Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

United States Born Mexican Origin Women's Descriptions About Their Eating Patterns, Juanita Teresa Garcia

Dissertations (1934 -)

Problem. Mexican origin (MO) women comprise the largest Hispanic subgroup (nearly two-thirds) of Latinas in the US. This subgroup has high incidences of obesity and associated chronic diseases. Modifiable risk factors for obesity and chronic diseases include unhealthy diets and eating patterns. Efforts to understand eating patterns of Hispanics have focused on primarily first-generation Hispanics. To date, limited research has been conducted to explore underlying factors that contribute to eating patterns of US born MO women living in the US. Method. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory-descriptive study, using a thematic analysis approach, was employed to explore 15 US born …

A Minimal Contact Diet And Physical Activity Intervention For White-Collar Workers, Kimberlee A. Gretebeck, Tatiana Bailey, Randall J. Gretebeck

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Minimal contact lifestyle interventions with multiple components coupled with health screening have the potential to improve worker health. The purpose of this study was to test a minimal contact multiple component lifestyle diet and exercise intervention. The multiple components that were included in this project included a worksite health screening, brief counseling session, emailed newsletter, and a pedometer. In response to the intervention, participants reported an increase in green salad, fruit, and vegetable consumption as well as an increase in self-efficacy for consuming three servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Study participants also demonstrated a significant increase in physical …

Wellness And Multiple Sclerosis: The National Ms Society Establishes A Wellness Research Working Group And Research Priorities, Robert W. Motl, Ellen M. Mowry, Dawn M. Ehde, Nicholas G. Larocca, Kathy E. Smith, Kathleen Costello, Lynne Shinto, Alex V. Ng, Amy B. Sullivan, Barbara Geisser, Kevin K. Mccully, Bo Fernhall, Malachy Bishop, Matthew Plow, Patrizia Casaccia, Nancy D. Chiaravalloti

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Background:

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) have identified “wellness” and associated behaviors as a high priority based on “social media listening” undertaken by the National MS Society (i.e. the Society).

Objective:

The Society recently convened a group that consisted of researchers with experience in MS and wellness-related research, Society staff members, and an individual with MS for developing recommendations regarding a wellness research agenda.

Method:

The members of the group engaged in focal reviews and discussions involving the state of science within three approaches for promoting wellness in MS, namely diet, exercise, and emotional wellness.

Results:

That process informed a …

Fit Into College: A Program To Improve Physical Activity And Dietary Intake Lifestyles Among College Students, Robert V. Topp, Jean S. Edward, S. Lee Ridner, Dean E. Jacks, Karen Newton, Patricia Keiffner, Deborah Woodall, Kathleen P. Conte

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 10-week program could improve physical activity, physical fitness, body weight, dietary intake, and perceptions of exercise and diet among college 30 healthy college freshmen. Outcomes were measured at baseline, and following the 10-week program. The weekly sessions incorporated constructs of the Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change and were administered by fitness interns who were junior or senior college students enrolled in health-related majors. The participants presented with low physical activity, physical fitness, and poor dietary intake, and 50% were overweight/obese (BMI > 25). Participants demonstrated gains in their physical fitness …

Environment And Obesity In The National Children's Study, Leonardo Trasande, Christine E. Cronk, Maureen S. Durkin, Marianne E. Weiss, Dale A. Schoeller, Elizabeth A. Gall, Jeanne B. Hewitt, Aaron L. Carrel, Philip J. Landrigan, Matthew W. Gillman

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Objective: In this review we describe the approach taken by the National Children’s Study (NCS), a 21-year prospective study of 100,000 American children, to understanding the role of environmental factors in the development of obesity.

Data sources and extraction: We review the literature with regard to the two core hypotheses in the NCS that relate to environmental origins of obesity and describe strategies that will be used to test each hypothesis.

Data synthesis: Although it is clear that obesity in an individual results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure, control of the obesity epidemic will require understanding of …

Determinants Of Physical Activity And Low-Fat Diet Among Low Income African American And Hispanic Middle School Students, Marilyn Frenn, Shelly Malin, Antonia M. Villarruel, Kimberly Slaikeu, Stephanie Mccarthy, Joan Freeman, Erinn Nee

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

African Americans, Hispanics, and those with low income experience disproportionate health problems that can be prevented by physical activity and a lower fat diet. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, antecedents of diet and exercise within the Health Promotion/Transtheoretical Model were examined among low-income African American and Hispanic seventh-grade students (n = 127). Total support was associated with higher physical activity for girls. African Americans perceived greater social support for activity than Hispanics. Family models and support for physical activity and low-fat diet were greater as family income increased. However, higher family role models and lower dietary fat were found …

Diet And Exercise In Low Income, Culturally Diverse Middle School Students, Marilyn Frenn, Shelly Malin

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

It is important to understand constructs essential to low-fat-diet and physical-activity behaviors of low-income culturally diverse middle-school-age students, because ethnicity and socioeconomic status influence body weight status, and these groups are most at risk for obesity later in life. In this descriptive study, constructs important in low-fat diet and physical activity in low- to middle-income, culturally diverse middle school students were examined. Revised for cultural/developmental appropriateness and reading level, instruments incorporating constructs from the Health Promotion and Transtheoretical Models were tested with 221 youth. Results demonstrated that percentage of fat in diet, total number of strategies used for a low-fat …

Gender-Specific Protection From Microvessel Rarefaction In Female Hypertensive Rats, Paula E. Papanek, Mark J. Rieder, Julian H. Lombard, Andrew S. Greene

Exercise Science Faculty Research and Publications

Epidemiologic studies reveal that women have a significantly lower age-adjusted morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease than men, suggesting that gender is a cardiovascular disease risk factor. The mechanism of the “gender protection” is unknown. In this study, we investigated the microvascular remodeling in reduced renal mass plus a high salt (4.0% NaCl) diet model of hypertension (RRM + HS). We hypothesized that women would be protected from the increase in blood pressure and from the microvascular rarefaction associated with RRM + HS hypertension. Studies were designed to determine whether female rats were less susceptible to changes in microvessel density …

Noncariogenic Sweeteners: Sugar Substitutes For Caries Control, Curt S. Ayers, Richard A. Abrams

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

The evidence is clear that the incidence of dental caries is related to the frequency of eating sugar. The use of sugar substitutes is a suggested way of reducing sugar intake. A variety of noncariogenic sweeteners exists, but most have no practical value for caries control because of their technical or safety problems, taste, or cost. Urinary bladder tumorigenic effects have been reported in experimental animals treated with saccharin and cyclamates. Because of concerns for human safety, cyclamates were banned in the U.S., and saccharin use was permitted only by special legislation. The polyalcohols sorbitol and xylitol are important sugar …