Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Final Culminating Project: Program Development, Erin Helms

Department of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level Capstone Projects

This 16-week capstone project was completed at Parker Place, a children’s health, and wellness center, with a focus on program development and advocacy with additional work related to leadership and administration. The overall goal of the capstone project was to determine the benefit of using an occupation-based approach to enhance health outcomes for the patients at Parker Place. The capstone student provided education about the role of occupational therapy in a non-traditional setting, created a program to help patients acquire sustainable healthy habits, developed a workshop for families struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and provided resources about picky eating …

Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Technology-Based, Rural Weight Management Int Ervention In Older Adults With Obesity, John A. Batsis, Curtis L. Petersen, Matthew M. Clark, Summer B. Cook, David Kotz, Tyler L. Gooding, Meredith N. Roderka, Rima I. Al-Nimer, Dawna M. Pidgeon, Ann Haedrich, K. C. Wright, Christina Aquila, Todd A. Mackenzie

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background

Older adults with obesity residing in rural areas have reduced access to weight management programs. We determined the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary outcomes of an integrated technology-based health promotion intervention in rural-living, older adults using remote monitoring and synchronous video-based technology.

Methods

A 6-month, non-randomized, non-blinded, single-arm study was conducted from October 2018 to May 2020 at a community-based aging center of adults aged ≥65 years with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Weekly dietitian visits focusing on behavior therapy and caloric restriction and twice-weekly physical therapist-led group strength, flexibility and balance training classes were delivered using video-conferencing …

Health Care Provider Program On The Management Of Obesity, Erlinda P. Bhat

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has shown that educational programs have led to developing the professional skills and behaviors of front-line health care providers who care for overweight or at-risk obese patients. The purpose of this project was to provide an educational program on best practices for weight management to health care providers at a large military clinic. The project question was developed to assess whether the educational program increased the knowledge and confidence of health care providers in the management of obesity. Utilizing Pender's health promotion model, a quasi-experimental study was conducted in which 15 health care providers, including licensed and unlicensed personnel …

Registered Nurses’ Perceptions Of Obesity, Elizabeth Ann Pettifor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States (U.S.) population. Obesity is a risk factor for many health problems that ultimately lead to death or disability. Nurses in the U.S have a higher-than-average rate of overweight and obesity. The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative case study was to identify and recommend areas for change in the hospital environment to assist bedside nurses in the U.S to have a healthier lifestyle. Social media was used to conduct a purposeful sampling technique and recruit 10 registered nurses working full time at the bedside in the U.S who struggle with obesity. Semi …

Internet Use, Perceived Social Support, And Obesity Among African American Young Adults, Cynthia Adams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African Americans are disproportionately affected by obesity. Public health practitioners have an incomplete understanding of the social-environmental risk factors and how they affect obesity. The purpose of this quantitative, cross-sectional study was to explore whether internet use and perceived social support predicted obesity among African American young adults. The social cognitive theory guided this study. Secondary data were analyzed from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey. The sample consisted of 6,765 African American young adults age 18 to 34 and represented the U.S. population using weighted estimates. A Bonferroni correction was performed to reduce Type I error due to …

Association Between Bisphenols, Acrylamide, Glycidamide, Fast Food, And Obesity: An Obesogenic Perspective, Morgan Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are exogenous man-made substances that have the ability to interfere with hormone action and are believed to be a contributing factor to chronic illnesses, including but not limited to obesity. Recent studies have suggested that environmental agents (environmental obesogens), such as food additives, plasticizers, and personal care products are contributors that aid in the altering of hormone receptors and hormone mimicry. Such environmental obesogens have the potential to promote adipogenesis and fat accumulation. In this study, the social-ecological model was used to determine the factors that can influence the increased exposure to obesogenic chemicals at the …

Analyzing Regional Impact Of Caregiving On Obesity Prevalence Among U.S. Adults, Myra Callis Johnston

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Historically, sparse research efforts have focused on informal caregiving as a possible risk factor for developing chronic illnesses across the United States. Identifying additional subgroups at higher risk of becoming obese could provide insights into where public health practitioners, the health care community, and policy makers can direct limited resources through a more targeted approach. The theoretical foundation for the current project was the social cognitive theory. In this secondary correlational analysis using the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data set, the relationship between …

Exploring Ethnic And New Orleans Cultural Influences On Health Behaviors Of African American Women, Keneitra Brown-Mayfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States (U.S.), African American women suffer disproportionately due to obesity and chronic diseases. Many studies have examined the culture of African Americans and its influence on their health behaviors in order to gain knowledge to inform obesity and chronic disease prevention interventions. However, a geographical segment of the U.S. African American population shares a unique culture that had yet to be studied. This qualitative study used in-depth interviews to understand the perceptions of overweight and obese African American women living in the Greater New Orleans region about their culture’s role in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related …

Association Between Modifiable Risk Factors And Stroke Among Hispanics, Shanice Williams

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Stroke is a significant public health issue that impacts the health of Hispanic adults. Understanding the multiple risk factors of stroke is an essential strategy to control the disease among this population. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between modifiable risk factors and stroke among Hispanics. The public health prevention framework guided this study. The research questions were designed to determine whether an association exists between modifiable risk factors for stroke among Hispanics. A quantitative, cross-sectional research design was used to conduct secondary analysis of the pooled 2017–2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System annual surveys. The …

Subclinical Stress On Obesity Among Obese African American Women, Dr. Nosakhare Osasu Idehen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractObesity is a complex disease linked to genetics, health behaviors, upstream social determinants of health, and psychosocial stress. Obesity-related chronic diseases and opportunity cost significantly impact individuals and communities. Current prevention policies focus on diet and exercise without demonstrating the benefits of stress coping strategies in obesity management. Subclinical racial minority and gender stress heighten hypervigilance, psychological overload, poor stress coping strategies, inflammation, and obesity. Subclinical stress varies with race and gender, and it is higher in African American (AA) women. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the lived experience of subclinical racial minority and gender stress …

Examination Of The Efficacy Of The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act To Reduce High School Childhood Obesity Rates System, Catrina Lashawn Morgan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid rise in U.S. high school student obesity rates to 20.8% in 2018 presented significant risks to the health and well-being of American children and foreshadowed increased future healthcare costs. To address high school obesity, Congress passed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) in 2010 that mandated the U.S. Department of Agriculture develop regulations to nutrition to improve the nutrition of school cafeteria breakfasts and lunches. The purpose of this quantitative study was to test for changes between 2009 and 2016 in high school obesity rates attributable to the HHFKA using Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data, adjusted for …

Association Between Prepregnancy Obesity And Health Behaviors, Adverse Conditions, And Birth Outcomes In South Dakota, Lily Sanderson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Prepregnancy obesity is associated with an increased risk for various adverse outcomes for mother and fetus. These adverse associations exist within the realms of preconception health, prenatal health, birth outcomes, and postnatal health.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the South Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (SD PRAMS) survey, which is an ongoing statebased surveillance system of maternal behaviors, attitudes, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. The 2017 and 2018 SD PRAMS sampled a total of 3,805 mothers who were randomly selected from birth certificate records to be representative of all South Dakota women …

Identifikasi Penyebab Kenaikan Berat Badan Pada Anak Usia Dini, Rahmat Sanusi, Widiyanto Widiyanto, Ronny Brayntin Rahail

Jurnal Keolahragaan

Upaya pencegahan masalah berat badan berlebih menjadi fokus utama saat ini berdasarkan peningkatan resiko kesehatan akibat overweight dan obesitas, teruatama pada anak-anak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengindentifikasi penyebab kenaikan berat badan pada anak usia dini dengan metode penelitian cross sectional. Jumlah subjek penelitian terdiri dari enam puluh enam anak. Teknik analisa yang digunakan adalah analisis multivariat. Hasil penelitian menujukkan terdapat hubungan bermakna (p < 0.05) antara variabel varian terhadap kenaikan berat pada anak usia dini. Hasil penelitian disimpulkan bahwa faktor rendahnya aktivitas fisik, genetik dari orang tua dan pola makan berhubungan terhadap kenaikan berat badan pada anak usia dini.

Identify the causes of weight gain in early childhood

Abstract

Today, the efforts to prevent weight gain excess become the main focus base on increased health risk consequences of overweight and obesity, especially in childhood. This …

Weight Status Of Children Aged 2-5 Years Old, Attending A Paediatric Outpatient Clinic And Its Association With Parental Feeding Style And Parental Perceptions Of Weight Status, Aisling Lee, Helen Callaghan, Dara Gallagher Dr, Annette Lalor, Louise Rattigan, Hilary Greaney, Laura Keaver

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Background: A child’s weight status can allow health care professionals to assess their developmental growth. A child having a low or high weight for height could be due to an imbalance in nutrient intake occurring. It is important to balance dietary intake and physical activity to maintain a healthy weight status. Excessive consumption of food can lead to an overweight/obese weight status which is linked to non-communicable diseases. Parental feeding style can directly impact a child’s set of eating behaviours. Therefore, parents have a strong influence over a child’s growth pattern. In addition, parental awareness of childhood obesity is reported …

Differences In Adolescent Activity And Dietary Behaviors Across Home, School, And Other Locations Warrant Location-Specific Intervention Approaches., Adrian Ortega, Carolina M. Bejarano, Christopher C. Cushing, Vincent S. Staggs, Amy Papa, Chelsea Steel, Robin P. Shook, Debra K. Sullivan, Sarah C. Couch, Terry L. Conway, Brian E. Saelens, Karen Glanz, Lawrence D. Frank, Kelli L. Cain, Jacqueline Kerr, Jasper Schipperijn, James F Sallis, Jordan A. Carlson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Investigation of physical activity and dietary behaviors across locations can inform "setting-specific" health behavior interventions and improve understanding of contextual vulnerabilities to poor health. This study examined how physical activity, sedentary time, and dietary behaviors differed across home, school, and other locations in young adolescents.

METHODS: Participants were adolescents aged 12-16 years from the Baltimore-Washington, DC and the Seattle areas from a larger cross-sectional study. Participants (n = 472) wore an accelerometer and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) tracker (Mean days = 5.12, SD = 1.62) to collect location-based physical activity and sedentary data. Participants (n = 789) completed 24-h …

Increasing Patient Enrollment In The Move Program At The Va Medical Center: An Evidence-Based Practice Project, Mandy Spiers

Student Scholarly Projects

Practice Problem: This evidence-based practice project aimed to increase patient referrals to the MOVE program by educating providers about the importance and benefit of the Managing Obesity for Veterans Everywhere (MOVE) Program at the Biloxi, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.

PICOT: In obese, ambulatory care patients, what motivates increased referrals by practitioners to the MOVE Program to decrease BMI compared to the current referral system within two months?

Evidence: There was poor participation in the MOVE Program despite the high number of obese patients at the Biloxi, VA Medical Center. According to the data, only sixty of the 18,000 …

Pillars Of The Nutrition Transition: The Global Impacts Of Ultra-Processed Foods And Beverages On Overweight And Obesity And National Nutrient Supplies, Jacob Eaton

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Malnutrition in some form impacts nearly one-third of the global population. Across the world, countries are undergoing the Үutrition transitionӠfrom traditional and largely unprocessed diets to Western-style, energy-dense diets. At the same time, rates of overweight and obesity and diet-related chronic diseases continue to climb. Ultra-processed foods (UPF), sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), and vegetable oils are three of the foods driving the nutrition transition. This dissertation calculates changes in the global food supply between 1961 and 2013 and quantifies the influence of UPF and SSB (as measured through sales) on national nutrient supplies between 2005 and 2013 and trends in adult …

Dismantling Of Obesity-Related Policies, Alexandra Borosova Morshed

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation fills an important research gap in the study of obesity policymaking by characterizing to what extent the phenomenon of dismantling is happening at the state level for obesity-related policies targeting the context of consumption, identifying determinants, and characterizing actors and processes involved. The five-year rate of dismantling of these policies is close to one-third for any attempts and one-tenth for enacted dismantling. Food and beverage tax policies face a particularly high rate of dismantling. Case studies and news coverage of state- level dismantling identified actors, motivations, and strategies used in the process of dismantling. Review of health-related empirical …

Baseline Health Assessment Of A Rural Delta Community, Sydney Mitchell

Honors Theses

The Lower Mississippi Delta is characterized by poverty, chronic health issues, health disparities, and food insecurity. The rural Delta communities are primarily African American, experiencing disproportionately higher rates of poverty, job loss, and chronic health problems. Historically, chronic health issues have persisted in these areas over time, including obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, which have only seemed to increase in this region. The food environment in this rural region tends to assist in the creation of the largely obesogenic population which, in turn, contributes to the increased prevalence of diabetes and hypertension and a lower quality of life. Many residents in …

Health And Academic Achievement In College And University Students, Amber Beane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between academic achievement and health in a national sample of college students using quantitative data analysis. Specifically, the researcher analyzed the relationship between three health-promoting behaviors (physical activity, strength training, and fruit and vegetable consumption), three negative health behaviors (cigarette, e-cigarette, and opioid use) and obesity with GPA.

Cross-sectional data on student health collected from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment II (ACHA-NCHA-II) and completed by 426,650 college students from 650 U.S. colleges during the semesters between 2015 and 2019 formed the foundation for …

Obesity Is Associated With Depression In Malaysian Schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mohd Said Nurumal, Rohulizzat Zainal Abidin, Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim, Muhammad Lokman Md Isa, Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Overweight and obesity, which may lead to depression, have become prevalent among children worldwide. Hence, this study aimed to measure obesity and depression among schoolchildren in Kuantan.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three different primary schools in Kuantan by purposive sampling. With consent from their parents/guardians, participants were given a self-administered questionnaire. Demographics and anthropometric measurement data were self-reported on the basis of the school records. Furthermore, body mass index was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, and chi-square and correlation tests were conducted for the variables.

Results: Among the 300 schoolchildren …

Increasing Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors In Cargo Drivers, Ronda L. Bell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to examine the extent to which lifestyle behaviors of transportation drivers in North Texas can be improved with health education. This research study was conducted to examine the health behaviors of transportation drivers as a result of an educational partnership between nursing and the transportation industry. The goal was to improve healthy lifestyles through education to decrease chronic illness and comorbid conditions of a significantly at-risk occupational population. The impact of this education was immediate and verified with quantitative measurement and statistical analysis. Results demonstrated that after nurse-led health education, transportation drivers reported significant …

A Coaching And/Or Education Intervention Targeting Physical Activity And Nutrition Behaviours In Parents With Overweight/Obesity And Their Children, Shazya Karmali

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of this dissertation is to provide a detailed overview of, findings from, and experiences participating in a 3-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) targeting obesity-related behaviours in parents with overweight/obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m²) and their children (2.5-10 years old, any weight; N = 50 dyads). A concurrent mixed methods study comprised of an RCT and descriptive qualitative design was utilized. Parent-participants received Co-Active Life Coaching (CALC) and webinar-based health education (intervention) or education only (control). To address the dissertation’s purpose, Chapter II provides a detailed methodological account of the program, including rationale and …

Measuring The Impact Of Rise Vt: Evaluating Community-Based Obesity Prevention Initiatives With A Standardized Intensity Score, Brianna K. Johnson Bsn, Rn, Ocn, Dnpc

College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications

Background. Obesity is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. Rise VT is a multilevel community-based initiative to reduce obesity. The Community Programs and Policies Intensity Score (CPPI) is a standardized metric to evaluate multisector efforts over time, which has correlated with reductions in childhood obesity.

Purpose. The purpose of this project was to quantify the impact of Rise VT using the CPPI score. A secondary aim was to assess the feasibility of using the CPPI score for ongoing program planning and evaluation statewide.

Methods. Interviews with program managers were conducted to gather data related to …

Impact Of Food Assistance Programs On Food Insecurity, Diet Quality And Obesity, Jessica Eileen Hill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity remains a public health issue in the United States because it contributes to chronic diseases. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was designed to increase food security, alleviate hunger, and increase access to a healthful diet; however, it may have the opposite effect and contribute to obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent participation in SNAP impacts food insecurity, diet quality, and obesity in U.S. adults. The social-ecological model guided the study which was conducted using a quantitative a cross-sectional research design and secondary analyses of the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey …

Association Between Obesity, Socioeconomics, Mental Illness, And Education In Native American Communities, Darrell D. Wright

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is a profound health epidemic that adversely affects the health of all ethnicities. This growing health crisis has been found to be linked to several chronic diseases such as stroke, diabetes, and several forms of cancer. As in Native American populations, increased morbidity and mortality rates associated with obesity prevalence in minority populations has been linked to variables such as income, education, mental illness, and age. The purpose of this research was to examine the association of obesity with socioeconomic status, education, mental illness, and age in Native American populations. The theoretical framework used in this study was based …

Obesity, Snoring, Sleep Apnea, And Coronary Heart Disease, Maryam Khalilah Muhammad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant public health issue that affects communities across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. Risk factors for CHD include sleep apnea and snoring. Obesity with short sleep duration also places individuals at higher risk for CHD. Although limited research has been conducted on CHD and its relationship to obesity, sleep apnea, and snoring as individual risk factors for CHD, a gap exists as these factors had not been studied as paired in this study. The purpose of this quantitative, cross sectional study was to determine if a significant relationship existed between obesity, snoring, sleep apnea, …

Quality Of Life, Physical Activity, And Weight Status For A Sample Of Online Students, Walaa Awad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity has been identified as a global health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. While previous studies discussed the weight status and factors associated with overweight and obesity among adults enrolled in traditional universities, few studies have yet estimated the obesity rate among adults who choose online education. Guided by the social cognitive theory, this descriptive exploratory quantitative study used a survey to collect primary data from adult online students of three higher educational institutions. The survey examined the effect of quality of life and physical activity level on the weight status of the participants; taking into …

Obesity And Overweightness Among African-American Adolescent Population And Health-Related Quality Of Life, Emmanuel Anene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity and overweightness are a significant public health problem and a risk factor for many chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to find the associations between gender, race, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among obese and overweight African American adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. An improved understanding of the health issues could help this population live a longer quality life and prevent serious health implications in adulthood. A quantitative approach with a sample size of 331 was used. The control variables were age and household income, the dependent variable was HRQOL, and the independent …

Demographic, Lifestyle, And Psychosocial Predictors Of Obesity Among Nigerian Igbo Immigrants, Ahamefula Arthur Duru

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is known as a risk factor for chronic diseases, and a contributor to health disparities among minorities and vulnerable persons. There is a paucity of data on Nigeria Igbos on obesity risks in the United States; therefore, studying obesity in this population may help policymakers tailor interventions that could reduce the prevalence of obesity. The purpose of the study was to examine the predictors of obesity among Nigerian Igbo immigrants in the United States. This study sought to examine lifestyle, psychosocial, and demographic factors as unique predictors of obesity in Nigeria Igbo immigrants. The social-ecological model and acculturation theory …