Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Food Advertisements In Two Popular U.S. Parenting Magazines: Results Of A Five-Year Analysis, Corey H. Basch, Rodney N. Hammond, Danna Ethan, Lalitha Samuel

Publications and Research

Obesity rates among American youth have prompted an examination of food advertisements geared towards children. Research indicates children’s high exposure to these advertisements and their influence on food preferences. Less is known about the presence of these advertisements in parenting magazines. This study’s objective was to examine prevalence of food advertisements in popular parenting magazines and identify products by USDA food category. We analyzed 116 issues of two popular U.S. parenting magazines across five years. All food and beverage advertisements for USDA Food Category were coded. Breakfast cereals were coded for nutritional quality. The coding took place at varied libraries …

Three Dimensional Nutrition: Exploring Nourishment Of Spirit, Mind, And Body During A 28-Day Daniel Fast At Southern Adventist University, Caitlin S. Hobbs

Senior Research Projects

A person who is living well can be said to be “making lifestyle choices with God’s help to support optimum physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and experiencing His gift of abundant life” (Tryon, 2009). All of these “dimensions” of health are interrelated, and in order for a person to truly flourish, each area must be nourished. Dietary choices can have an especially interesting impact on these dimensions. Eating healthfully is not always viewed as a joyous endeavor, but when viewed from a multi-dimensional perspective, it can become a more rewarding and intriguing pursuit.

One way to promote a nutritional …

Investigation Of Commercial Milk Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Elisa) Kits: Specificity And Utility For Residues Of Foods Subjected To Proteolysis During Processing, Katherine O. Ivens

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Analytical methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), are used to detect and quantify residues from allergenic sources in food products. However, ELISAs have not been validated for use in foods that have been exposed to proteolysis. This thesis explores the specificities, sensitivities, and capabilities of commercially-available milk ELISA kits for detecting milk residues in cheeses that have undergone varying degrees of proteolysis.

The specificity, accuracy, and consistency of twelve commercially-available milk ELISA kits for individual milk proteins and commonly used milk-derived ingredients, including α-,β-, and κ-casein, β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, non-fat dry milk, sodium caseinate, and whey protein concentrate were evaluated. …

Mediterranean Diet Is An Effective Method For Treating Type 2 Diabetes In Adults, Amy Bois

Health Sciences Undergraduate Publications

Type 2 diabetes has been a health issue for many years, and as more people throughout the world become obese or overweight this issue becomes more serious. Type 2 diabetes is called insulin resistance which means the body does not use insulin properly. At first the pancreas will make extra insulin, but over time the pancreas is not able to keep up and cannot make enough insulin to keep blood glucose at normal levels. Type 2 diabetes is most common in adults who are obese or overweight, and this health problem can be life-threatening. There is no cure for type …

The Association Of Depression And Perceived Stress With Beta Cell Function Between African And Haitian Americans With And Without Type 2 Diabetes, Fatma G. Huffman, Maria Vallasciani, Joan Vaccaro, Joel C. Exebio, Gustavo G. Zarini, Ali Nayer, Sahar Ajabshir

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Background: Diabetes and diabetes-related complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Depressive symptoms and perceived stress have been identified as possible risk factors for beta cell dysfunction and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between depression symptoms and perceived stress with beta cell function between African and Haitian Americans with and without type 2 diabetes. Participants and Methods: Informed consent and data were available for 462 participants (231 African Americans and 231 Haitian Americans) for this cross-sectional study. A demographic questionnaire developed by the Primary Investigator was used to collect information …

Impact Of Vegetable Preparation Method And Taste-Test On Vegetable Preference For First Grade Children In The United States, Marie Veronyck Colas, Joan Vaccaro, Gustavo G. Zarini, Fatma G. Huffman

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

How children rate vegetables may be influenced by the preparation method. The primary objective of this study was for first grade students to be involved in a cooking demonstration and to taste and rate vegetables raw and cooked. First grade children of two classes (N= 52: 18 boys and 34 girls (approximately half Hispanic) that had assented and had signed parental consent participated in the study. The degree of liking a particular vegetable was recorded by the students using a hedonic scale of five commonly eaten vegetables tasted first raw (pre-demonstration) and then cooked (post-demonstration). A food habit questionnaire was …

Research Brief: "Peer Mentoring And Financial Incentives To Improve Glucose Control In African American Veterans", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about whether peer mentoring and financial incentives given to African American veterans with diabetes improves their glucose levels. In policy and practice, African American veterans should join peer mentoring programs to help them control their diabetes and consult with their physician about peer mentoring; the VHA should create a peer mentoring program for veterans with diabetes to help with diabetes management. Suggestions for future research include using a larger, more diverse sample, looking at how the peer mentoring helps veterans, and looking at the ways in which veterans lowered their glucose levels in addition to taking part …

Recruitment Of Tlr Adapter Trif To Tlr4 Signaling Complex Is Mediated By The Second Helical Region Of Trif Tir Domain, Wenji Piao, Lisa W. Ru, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Eric J. Sundberg, Stefanie N. Vogel, Vladimir Y. Toshchakov

Food for Health: Publications

Toll/IL-1R resistance (TIR) domain–containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) is a Toll-like receptor (TLR) adapter that mediates MyD88-independent induction of type I interferons through activation of IFN regulatory factor 3 and NFκB. We have examined peptides derived from the TRIF TIR domain for ability to inhibit TLR4. In addition to a previously identified BB loop peptide (TF4), a peptide derived from putative helix B of TRIF TIR (TF5) strongly inhibits LPS-induced cytokine and MAPK activation in wild-type cells. TF5 failed to inhibit LPS-induced cytokine and kinase activation in TRIF-deficient immortalized bone-marrow–derived macrophage, but was fully inhibitory in MyD88 knockout cells. TF5 does …

Academy Of Nutrition And Dietetics Benchmarks For Nutrition In Child Care 2011: Are Child-Care Providers Across Contexts Meeting Recommendations?, Dipti A. Dev, Brent A. Mcbride, Strong Kids Research Team

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) recommends feeding practices for child-care providers to establish nutrition habits in early childhood to prevent obesity. With >12 million US children in child care, little is known about child-care providers’ feeding practices. The purpose of this study was to examine child-care providers’ feeding practices to assess whether providers met the Academy’s benchmarks and whether attainment of benchmarks varied across child-care contexts (Head Start, Child and Adult Care Food Program [CACFP], and non-CACFP). Cross-sectional data was collected in 2011 and 2012 from 118 child-care providers who completed self-administered surveys regarding their feeding practices for …

Knowing The Standard American Diet By Its Fruits: Is Unrestrained Omnivorism Spiritually Beneficial?, Matthew C. Halteman

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This essay aims to challenge the standard [North] American diet's (SAD) default status in church and among North American Christians generally. It attempts to allay some common concerns about the suitability of food ethics as a topic for serious Christian discernment, and argues that SAD is not spiritually beneficial, drawing support from five traditional sources for Christian moral deliberation, including and especially general revelation and discernment of the fruits of the spirit.

Effect Of Medical Advice For Diet On Diabetes Self-Management And Glycemic Control For Haitian And African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes, Fatma G. Huffman, Joel C. Exebio, Joan Vaccaro, Gustavo G. Zarini, Zisca Dixon

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Adequate care of type 2 diabetes is reflected by the individual’s adherence to dietary guidance; yet, few patients are engaged in diabetes self-care at the recommended level, regardless of race/ethnicity. Few studies on the effect of dietary medical advice on diabetes self-management (DSM) and glycemic control have been conducted on Haitian and African American adults with type 2 diabetes. These relationships were assessed in total of 254 Blacks with type 2 diabetes (Haitian Americans = 129; African Americans = 125) recruited from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, Florida by community outreach methods. Although dietary advice received was not significantly different between …

Price, Promotion, And Availability Of Nutrition Information: A Descriptive Study Of A Popular Fast Food Chain In New York City, Corey Hannah Basch, Danna Ethan, Sonali Rajan

Publications and Research

Legislation in NYC requires chain restaurants to post calorie information on menu boards in an effort to help consumers make more informed decisions about food and beverage items they are purchasing. While this is a step in the right direction in light of the current obesity epidemic, there are other issues that warrant attention in a fast food setting, namely the pricing of healthy food options, promotional strategies, and access to comprehensive nutrition information. This study focused on a popular fast-food chain in NYC. The study’s aims were threefold: (1) to determine the cost differential between the healthiest meal item …

A Pilot Mixed Methods Evaluation Study Of The Effectiveness Of An After-School Cooking Club Curriculum For Middle School Students, Elisha M. Hall

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Introduction: Obesity has exponentially increased each decade, with approximately one third of the adult American population obese and another one third overweight. More startling is that these trends are rising in children as well. With economic, health, social, mental, and emotional consequences, childhood obesity has quickly risen as a significant issue to tackle. Increases in fast food consumption have been linked with overweight status, and home cooked meals are slowly becoming part of the past. The adolescent time period, in which children are slowly gaining more autonomy and conducting their activities independent from their parents, is an optimal time …

Methods For Quantifying T Cell Receptor Binding Affinities And Thermodynamics, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Brian E. Gloor, Kathryn M. Armstrong, Brian M. Baker

Food for Health: Publications

αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) recognize peptide antigens bound and presented by class I or class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins. Recognition of a peptide/MHC complex is required for initiation and propagation of a cellular immune response, as well as the development and maintenance of the T cell repertoire. Here we discuss methods to quantify the affinities and thermodynamics of interactions between soluble ectodomains of TCRs and their peptide/MHC ligands, focusing on titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, and fluorescence anisotropy. As TCRs typically bind ligand with weak-to-moderate affinities, we focus the discussion on means to enhance the accuracy and …

Kinetics Of Various Chemical Changes During Storage Of Processed Cheese, H. R. Gupta, K. L. Arora, Prateek Sharma, S. K. Kanawjia

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Three batches of processed cheese (PC) were manufactured by the standard procedure and packed aseptically in polystyrene (Sunpet) pet jars with screw cap of about 200 g capacity and stored at 5, 30 and, 45°C. The PC samples were analysed for proximate composition, selected physico-chemical characteristics and sensory attributes at intervals of 7 days for the product stored at 5°C upto 56 days, 3 days for the product stored at 30°C upto 6 days and 24 days at 45°C till the sample became organoleptically unacceptable. The results revealed that 30°C was conducive for mold growth, due to which the product …

Investigating Obesity Risk-Reduction Behaviours And Psychosocial Factors In Chinese Americans, Yeon Bai, Doreen Liou, Kathleen D. Bauer

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

AIM: The purpose of this research was to examine the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors related to obesity risk reduction in Chinese Americans.

METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 300 US-born and foreign-born Chinese Americans residing in the New York metropolitan area, ranging from 18 to 40 years of age. Obesity risk reduction behaviors and psychosocial variables derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Health Belief Model were measured. Acculturation was assessed using a modified Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale. Frequency distributions were delineated and stepwise regression analyses were analyzed for different acculturation groups.

RESULTS: 65% …

A Literature Review Of The Health Effects Of A Plant Based Diet Versus An Animal Based Diet, James Cote

Senior Honors Theses

Health and nutrition can mean a myriad of things to many people in today’s culture. The majority of the time people are unaware of the proper nutrients their body needs and how to get them from food. This thesis will seek to expose the health benefits that are associated with consuming a raw plant-based die, offering a more profound and encompassing view on nutrition. Investigating further into today’s most common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and autoimmune disorders, it will seek to discover and answer why we have so many health issues. This thesis will discuss the …

Attitude Accessiblity As A Determinant Of Object Construal And Evaluation, Alison I. Young, Russell H. Fazio

Faculty Scholarship – Psychology

Attitude accessibility, the ease with which a given attitude comes to mind, has been demonstrated to affect attention. The current experiments focus on the construal of multiply-categorizable objects. They seek to provide evidence that (a) construals toward which individuals have more accessible attitudes, i.e., those that are more attitude-evoking, are more likely to influence the evaluation of related objects and that (b) this effect of attitude accessibility on construal processes can be extended to a whole series of objects which vary along multiple dimensions. Experiment 1 provides evidence that construals whose related attitudes were made more accessible via attitude rehearsal …

Obesity Indicators By Race/Ethnicity For Diagnosis Of Cardiometabolic Diseases For A Us Representative Sample Of Adults, Joan A. Vaccaro, Fatma G. Huffman

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Background: Obesity, a growing epidemic, is a preventable risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases. Obesity and cardiometabolic diseases affect Hispanics and African Americans more than non-Hispanic Caucasians. This study examined the relationship among race/ethnicity, obesity diagnostic measures (body mass index, waist circumference, subscapular and triceps skinfold thickness), and cardiometabolic risk factors (hyperglycemia, high, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and hypertension) for adults across the United States.

Methods: Using data from two-cycles of the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010, and accounting for the complex sample design, logistic regression models were conducted comparing obesity indicators in Mexican Americans, other …

Holobiont Nutrition: Considering The Role Of The Gastrointestinal Microbiota In The Health Benefits Of Whole Grains, Jens Walter, Ines Martinez, Devin J. Rose

Food for Health: Publications

Intake of whole grains and other food products high in dietary fiber have long been linked to the prevention of chronic diseases associated with inflammation. A contribution of the gastrointestinal microbiota to these effects has been suggested, but little is known on how whole grains interact with gut bacteria. We have recently published the first human trial that made use of next-generation sequencing to determine the effect of whole grains (whole grain barley, brown rice or a mixture of the two) on fecal microbiota structure and tested for associations between the gut microbiota and blood markers of inflammation, glucose and …

Nutrition Intake In Youths With Type 1 Diabetes, Lyndsay O'Brecht, Eleanor Race Mackey, Clarissa S. Holmes, Randi Streisand

GW Research Days 2013

No abstract provided.

Cancellation Of Scheduled Exercise And Its Influence On Consumption: Exercisers Vs. Sedentary Individuals, Kayla A. Lange

Antonian Scholars Honors Program

With the obesity epidemic on the rise an effort must be initiated to discover why dietary choices are made. Exercise cancellation in individuals who frequently exercise may cause a decrease in calories consumed. However, exercise cancellation in sedentary individuals may have opposite effect, increasing calories consumed. PURPOSE: This study was performed to determine whether the cancellation of regularly scheduled exercise affects an individual’s daily food consumption, particularly in individuals who exercise regularly compared to those who are sedentary. METHODS: Female college students (n=10) scheduled two morning exercise sessions of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise. One session randomly determined by …

To What Extent Does Posted Nutrition Information In Fast Food Restaurants Influence Consumer Food Choices?, Kelsey D. Watson

Honors Program Projects

A study of a sample (n=59) of college students at a small, liberal arts university investigated the efficacy of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010’s Section 4205, which necessitated calorie labeling on menus of all restaurants, including fast food establishments, with 20 or more locations. The control group (n=31) of students was presented with popular fast food menu items as they currently appear on the menu, without caloric content or a recommended calorie intake statement. The experimental group (n=28) was presented with the same menu with caloric content and a statement regarding suggested daily intake. Each menu …

Nutrition Intervention To Decrease Symptoms In Patients With Advanced Heart Failure, Terry A. Lennie, Debra K. Moser, Martha J. Biddle, Darlene Welsh, Geza G. Bruckner, D. Travis Thomas, Mary Kay Rayens, Alison L. Bailey

Nursing Faculty Publications

For a majority of patients with advanced heart failure, there is a need for complementary, non-pharmacologic interventions that could be easily implemented by health care providers to provide palliative care. Three major pathologic pathways underlying heart failure symptoms have been identified: fluid overload, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Prior research has demonstrated that three nutrients-sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, and lycopene-can alter these pathologic pathways. Therefore, the purposes of this study are to test the effects of a 6-month nutrition intervention of dietary sodium reduction combined with supplementation of lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids on heart failure symptoms, health-related quality of life, …

Assessment Of The Nutrition And Physical Activity Education Needs Of Child Care Providers Across Nebraska, Tracy C. Delaney

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Studies estimate 82% of children less than six years of age in the United States are enrolled in non-parental care outside of their home (1). In Nebraska 4,106 child care providers hold licensure (2). This unique child care environment offers opportunity to address food related challenges facing young children. The purpose of this study is to assess the nutrition and physical activity practices provided for children, self-efficacy, and perceived needs of child care providers across Nebraska. A gap in knowledge exist for practices of child care providers in Nebraska and the impact of Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), …

A Cross-Sectional Study Of Jamaican Adolescents’ Risk For Type 2 Diabetes And Cardiovascular Diseases, Sheila C. Barrett, Fatma G. Huffman, Paulette Johnson, Adriana Campa, Marcia Magnus, Dalip Ragoobirsingh

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Objectives To compare obese versus non-obese Jamaican adolescents’ risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs); and to explore a suitable and economical method of screening for these risk factors in the school settings.

Design A descriptive cross-sectional study of adolescents’ risk for T2D and CVD. All the participants were examined at their respective schools.

Setting Jamaica, West Indies.

Population 276 Jamaican adolescents aged 14–19 years, randomly selected from grades 9 to 12 from 10 high schools on the island and included both boys and girls. All ethnicities on the island were represented.

Main outcome measures High fasting …

Challenges In Testing Genetically Modified Crops For Potential Increases In Endogenous Allergen Expression For Safety, Rakhi Panda, H. Ariyarathna, Plaimein Amnuaycheewa, Afua O. Tetteh, S. N. Pramod, Steve Taylor, B. K. Ballmer-Weber, Richard E. Goodman

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Premarket, genetically modified (GM) plants are assessed for potential risks of food allergy. The major risk would be transfer of a gene encoding an allergen or protein nearly identical to an allergen into a different food source, which can be assessed by specific serum testing. The potential that a newly expressed protein might become an allergen is evaluated based on resistance to digestion in pepsin and abundance in food fractions. If the modified plant is a common allergenic source (e.g. soybean), regulatory guidelines suggest testing for increases in the expression of endogenous allergens. Some regulators request evaluating endogenous allergens for …

Food Venue Choice, Consumer Food Environment, But Not Food Venue Availability Within Daily Travel Patterns Are Associated With Dietary Intake Among Adults, Lexington Kentucky 2011, Alison A. Gustafson, Jay W. Christian, Sarah Lewis, Kate Moore, Stephanie Jilcott

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: The retail food environment may be one important determinant of dietary intake. However, limited research focuses on individuals' food shopping behavior and activity within the retail food environment. This study's aims were to determine the association between six various dietary indicators and 1) food venue availability; 2) food venue choice and frequency; and 3) availability of healthy food within food venue.

METHODS: In Fall, 2011, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults (n=121) age 18 years and over in Lexington, Kentucky. Participants wore a global position system (GPS) data logger for 3-days (2 weekdays and 1 weekend day) to …

Childhood Obesity And School Food Choices: Should The Government Intervene?, Elizabeth Acuna

Writing Across the Curriculum

Obesity rates in the United States are alarming, with more than one-third of U.S. adults and 17% of children qualifying as obese with a Body Mass Index greater than 30.0 (Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2011).

In light of such a large national health burden, promotion of community health must include collaboration with political agencies to enact change.

Parental Feeding Practices In Mexican American Families: Initial Test Of An Expanded Measure, Jeanne M. Tschann, Steven E. Gregorich, Carlos Penilla, Lauri A. Pasch, Cynthia L. De Groat, Elena Flores, Julianna Deardorff, Louise C. Greenspan, Nancy F. Butte

School of Education Faculty Research

Background: Although obesity rates are high among Latino children, relatively few studies of parental feeding practices have examined Latino families as a separate group. Culturally-based approaches to measurement development can begin to identify parental feeding practices in specific cultural groups. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and test the Parental Feeding Practices (PFP) Questionnaire for use with Mexican American parents. Items reflected both parent’s use of control over child eating and child-centered feeding practices.

Methods: In the qualitative phase of the research, 35 Latino parents participated in focus groups. Items for the PFP were developed from focus …