Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Commons^™

A Multi-Component School-Based Intervention Aimed At Increasing Vegetable Preference And Intake Among Elementary-Aged Children, Elizabeth Strasser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study aimed to implement and assess a school-based multi-component intervention aimed at increasing elementary school-aged children's knowledge of, preference for, and intake of vegetables. The multi-component intervention included lunchroom exposure, nutrition curriculum in the classroom, after school program vegetable curriculum, family friendly nutrition newsletter, vegetable fair and parent cooking class. Lunchtime vegetable consumption was assessed by direct observation. Changes in preference, attitude, and knowledge were assessed using a pre- and post-intervention survey.

The multi-component intervention was implemented at Canyon Elementary during the 2008-2009 school year. Classroom teachers provided 20 minutes of nutrition education to students in grades one through …

Body Image Education As A Preventive Measure For Eating Disorders And Obesity In Ninth-Grade Students, Diana K. Keith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity and eating disorders are major public health problems in the U.S. Prevention of these problems in childhood and adolescence is crucial to avoid medical complications and costs associated with these conditions. A growing body of research supports designing and implementing interventions to prevent obesity and eating disorders simultaneously by targeting common risk factors such as poor body image. This study explored the use of a body image education unit as a preventive measure for obesity and eating disorders. Ninth-grade students attending health class in a public school in Northern Utah (n = 117) were assigned to either an intervention …

Psychological Profiles In A Female Bariatric Surgery Sample, Aimee L. Donato

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Morbid obesity is an epidemic. Current literature suggests that people with morbid obesity tend to show increased levels of psychological dysfunction. This is especially pertinent to the clinicians who work with morbidly obese patients who seek bariatric surgery as the method for weight control. Surgery should be performed on patients who are psychologically ready to adjust to the stringent post-operative lifestyle.

The purpose of the present study was (1) to compare two groups of bariatric patients (a White group and a non-White group) on pre-surgery measures: specific scales on the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD), the Beck Depression Inventory II …

Micronutrient Deficiencies As A Result Of Bariatric Surgery, Ashlie Lewis

Food Science and Nutrition

The most effective method of sustainable weight loss in obese patients is bariatric surgery. However, micronutrient deficiencies that can result after bariatric surgery can cause health problems that may outweigh its benefits. Micronutrient deficiencies are most common in patients who undergo Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion with or without duodenal switch. The majority of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies studies showed significant prevalence rates in their patient populations. Most concluded that routine oral B12 supplementation was ineffective at resolving deficiency; very high oral doses (> 350 μg) or intramuscular injections of crystalline B12 were typically required. Studies of iron …

Vitamin D Deficiency In The United States: How Common Is It?, Christine N. Arnold

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Background: Vitamin D deficiency in the US is more prevalent than before estimated. Given the numerous roles vitamin D plays in the body, it is becoming apparent that the need for adequate intake is vital. It is generally accepted that adults require 1,000 IU per day.

Methods: Electronic searches were conducted using Google Scholar and Elsevier databases. Search terms included “vitamin D deficiency”, “vitamin D deficiency US”, and “vitamin D screening”. Databases were reviewed for prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the US.

Results: Populations at high risk for deficiency include the elderly, adolescents, people with darker skin, those who …

Evaluation And Validation Of Bodpod Body Scan Method As Compared To Dexa, Effect Of Calcium And Caloric Intake In Female Collegiate Track Athletes, Jennifer Day

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of the BODPOD air displacement plethysmography as compared to the DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) in testing body fat percentages in female collegiate runners. The link between caloric intake and body fat distribution, as well as the link between calcium and vitamin D intake and bone density was also evaluated.

Methods: Participants were 8 female collegiate athletes from the USU track team. A 3-day diet history was obtained from each participant and body fat test were performed using both the BODPOD and the DEXA scans within a four month period due …

An Investigation Of Dietary Supplementation As A Potential Source Of Nutrition Misinformation Hindering The Development Of Healthy Eating Habits In The College Population, Mary Dimmick

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Current dietary supplement legislation allows nutrition misinformation to flourish; misleading structure‐function and health‐claims now abound on supplement labels. Meanwhile, college students tend to be open to experimentation and exploration. Hence, this study’s objective was to discover if students at USU are being influenced by such claims to unjustifiably take dietary supplements in a manner which hinders the development of healthy eating habits. During August of 2009, 1,300 USU freshmen were invited to voluntarily participate in an on‐line survey concerning dietary patterns which included a section about dietary supplementation. Five‐hundred‐and‐twelve completed the survey after providing informed written consent to participate. The …

Significant Interactions With The Most Commonly Used Herbal And Nonherbal Supplements Impact Warfarin Safety And Efficacy, Brittany Jean Sagers

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Background: Nearly 20% of adult Americans used herbal therapies in 2007, but greater than two-thirds failed to report such use to their medical provider. Significant patient harm may occur when herbal supplements are taken in conjunction with warfarin; however, patients and medical providers may not be aware of these interactions and this may place patients at risk for life-threatening bleeds or thrombotic complications.

Methods: The authors determined the top 25 herbal and 25 nonherbal supplements used by Americans using sales data from 2008, and each product was reviewed for its potential to interact with warfarin. Electronic searches were conducted using …

To What Extent Do Local Farmers' Markets, Community Supported Agriculture Programs, And Community Gardens Help Low-Income Families Improve Access To Fresh, Local Produce?, Christy Gene Somsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Farmers’ Markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Programs, and Community Gardens have been developed to help farmers. Many times, they also aim to help low-income families improve access to fresh produce. Often, these programs may end up helping a larger amount of middle class families instead of lower class families. There have been many programs developed to try to better help low-income families such as the Women Infant and Children (WIC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and allowing farmers to accept WIC Cash Value Vouchers (CVV), which allows WIC participants to buy fresh produce. Farm to School Programs have also been …

Weight Discrimination: Why Current Perceptions Need To Change, Kelsey Rae Eller

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Discrimination based on weight has been labeled the last form of socially acceptable prejudice. Weight discrimination is becoming more and more prevalent in schools, the workplace, social settings, the media, and even in healthcare. Overweight and obese individuals are often stereotyped as lazy, addicted to food, and lacking self-discipline and initiative, and as a result may struggle with decreased employment opportunities, fear and shame in public, attempting dangerous weight loss methods, or even eating disorders.

This project seeks to identify and examine research that has been done on this subject in order to increase awareness of weight bias and to …

The Influence Of Dietary Restraint, Social Desirability, And Food Type On Accuracy Of Reported Dietary Intake, Ashlee Hirt Schoch

Masters Theses

Underreporting in dietary assessment has been linked to dietary restraint (DR) and social desirability (SD). Thus, this study investigated accuracy of reporting energy intake (EI) of a laboratory meal during a 24-hour dietary recall (24HR) in 38 healthy, college-aged (20.3 +/- 1.7 years), normal-weight women (22.4 +/- 1.8 kg/m2), categorized as high or low in DR and SD.

Participants consumed a meal (sandwich wrap, chips, fruit, and ice cream) and completed a telephone 24HR. Accuracy of reported intake = (((reported intake - measured intake)/measured intake) x 100) [positive numbers = overreporting].

Overreporting of EI was found in all groups (meal …

Role Of Protein Kinase C Isotypes In 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Mediated Signal Transduction Through The 1,25d3 Membrane Associated, Rapid Response Steroid Binding Receptors In Chick Intestinal Cells, Sakara Tunsophon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is now accepted that 1,25(OH)2D3 mediates its rapid actions on the control of phosphate and calcium homeostasis through its membrane receptor termed the 1,25D3-MARRS (membrane associated rapid response steroid binding) protein. I determined the various PKC isotypes involved in the rapid regulation of phosphate uptake and calcium extrusion in chick intestinal cells. 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated phosphate uptake was stimulated within 1 min after addition of the hormone. Western blot analyses on isolated intestinal cells treated with steroid hormone resulted in dose-dependent increases in PKC alpha and PKC beta in postnuclear centrifugation fractions, but not in the low speed centrifugation fractions. The …

Examining The Relationship Between Weight, Food Insecurity, Food Stamps, And Perceived Diet Quality In School-Aged Children, Elizabeth Lucas Marshall

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

A paradox exists between food insecurity and obesity. Childhood obesity has tripled in the past three decades. This study aimed to understand the relationships between food insecurity, poverty income ratio, food stamps usage, perceived diet quality, and weight status in children. A child’s weight status is determined by many different factors and this study investigated several of these aspects. It was found that the family’s poverty index ratio had the greatest effect on a child’s BMI, but household food security status, ethnicity, and the perceived inability to serve balanced meals were all found to be statistically significant when considering a …

Vegetarians And Vegans In Kentucky, Danita Martha Hines

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Kentucky has a health crisis and most of the causes can be linked to diet, smoking and physical activity. Vegetarian and vegan diets have numerous benefits for many diet related health problems such as obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. There has been limited research on vegetarians and vegans in the United States and none in Kentucky. This study used an anonymous electronic survey to examine the different characteristics, behaviors, experiences and opinions of adult vegetarians and vegans in Kentucky. Results were compared to statistical data reported on the general population of Kentucky. Calculated body mass index …

Impact Of A 16-Week Behavioral Weight-Loss Program On Dietary And Physical Activity Changes, Eunkyung Lee

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Behavioral weight loss programs have been shown to be effective for short-term weight loss, however the impact of these programs on dietary changes is unclear. This study examined the changes in participant’s diet and physical activity over the course of a 16-week Internet behavioral weight-loss program. A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted from August 2008 to December 2008 in Lexington, KY, and sixty-six women whose mean (SD) age was 48.6 (10.8) years and body mass index was 31.8 (3.7) kg/m² completed all dietary and physical measures. Participants received two face-to-face group sessions with a dietitian, at baseline and …

Dietitians’ Use And Perceptions Of Nutrition Screening Tools For The Older Adult, Sarah Ross Small

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Malnutrition is a significant issue affecting the health of many adults over the age of 65. Screening for malnutrition in this population can help identify those in need of a complete nutritional assessment. Many screening tools have been developed to aid healthcare team members in identifying those at risk for malnutrition. A population of dietitians with a focus in older adult nutrition was surveyed to determine dietitians’ perceptions and use of screening tools for the older adult. The results of the study showed many dietitians did not use validated screening tools at their place of work and were not confident …

The Characterization And Calculation Of Diet Quality For A Low-Income Population In Quito, Ecuador, Rachel Ann Beyatte

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Diet is an important factor in disease prevention and health promotion. According to Global Health, in 2006 four of the top five leading causes of death in Ecuador were heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and hypertensive diseases which are all associated with dietary intake. Knowledge of eating patterns enables the formulation of public policies directed toward health promotion and disease prevention. Studies using indices that measure dietary quality and summarize the main characteristics of healthful eating habits enables the evaluation of possible associations between health determinants and health indicators. Most studies using score-based approaches have generally shown more varied …

What Are The Perceptions Of Hispanic Parents Associated With Eating Habits Of Hispanic Children Ages 6--12 And Obesity?, Amy Barrett

Nursing Theses and Capstone Projects

The main objective of this study is to identify the perceptions of Hispanic parents associated with eating habits of Hispanic children ages 6-12 and obesity. The purpose was to identify if the child's intake was different based on the parent's perception of whether or not their child had a weight problem. The idea was to examine how many times certain foods are consumed and compare that to the parent's perceptions. The study was a descriptive study. The childrenhad to be in the 95 th percentile and between the ages of 6-12 to qualify for the study. Parents were approached by …

Impact Of Nutrition Education On Dietary Habits Of Female High School Students, Rae L. Schmidt

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this study was to explore the impact of nutrition education on the nutritional intake of female high school students. Two groups of females from Saline High School (Saline, Michigan) participated in the study. Age, height, weight, and activity level were obtained from each student in the control group (N=5) and the experimental group (N=17). Participants also completed a demographic survey and a 3-day food diary (two weekdays and one weekend day). No significant differences were found between the groups in age, weight, height, or Body Mass Index (BMI). Diet analysis of the three-day food diaries showed significant …