Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Dietary Blueberry And Soluble Fiber Improve Serum Antioxidant And Adipokine Biomarkers And Lipid Peroxidation In Pregnant Women With Obesity And At Risk For Gestational Diabetes, Arpita Basu, Jeannette Crew, Jeffrey L. Ebersole, Jefferson W. Kinney, Arnold M. Salazar, Petar Planinic, James M. Alexander

Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Publications

Pregnancies affected by obesity are at high risk for developing metabolic complications with oxidative stress and adipocyte dysfunction contributing to the underlying pathologies. Few studies have examined the role of dietary interventions, especially those involving antioxidants including polyphenolic flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables on these pathologies in high-risk pregnant women. We conducted an 18 gestation-week randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of a dietary intervention comprising of whole blueberries and soluble fiber vs. control (standard prenatal care) on biomarkers of oxidative stress/antioxidant status and adipocyte and hormonal functions in pregnant women with obesity (n = 34). Serum samples …

Menu Engineering And Dietary Behavior Impact On Young Adults’ Kilocalorie Choice, Christine Bergman, Yuan Tian, Andrew Moreo, Carola Raab

Hospitality Faculty Research

The obesity pandemic is associated with increased consumption of restaurant food. Labeling of menus is an intervention used to provide consumers with kilocalorie (calorie) information in hopes of them making healthier food choices. This study evaluated the relationship between young adults’ calorie choices on restaurant menus and menu design, dietary behaviors, and demographic characteristics. A 3 (fast-casual restaurants) × 4 (menu-designs based on menu engineering theories) between-subjects (n = 480, 18–24-year olds) experimental design was used. The relationship between the participants’ calorie choices (high versus low) and menu design, stage of change, gender, race, educational level and weight status was …

The Effect Of Physician Held Stigmas And Bias On The Health Outcomes Of Patients With Obesity: A Review Of The Literature, Rachel Cohen, Catherine Jones

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Obesity is a growing epidemic that continues to garner attention throughout healthcare. The goal of this study was to review the literature on physician bias and stigmas surrounding obesity to assess the current state of research on connections between obesity-related stigma and the health outcomes and care of patients with obesity. A specific search string was used to obtain articles via PubMed and psychINFO, yielding 14 studies found that investigate these connections. The studies were categorized into three distinct pathways leading from physician stigma and biases to differing health outcomes of patients with obesity. These three pathways- perceptions, patient interaction, …

Preoperative Maximization To Reduce Complications In Spinal Surgery, Sukanta Maitra, Christopher Mikhail, Samuel K. Cho, Michael D. Daubs

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Study design: Invited narrative review. Objectives: The aim of this review was to summarize current literature regarding risk factors that surgeons can optimize in the preoperative setting in the spinal surgery patient, in order to reduce complications and improve patient-reported outcomes. Methods: Review of the relevant literature by the authors. Results: Modifiable risk factors identified relative to the patient include obesity, malnutrition/nutrient deficiency, diabetes/hyperglycemia, preoperative anemia, vitamin D/DEXA (dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry), nicotine use/smoking, and opioid use/psychosocial factors. Conclusion: By maximizing a patient's physiological and psychological status prior to elective spine surgery, we may move closer to achieving the goals of …

“I Don’T Want To Look Sick Skinny”: Perceptions Of Body Image And Weight Loss In Hispanics Living With Hiv In South Texas, Jordan W. Abel, Omar Allen, Delia Bullock, Erin Finley, Elizabeth Walter, Phillip Schnarrs, Barbara S. Taylor

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Objective: Obesity is rising in people with HIV (PLWH) and Hispanics. Both HIV and obesity are associated with cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Our goal is to understand perceptions of body image and lifestyle in Hispanics with HIV to adapt interventions appropriately.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 Hispanic PLWH and 6 providers. Purposive sampling selected patient participants across weights and genders. Interviews were coded and analyzed using grounded theory, comparing perspectives between patients with and without obesity, and patients and providers.

Results: Participants felt obesity and diabetes were “normal” in the community. Patients exhibited understanding of healthy diet …

Examining The Impact Of Race And Rurality On Health Differences Among Overweight Youth Accessing Pediatric Endocrinology Care, Kelsee Halpin, Janelle R. Noel-Macdonnell, Yun Yan

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Methods: This study examines the impact of race and rurality on health differences, including prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D), among overweight children accessing pediatric endocrine specialty care. Cross-sectional analysis of overweight/obese youth 10 to 18 years of age receiving pediatric endocrinology consultation for weight gain, hyperglycemia, and/or T2D from 2013 to 2016 at a Midwest tertiary pediatric center.

Results: The 722 patients were 42% white, 25% black, 22% Hispanic; 88% lived in urban areas and 12% in rural areas. Rurality was determined using zip code approximation of Rural-Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes. After adjusting for confounders, black …

Residential Segregation, Neighborhood Social And Physical Context In Obesity Disparities In Hispanic Preschoolers: A Conceptual Model, Catherina Chang Martinez Phd(C), Nasar U. Ahmed Phd, Ruby A. Natale Phd, Psyd

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

During the last decade, there has been a significant inclusion in obesity prevention studies from individual characteristics to household factors then neighborhood factors. The study of place in the context of early childhood obesity studies has been limited to the food and physical built environment. With the persistent disparities in the prevalence of childhood obesity, and Hispanic minorities being increasingly affected, there is a need to reexamine existing models and develop new model conceptual frameworks to examine the role of place and residential segregation in the context of race, ethnicity, social position, and socioeconomic disparities. In the context of place …

Lessons Learned From Training Of Promotores De Salud For Obesity And Diabetes Prevention, Erica T. Sosa, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Zenong Yin

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Background: Promotores de Salud are impactful in reducing health disparities for Hispanic communities. The purpose of this paper is to present the training process and fidelity of study protocol implementation using a promotora model for community-based diabetes prevention.

Methods: Five Hispanic bilingual promotores were recruited from a Community Health Worker program and received intensive 30-hour promotora training on how to recruit participants, lead group sessions, and support participants making behavior changes. Evaluation of the training included a survey and focus group to assess promotores’ feedback, a post-training knowledge test to assess knowledge acquired during the training and an observational assessment …