Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Social Support In An Internet-Based Weight Loss Intervention Among College Students, Yijia Zhang

Masters Theses

Objective: To assess college students’ perceptions regarding online social support in an 8-week Internet-based weight loss intervention.

Participants: Participants were those randomized to the intervention group of an online weight loss intervention targeting overweight and obese college students.

Methods: Members of the intervention group had access to a private discussion forum and weekly live chat sessions, allowing for anonymous interactions. Following the 8-week intervention, intervention group members were invited to complete an online focus group, discussing these tools. The transcripts were directly copied from the live chat conversation history. Using thematic analysis, perceptions regarding online social support were identified, coded …

Home And Workplace Built Environment Supports For Physical Activity, Deepti Adlakha, J. Aaron Hipp, Christine M. Marx, Yang Lin, Rachel Tabak, Elizabeth A. Dodson, Ross C. Brownson

Brown School Faculty Publications

Background: Physical inactivity has been associated with obesity and related chronic diseases. Understanding built environment (BE) influences on specific domains of physical activity (PA) around homes and workplaces is important for public health efforts and interventions to increase population PA. Purpose: To examine the association of home and workplace BE features with PA occurring across specific life domains (work, leisure, and travel). Methods: Between 2012 and 2013, telephone interviews were conducted with participants in four Missouri metropolitan areas. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics, home and workplace supports for PA, and dietary behaviors. Data analysis was conducted in 2013; logistic regression was …

Report Of A Curriculum Used In A Peer-Delivered Intervention To Reduce Obesity Of Adolescents In Southern Appalachia And Its Relationship To The National Health Education Standards, Diana Mozen, William Dalton, Taylor Mckeehan, Deborah Slawson

International Journal of Health Sciences Education

Adolescent obesity in Southern Appalachian is among the highest in the nation. Even though adolescent obesity is a major public health concern, effective interventions are limited. Team Up for Healthy Living is a cluster-randomized control trial developed to test the effectiveness of a cross-peer intervention with high school students focusing on healthy eating and physical activity. This instructional article describes the 8-week curriculum developed and utilized by Team Up for Healthy Living with an emphasis on the relationship to National Health Education Standards. This is important given the standards were created to promote and support health-enhancing behaviors for students all …

Reporting Risk, Producing Prejudice How News Reporting On Obesity Shapes Attitudes About Health Risk, Policy, And Prejudice, Abigail C. Saguy, David Frederick, Kjerstin Gruys

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

News reporting on research studies may influence attitudes about health risk, support for public health policies, or attitudes towards people labeled as unhealthy or at risk for disease. Across five experiments (N = 2123) we examined how different news framings of obesity research influence these attitudes. We exposed participants to either a control condition, a news report on a study portraying obesity as a public health crisis, a news report on a study suggesting that obesity may not be as much of a problem as previously thought, or an article discussing weight-based discrimination. Compared to controls, exposure to the public …

Obesity Rates In Maine Exceed New England's Obesity Rate: A Look At Possible Contributing Factors, Susan Walker

Thinking Matters Symposium Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore adult obesity data to: Compare Maine’s rates with other New England states and explore differences in Maine counties by looking at known risk factors.

Obesity, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, And Weight Loss In A Population Of Adult Mexican Americans, Janisse Rosario

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of obesity has evolved into one of the most important public health issues in the United States (U.S.), particularly in Hispanic populations. Mexican Americans, the largest Hispanic ethnic subgroup in the U.S., have been significantly impacted by obesity and related cardiovascular diseases. Mexican Americans living in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (the Valley) in the Texas-Mexico border are one of the most disadvantaged and hard-to-reach minority groups. Demographic factors, socioeconomic status, acculturation, and physical activity behavior have been found to be important predictors of health, although research findings are mixed when establishing predictors of obesity in this population. …

Hpv Vaccine Status And Bmi Correlation, Ezhilarasi Manickavasagam, Hongying Dai, Joan R. Griffith

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Obese women are at increased risk of death from cervical cancer compared to non-obese women. Yet, research indicates a lower rate of cervical cancer screening among obese women, especially severely obese white women. Cited reasons for delaying screening include embarrassment, perceived weight stigma, lack of appropriately sized examination equipment and poor patient-provider communication. Parental acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for overweight adolescent females may decrease the incidence of cervical cancer among obese women in later years. This study seeks to determine the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination status of females, ages 11 to 21 years, in a university-based pediatric …

Effect Of The Planet Health Intervention On Eating Disorder Symptoms In Massachusetts Middle Schools, 2005-2008, S. Bryn Austin, Jennifer L. Spadano-Gasbarro, Mary L. Greaney, Emily A. Blood, Anne T. Hunt, Tracy K. Richmond, Monica L. Wang, Solomon Mezgebu, Stavroula K. Osganian, Karen E. Peterson

Monica L. Wang

INTRODUCTION: The Planet Health obesity prevention curriculum has prevented purging and abuse of diet pills (disordered weight control behavior [DWCB]) in middle-school girls in randomized trials, but the effects of Planet Health on DWCB when implemented by schools under dissemination conditions are not known. METHODS: Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts disseminated Planet Health as part of the 3-year, Healthy Choices obesity prevention program in middle schools. We conducted an evaluation in 45 schools from fall 2005 to spring 2008. We gathered data from school staff to quantify intervention activities, and we gathered anonymous …

Using Sensewear Armband And Diet Journal To Promote Adolescents' Energy Balance Knowledge And Motivation, Senlin Chen, Xihe Zhu, Gregory J. Welk, Youngwon Kim, Jungmin Lee, Nathan F. Meier

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Purpose: Educating adolescents about energy balance (EB) is essential for effective weight control. This study utilized the Sensewear (SWA) armband and a diet journal to promote adolescents' EB knowledge and motivation.

Methods: Ninety sixth graders were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 46) who utilized SWA and diet journal for 7 consecutive days or the control group (n = 44) who did not. Both groups were pre-and post-measured on EB knowledge, situational interest, and weight. The experimental group was tracked on motivation effort, energy expenditure (EE), and energy intake (EI).

Results: EB knowledge significantly increased and situational interest …

Factors Influencing U.S Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards, Salma Theus

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Factors Influencing U.S. Army Personnel Meeting Body Mass Index Standards

by

Salma Theus

MS, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2008

BA, La Sierra University, 2005

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

Psychology

Walden University

September 2014

U.S. Army Regulations require soldiers to be fit, as excessive weight negatively impacts their readiness, health, and morale. A quantitative study examined if personal, behavioral, and/or environmental factors predict a soldier's self-efficacy and body mass index. Data were obtained from 117 soldiers on 6 scales: the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, the Army Physical Fitness …

“A Little On The Heavy Side”: A Qualitative Analysis Of Parents' And Grandparents' Perceptions Of Preschoolers' Body Weights, Karin Eli, Kyndal Howell, Philip Fisher, Paulina Nowicka

Karin Eli

Objectives: Parents’ difficulties in perceiving children's weight status accurately pose a barrier for family-based obesity interventions; however, the factors underlying weight misinterpretation still need to be identified. This study's objective was to examine parents and grandparents’ perceptions of preschoolers’ body sizes. Interview questions also explored perceptions of parental responsibility for childhood obesity and appropriate contexts in which to discuss preschoolers’ weights. Design: Semistructured interviews, which were videotaped, transcribed and analysed qualitatively. Setting: Eugene and the Springfield metropolitan area, Oregon, USA Participants: Families of children aged 3–5 years were recruited in February—May 2011 through advertisements about the study, published in the …