Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Health Effects Of Chocolate: A Literature Review, Erika A. Pierce

Senior Theses

Chocolate has been a part of the human diet for centuries, but while it was once considered a healthy food, it is now seen as a dessert and unhealthy treat. It is known that chocolate contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and minerals that can affect body functioning. To determine the extent to which chocolate plays a role in health, a literature review was performed by searching the PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 2024. Of the 14 included studies, the health effects of chocolate fell into three overarching categories: neurological effects, including mental health, …

"Fueling For A Healthy Life:" A Cooking Class For Adolescent And Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors, Hope Dominique

Senior Theses

Following cancer treatment, childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at an increased risk of developing chronic diseases and face an increased risk of health-related death during adulthood. Recent literature demonstrates that modifying lifestyle factors such as nutrition can reduce the risk of late mortality in survivors, suggesting that interventions promoting a healthy lifestyle may improve quality and quantity of life for CCS. However, many adolescent and young adult (AYA) CCS do not adhere to national dietary guidelines and face both real and perceived barriers to adopting healthier eating habits while in a critical period for establishing behaviors that contribute to lifelong …

A Comparison Of The Ways In Which The United States And European Nations Treat Chronic Kidney Disease, Robert W. Pokora Iii

Senior Theses

European nations and the United States of America have vastly different outcomes in their treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, specifically when considering survival rate and patient satisfaction level. Unfortunately, no study has ever detailed the reasons why this is the case. This thesis explores and compares the methods by which the United States and European nations treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD patients. A literature review aimed to determine factors contributing to the varying outcomes between the two nations, and a Healthcare Provider Survey was crafted and administered to United States healthcare providers in order to determine …

Nutrition Facts Label Use Among U.S. Adolescents, Jennifer Beth Mandelbaum

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the promise of Nutrition Facts label (NFL) use as a population-level intervention with broad reach, few studies have examined determinants of adolescents’ NFL use, and how this label use may be associated with nutrition behaviors. This study used data from the International Food Policy Study, an online cross-sectional survey of trends in dietary patterns and policy-relevant behaviors in the U.S. and five other countries. First, this study examined 1) whether NFL use was associated with healthy eating efforts and 2) whether there were sociodemographic differences in NFL use among U.S. adolescents. Results demonstrated that NFL use was positively associated …

Doctors & Diets: The Return Of Nutrition To American Medical Education, Luke Hollingsworth

Senior Theses

The purpose of this honors graduation thesis is to analyze the role of nutrition in the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases and to argue that clinical nutrition should be reintegrated into American medical education as a high priority subject. The thesis begins with a historical review of clinical nutrition beginning in the fifth century B.C. with Hippocrates in Classical Greece and ending in 21st century America. Following the historical review, five of some of the most prevalent chronic diseases in America are examined through a nutritional lens. This thesis concludes with a discussion of the outlook of American …

Food Choice Decision-Making Among School-Going Adolescents Amidst The Nutrition Transition In Urban Accra, Ghana, Krystal Krsna Rampalli

Theses and Dissertations

Like many countries of the world, Ghana is experiencing a nutrition transition and rising non-communicable diseases. Adolescents are susceptible to diet-related health risks as they experience significant physical and psychological changes, which are happening in tandem with food environment changes, including widespread proliferation of large portion and package sizes of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. Both local and multinational food and beverage companies have encouraged consumption of their products through various marketing tactics targeted directly to adolescents. Some of these tactics include the use of characters or celebrity endorsement, promotional discounts, and appeal to sociocultural values, including messages about body size preferences. …

A Cost Effectiveness Analysis Of The Nutritious Eating With Soul Study, Mary Jones Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE Historically, African Americans (AA) have been underrepresented in nutritionrelated behavioral research despite their disproportionate higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) Study is one of the first of its kind to recruit an AA only study group to examine CVD prevention via a clinical trial to examine changes in CVD risk factors across two cohorts who are randomly assigned to a plant-based, soul food vegan diet or low-fat omnivorous (omni) diet. The purpose of cost effectiveness analysis (CEA) is to inform clinical and policy decisions and the costs of interventions that society is …

An Analysis Of How Stress Impacts Dietary Habits In First-Year Students, Matthew Telfer

Senior Theses

The majority of students will experience stress during their first year at college. Stress can have many ill effects on the well-being of a first-year student and can even be a significant factor in weight gain – hence the term “The Freshman 15”. Sixty seven first-year students at the University of South Carolina were recruited to participate in a sixteen-item questionnaire focused on analyzing the relationship between stress and dietary habits. It was hypothesized that first -year students who had higher levels of stress would have significantly more unhealthy eating habits than first-year students who had lower levels of stress. …

Determinants Of Nutrition Agenda Setting In The Context Of The Double Burden Of Malnutrition In Tamil Nadu, India, Shilpa Vimalananda Constantinides

Theses and Dissertations

The double burden of malnutrition is increasing in low- and middleincome countries, with economic, social, and health consequences. Policies and programs to address malnutrition at the national and subnational levels reflect the priorities and framing of the problem by the stakeholder community. Previous studies have examined if and how nutrition-related NCDs have been included into national nutrition policy agendas that have historically focused on reduction of undernutrition, but little is known about if or how this process occurs at the subnational level where policies are translated and implemented according to local contexts, priorities, and frames of nutrition-related NCDs.

We aimed …

Differences In Food Spending On Groceries And Eating Out Between Two Dietary Groups: The New Soul Study, Carly Fassler

Senior Theses

Background: Heart disease is now the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are all risk factors for heart disease. Research has shown that increasing consumption of plant-based foods may be effective in reducing risk factors for chronic disease, especially heart disease. A plant-based diet consists of nutrient-dense plant foods and minimizes the consumption of processed animal products. High costs of eating a healthier diet are a commonly cited barrier that prevents individuals from making dietary changes that could potentially decrease their chronic disease risk.

Objective: To …

The Impact Of Nutritional Changes On Dietary Inflammatory Index: New Soul Study, Callie Mclean

Senior Theses

The Impact of Nutritional Changes on Dietary Inflammatory Index: NEWSoul

Callie McLean; Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD; Michael Wirth, PhD; Anthony Crimarco, MS

Background: Historically, a soul food diet consisted of mainly plant-based foods in West Africa and evolved to a mostly meat-based diet in the Southeastern United States. As a result, many soul foods today often exceed the recommended dietary guidelines for saturated fats and cholesterol. This is important to consider for dietary interventions focusing on African American populations, since they are at a greater risk for cardiovascular disease and chronic illness compared to all other ethnic groups. One …

College Student Health: How Cooking Can Promote Nutrition And A Healthy Diet, Sara Garzia

Senior Theses

This paper focuses on college student health and the manner in which nutrition and overall health can be improved by cooking. College students are at a high risk of poor health because of the college lifestyle. They are faced with a great deal of demands on their time from classes, extracurricular activities, work, and friends. Many students cite this lack of time as one of the main reasons they do not prepare their meals at home. Students also struggle with the perceived inadequacy of their cooking skills, and therefore find it much easier to purchase prepared food instead of making …