diet recall data: Diet Quality Index (DQI), Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and Glycemic Index (GI). Obesity was measured with body-mass index. Various confounders were also controlled. Latent-class and ordered probit modeling were used to investigate the association between diet quality and obesity.

Results: Latent-class analysis suggested that the …