Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons^™

An Assessment Of Schools' Wellness Policies And Teachers’ Perspectives And Confidence In Teaching Nutrition In Elementary Schools In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Asma Yahya

Masters Theses

Nutrition education in school can provide students with the knowledge and skills to improve their eating behavior and overall health. This study aimed to evaluate the content of school wellness policies and understand teacher perspectives about teaching nutrition education at their schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In 2020, electronic surveys were used to evaluate the wellness policies in 11 elementary all-female government schools and teachers’ perspectives about the nutrition education offered in three elementary all-female government schools. Sixty-one teachers and eleven principals participated in this study. Fisher’s exact tests were used to test the differences between teachers’ perspectives and their …

The Impact Of School Nutrition Education And Physical Education Programs On Weight Status Of Obese Children Aged 5-12 Years, Lamia Alotaibi

Masters Theses

Epidemiological studies indicate that 12.5 million children and adolescents are considered obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Obesity is on the rise globally, and while it affects both children and adults, early measures can be taken to reduce the number of children who are obese, and therefore, come into adulthood at a higher risk for obesity-related diseases, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and sleep apnea. There are many studies in which programs are implemented and tested for effectiveness; therefore, a systematic review of these studies that examine which factors play into overall obesity prevention and health improvements among …

The Effects Of Parenting Style And Feeding Style On Child Weight Status: A Systematic Review, Rahaf A. Alahmadi

Masters Theses

Childhood obesity is a global health concern. According to the World Health, prevalence of obesity decupled in the last four decades, where 124 million children and adolescents are now considered obese (“Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity”, 2019). Organization Interactions between parenting styles and feeding styles play a critical role in the development of a child's lifestyle habits, which may impact their weight status. The purpose of this study was to identify how parenting and feeding styles impact a child’s weight status. A systematic review of the literature, guided by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Evidence Analysis Manual protocol, was …

Implications Of The Ketogenic Diet On Metabolic Syndrome, Jarad Blanton

HS 5900 Project Papers

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition defined as a clustering of risk factors that is strongly associated with obesity, heart disease, and diabetes (Kahn, Buse, Ferrannini, & Stern, 2005). The prevalence of MetS has reached epidemic levels globally. It is estimated that 20% to 25% of the adult global population has MetS (Alic, 2018). MetS is diagnosed when three of the five risk factors are present. The risk factors are a large waistline (abdominal obesity), high triglyceride level, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar. The standard and most effective treatment for MetS has been lifestyle …

Spice And Herb Use Among Cancer Patients, Mallory H. Krueger

Masters Theses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine cancer patients' use of, perceived benefits, and beliefs about herbs and spices after their cancer diagnosis.

Methods: An online questionnaire was used to explore types of herbs and spices used by cancer patients and assess cancer patients' experiences with, and perceived benefits of, and beliefs about spice and herb use. The online questionnaire included three sections: herb and spice use, herb and spice attitudes, and cancer characteristics and demographics. Participants were recruited through online cancer groups and registered dietitian nutritionists.

Results: The study included 135 cancer patients. Participants (71.9%) were likely …

Evaluation Of Myplate Recommendations And Dietary Habits Of Eiu Rotc Cadets: A Mixed Methods Approach, Lilibeth Nevarez

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if MyPlate recommendation knowledge, dietary habits, and eating for performance influence the daily consumption among Eastern Illinois University ROTC Cadets. The sample population included EIU ROTC cadets (n=19), between the ages of 18 to 28 years old. A mixed-method approach, using a questionnaire along with focus groups interviews of six to ten cadets from all class levels, was used to obtain data. Results indicated that the highest mean score was 18.9 for MyPlate recommendation knowledge. In addition, five themes were analyzed: Inconsistency of dietary intake, High cost of eating healthy, Post workout …

The Financial Burdens Associated With Managing Pku Dietary Needs As An Adult, Melissa C. Bernzen

Masters Theses

This study was designed to identify the financial burdens associated with purchasing medical foods and the impact this has on the dietary management of adults with PKU. PKU is a genetic disorder in which the body cannot metabolize the amino acid, phenylalanine, which occurs in all foods with protein. Dietary treatment of foods low in protein along with medical supplementation is required for the treatment of PKU. If PKU is left untreated this can lead to severe neurological damage. Medical guidelines indicate that dietary treatment is needed for the duration of one's life, but the medical foods needed are expensive …

Nutritious Meals For The Homeless Population: Challenges And Opportunities, Kayla A. Albrecht

Masters Theses

Objective: Consuming a nutritionally adequate diet is extremely challenging for the homeless population. Though meals are available to the homeless population through soup kitchens and homeless shelters, these settings often do not serve meals that provide essential nutrients. The consumption of energy-dense, low-nutrient foods has led in part to high prevalence of obesity, heart disease, and chronic illnesses among the homeless. The purpose of this study was to (a) examine the challenges that homeless shelters face in providing nutritious meals to guests and (b) investigate the need and interest of nutrition education at homeless shelters.

Methods: Nine homeless shelter directors …

Do Smartphone Applications Aid In Weight Loss? A Study On The Efficacy Of Apps As A Supplemental Weight-Loss Aid, Elizabeth C. Fitzsimmons

Masters Theses

Over the past decade, mobile technology has been developed in the hopes of improving health outcomes, especially related to weight loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone application as a supplementary weight loss tool among highly motivated individuals. Twenty-five individuals over the age of 18 were included in the study based on BMI and participation in a Midwest weight-loss clinic. Intervention group participants (n = 13) were instructed to use the MyFitnessPal app to monitor food intake and receive SMS-style nutritional messages. The control group (n = 12) received no mobile-based intervention, but …

When Nutrition Kills You: Malnutrition For Children In Saudi Arabia, Layla Alahmari

Masters Theses

In this thesis, the issues of Saudi children and their sick and malnourished are shown. Many Saudi's children suffer from anemia. Usually Saudi's children suffer from malnutrition because their parents do not instill healthy food habits. Saudi's children also, suffered due to nutritional inequality consequential from the appearance of poverty, and parent illiteracy. The purpose of this study was to determine most significant factors that result in malnutrition of children in Saudi Arabia.

The study was a quantitative, non-experimental design. It was a survey and correlational study. The hypotheses results were not significant. The researcher observed in particular results, which …

Can Consumers Perceive A Difference In Quality When Comparing Whole-Grain Gluten-Free Baked Goods To Refined Gluten-Free Baked Goods At Varying Flour Levels, Jenna R. Carlson

Masters Theses

The prevalence of celiac disease and gluten intolerances has increased drastically in the last few decades, accounting for 1 in 100 individuals, or about 1% of Americans (Mager, Qiao, & Turner, 2012). The only treatment for celiac disease or any other gluten intolerance is the gluten-free diet. The gluten-free diet can lack many essential nutrients. The purpose of this research was to identify if consumers could perceive a difference in quality when comparing whole-grain gluten-free baked goods to refined gluten-free baked goods at varying flour levels of 20%, 50%, and 100%.

The researcher-developed Carlson Acceptability of Gluten-Free Baked Goods Survey …

An Exploration Of College Student Experiences Regarding Healthy Eating At A Midsized Midwestern University: A Qualitative Approach, E. Jordan Stayer

Masters Theses

This study was an exploration of the experiences college students have while eating in on-campus dining centers at a midsized, Midwest, public university. The present study examined college students' (n = 7) experiences of eating in the dining centers with a campus meal plan. Participants were asked a series of questions regarding their individual beliefs, their surrounding environment, and their physical behaviors while dining.

The study concluded that dining habits are very personal to each and every human being in the world. At the higher education level, because each student brings with them a completely different taste, desire, and …

The Impact Of Nutrition Education On Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Of Elementary School Students, Constance Evans Herriott

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nutrition education on the fruit and vegetable consumption of third grade students. This was in an effort to determine whether nutrition education played a role in the consumption of fruits and vegetables because current intakes are very low. This quasi-experimental study consisted of a relatively small convenience sample at a rural elementary school. For this study, thirty-minute nutrition education lessons were delivered for four consecutive weeks to the experimental group. In order to assess the impact of the lessons, fruit and vegetable plate waste were gauged prior to and …

Assessing The Impact Of Pre-Meal To-Go Containers On Consumption And Satiety, Claudia Bueno

Masters Theses

Lack of portion control is one of the main causes of obesity. Restaurants offer portions larger than recommended by the USDA. This can lead to portion distortion among consumers and increased consumption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of offering a to-go box before a meal on reducing consumption.

In this quasi-experimentally designed study, a convenience sample of diners (N=35) served as subjects. The experimental group (n=18) was offered a to-go box before the meal, and the control group (n=17) was offered a to-go box after the meal. The food was …

Increasing Cooking And Nutritional Knowledge Of Food Pantry Clients Via Cookbook Intervention, Joshua Kleczynski

Masters Theses

This study was designed to assess eating habits, cooking habits, and nutritional knowledge of food pantry clients. As a whole, the average American consumes a less-than-optimal intake of nutrients. This, combined with the elevated national food insecurity rate of 14.5%, produces an advantageous situation to educate food pantry clients about healthy lifestyle practice through cooking. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design including a pre-assessment, intervention, post-assessment design. Forty-nine participants were included in study, and either received a cookbook (intervention group) or were a control subject and only completed surveys. Results revealed that the cookbook intervention did not elicit any behavior …

Comparison Of Two Dark Chocolate And Their Effect On Blood Pressure, Melissa A. Foor

Masters Theses

This study was designed to determine if dark chocolate helps lower blood pressure and if the concentration of the dark chocolate varies the result. Currently, one in four Americans has high blood pressure. The recommended treatment may include medicine or a diet referred to as DASH or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This study followed a within-subjects design having all participants receive each type of dark chocolate. Twenty-seven participants started the study to measure their blood pressure while consuming dark chocolate for a week at a time. Results showed that Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate did not lower blood pressure significantly …

Eating Healthy On A Budget: A Grocery Cart Display, Kara R. Wilcoxon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many barriers to healthy eating have been reported including having to give up favorite food dishes, consuming lesser desired food items, and perceiving that fresh, unprocessed food is too expensive. For a week, customers were able to view a display of two grocery carts: one filled with healthy foods and the other filled with unhealthy foods. Each cart had the cost and nutritive values of the contents posted. For 6 hours on 3 different days, the researcher interviewed interested shoppers (n=33). While the majority of the shoppers indicated they were very concerned about their families eating healthy (mean score 4.2/5), …

Pre-Meal To-Go Boxes: Implications For Portion Control, Margaret J. Schuster

Masters Theses

Title: Pre-Meal To-Go Boxes: Implications for Portion Control

Authors: M. J. Schuster, BS; T. L. Brooks, PhD, RD; J.E. Painter, PhD, RD; C. Honselman, PhD, RD

Introduction: Obesity rates are increasing and seem to be correlated with increasing portion sizes of restaurant meals because of consumer desire for value. The purpose of this study was to determine if using a pre-meal to-go box has an impact on customers' total food intake of a restaurant meal.

Methods: Subjects were a convenience sample of adults (n=49) at a spaghetti dinner. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive approximately 18 ounces of spaghetti and …

Students' Consumption Of Healthy Food Items Using A Social Marketing Intervention, Kayla Autumn Dalton

Masters Theses

This study was an analysis of student eating habits in an "all-you-care-to-eat" dining center at a mid-size, four year, Midwest residential institution. The present, quantitative study was replicated based off a study conducted in 2008 at a similar Midwest university by Diana Poovey Duncan. The present study examined college students' (n = 218) eating habits and consumption patterns over a nine-week study period. Participants were solicited to take the pre-intervention survey in person with incentives during the second week of the study while a post-intervention survey was sent electronically during the seventh week only to those whom provided an …

Impact Of Family Meal Time On College Students' Food Consumption And Select Lifestyle Choices, Rachael Jannusch

Undergraduate Honors Theses

People participating in family mealtimes ≥ 6 times per week while growing up are known to have a better quality diet, GPA, sleeping habits, and a normal BMI. It is hypothesized that college students with a history of family mealtimes continue to experience these benefits while in college. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the history of family mealtime on diet quality, GPA, sleeping habits, and BMI in a college setting.

A convenience sample of students at a midwestern university (n=100) were asked to complete a 17 question survey regarding frequency of family meals, food …

Book Review: Six Arguments For A Greener Diet, Cathy Emberton, Holly Gillespie, Meghan Glow, Melanie Burns

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Six Arguments For A Greener Diet, Cathy Emberton, Holly Gillespie, Meghan Glow, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity until 2018 (FCS)

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Six Arguments For A Greener Diet, Cathy Emberton, Holly Gillespie, Meghan Glow, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Educational Materials Review: Calcium: Are You Getting Enough?, Abigail Field, Christina Pruemer, Melanie Burns

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.

Web Site Review: The President’S Challenge, Erin Boester, Lisa Cunningham, Melanie Burns

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.

Educational Materials Review: Choosing A Safe And Successful Weight-Loss Program And You Can Control Your Weight As You Quit Smoking., Lee Ann Price, Elizabeth Stanberry, Melanie Burns

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.

Review Of Educational Materials: Let’S Get Moving With Exercise And Healthy Foods And Let’S Get Moving With Healthy Snacks And Play, Bridget Schade, Carrie O'Donnell, Melanie Burns

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.

Web Site Review: The President’S Challenge, Erin Boester, Lisa Cunningham, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.

Educational Materials Review: Choosing A Safe And Successful Weight-Loss Program And You Can Control Your Weight As You Quit Smoking., Lee Ann Price, Elizabeth Stanberry, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity until 2018 (FCS)

No abstract provided.

Web Site Review: The President’S Challenge, Erin Boester, Lisa Cunningham, Melanie Burns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity until 2018 (FCS)

No abstract provided.