Nursing Commons^™

Exercises For Older Adults With Knee And Hip Pain, Neil E. Peterson, Kay D. Osterloh, M. Nichole Graff

Faculty Publications

Half of all older adults report knee and/or hip pain. Obesity and sedentary lifestyle contribute to the incidence and prevalence of painful knee and hip conditions. Weight loss should be a priority in overweight or obese patients. Improving joint function over time requires a balance of rest and usage. Practitioners should assess joint disorders and recommend exercises for reducing knee and hip pain with patients when appropriate. Instruction should include a combination of 1) stretching and flexibility, 2) strength training, and 3) endurance conditioning exercises. Even small improvements in exercise can make meaningful improvements in pain, movement, endurance, and quality …

Get Moving: Motivating Sedentary Young Adults, Rebecca Edmunds, Neil Peterson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Obesity and sedentary behavior are increasing in the United States and the world. On the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website recent statistics put over one third of the American adult population as obese and over half as overweight (2015). This epidemic has contributed to a drastic increase in disease and cost. Obesity and the accompanying diseases are not only expensive to treat but also decrease quality of life. Prevention is essential. Many companies are working to find devices that help motivate people and encourage physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. This research project focused specifically on the …

Health Literacy And Obesity Among Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islanders In The U.S., Jane Lassetter

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Our purpose was to describe relationships between demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), and health literacy among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (NHPIs).

Design and Sample: In this cross-sectional survey, we interviewed 364 NHPI adults.

Measures: We used Newest Vital Sign (NVS), a health literacy tool; measured heights and weights; and demographic questions.

Results: According to participants’ NVS scores, 45.3% had at least a possibility of low health literacy. Lower NVS scores were associated with increased BMI (r = -0.12, p = 0.027) and increased age (r = -0.26, p < 0.001). Higher NVS scores were associated …

The Use Of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners In Establishing And Maintaining A Healthy Weight, Derrick Pickering, Mary Williams

Student Works

Obesity is an epidemic and continues to rise. The associated increased risk of mortality and co-morbid conditions is well documented. The use non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) is a strategy being used to manage weight by reducing calorie intake. Research is inconclusive regarding the efficacy of NNS in weight management due to their inappropriate use and also the potential they may increase appetite. To most effectively manage weight, a comprehensive individualized plan must be devise of which proper use NNS may be a part.

Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: Understanding, Diagnosing, And Treating, Chad W. Padovich

Student Works

The effects of obesity are multifaceted and lead to poor quality of life, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and death. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a widely misunderstood and under diagnosed disease process, which carries specific diagnostic criteria. The purpose of this work is to: (1) provide practitioners with a better understanding of OHS and how it differs from other obesity related breathing disorders (such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, OSA), (2) provide diagnostic criteria of OHS, (3) provide work up recommendations, and (4) provide current recommended treatment. Data Sources: An electronic search of the literature was conducted to identify …

Bariatric Surgery Versus Lifestyle Interventions In Managing Obesity In Patients With Type Ii Diabetes: A Systematic Review, Leslie C. Nakaya, Mary Williams

Student Works

Obesity, with coexisting T2DM, is difficult to treat successfully for various reasons and carries enormous health risks and financial burdens. The purpose of this systematic review is to compare outcomes of conventional medical treatment to bariatric surgery for the treatment of T2DM, and determine which patients may be appropriate for referral. Data Sources: An electronic search of the literature was conducted to identify studies from 2008 to 2014 in the following databases: CINAHL, National Library of Medicine PubMed®/MEDLINE®, EBSCO, SciVerse®, Springer Link®, and the Cochrane library. Conclusions: Bariatric surgical options, even before weight loss occurs, positively affect glucose homeostasis and …

The Relationship Between Select Demographic Characteristics And Body Mass Index Among Native Hawaiian And Other Pacific Islander Caregiving Adults, Jane Lassetter Phd, Rn, Lauren Clark Phd, Rn, Faan, Sharla E. Morgan Fnp, Lora Beth Brown Phd, Gwen Vanservellen Phd, Rn, Faan, Katrina Duncan Fnp, Betsy S. Hopkins

Faculty Publications

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) are people with genetic origins in Hawaii, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands (Hixson, Hepler, & Kim, 2012). NHOPI prevalence of overweight or obesity is among the highest in the world. Nauru, a Pacific Island nation, is considered the most obese country in the world with an overweight and obesity prevalence of 93% (WHO, 2011). Hawaii’s overall prevalence of overweight or obesity is 52.1%, but the prevalence for Native Hawaiian residents is 69.6% (Hawaii Department of Health, 2011). Inasmuch as NHOPIs are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the U.S. (Hixson et …

Relationship Of Demographic Characteristics And Bmi With Health Literacy In Pacific Islander Care-Giving Adults, Sharla E. Morgan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Health literacy and obesity are major global issues. Vulnerable populations, such as those with low health literacy, have the highest rates of obesity. Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) nations have the highest prevalence of obesity in the world. This study describes the relationship between health literacy and demographic variables in a sample of NHOPI caregiving adults. Methods: We conducted a correlational study of 364 NHOPI adults. Each was a caregiver of at least one NHOPI child. Data were collected at grocery stores and a preschool in two Hawaiian Islands (n=209) and at NHOPI events in Utah (n=155). …

The Relationship Between Select Demographic Characteristics And Body Mass Index Among Native Hawaiian And Other Pacific Islander Caregiving Adults, Katrina Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) have the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world. This study identified the proportion of our NHOPI sample in each body mass index (BMI) category and explored relationships between demographic characteristics and BMI. Design: This descriptive correlational study included 364 NHOPI caregiver adults in Utah (n=155) and Hawaii (n=209). We gathered demographic information with a questionnaire. Height and weight were measured for BMI calculations. Results: According to the CDC's BMI categories, 84.3% of our sample was overweight (BMI=25.0-29.9) or obese (BMI ≥30). Participants in Utah had significantly higher BMIs than …