Public Health Commons^™

Natural Environment Associations With Mental Health And Obesity Status, Adam Edwin London

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mental health and obesity were ranked among the health priorities of the 2014 and 2017 Community Health Needs Assessments in Kent County, Michigan. Exposure to nature is correlated to improved health outcomes across a variety of morbidities including poor mental health and obesity. This cross-sectional study set within the frameworks of attention restoration theory, environmental health, and pathways to health benefits from nature assessed county survey data including self-reported nature exposures/interactions separated into 3 domain areas: access to nature, attitudes about nature, and physical activity in nature or in nature-based activities. Binary logistic regression analyses of the 653 respondents found …

Effects Of Maternal Obesity On Preterm Birth And Birthweight, La Tosha Headley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for neonate low birthweight among reproductive women. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between 3 categories of obese status (moderate, severe, and very severe) and low neonate birthweight and preterm birth among women ages 18 to 39 years at all socioeconomic levels. Secondary data were obtained from 141,859 women ages 18-39 years living in the United States who had participated in the 2012-2015 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Social-ecological theory was used to guide the study, and binary logistic regression was used for the analyses adjusting for …

The Influence Of Food Choices, Eating Habits, And Body Image Of African American Mothers On Childhood Obesity, Debrua Perniece Coleman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The food decisions, dietary patterns, physical activity, and weight-related convictions of African American mothers are affected by their self-perceptions and views of body weight. The gap in the literature regarding the impact of these perceptions on children's food choices, eating habits, and body image is significant. Using the health belief model as the theoretical foundation and a cross-sectional survey as the research design, this study assessed the potential relationship between mothers' and children's eating habits and whether mothers' perceptions of their children's body image were reliable indicators of childhood obesity. Eighty-six mothers provided demographic information and completed the Child Feeding …

Nurses' Perceptions Of Patient Encounters During Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Education, Traci Edwynne Cullins-Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many researchers have suggested positive patient-health provider relationships can positively impact patient outcomes. A few focused explicitly on bariatric weight loss surgery (BWLS) professional-patient interactions. This study is significant because BWLS is a recommended tool to combat obesity. The purpose of this study was to analyze the perceptions of BWLS education nurses regarding their patient encounters. This mixed methods research study used an online survey combining quantitative Likert scale questions and open-ended qualitative questions, with social cognitive theory as the theoretical foundation. These explored viewpoints relate to their patient relations expressed by a health professional. Health professional beliefs incorporated into …

Cultivating Cultural Competence To Address Childhood Obesity In Ethnic Minority Youth, Tia Knight-Forbes

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Obesity is an increasingly prevalent health issue, especially among children who live in high poverty, low income, and low education areas that lack needed resources and health care to promote quality of life. African American youth have a higher rate of obesity than other populations. The purpose of this project was to address an identified gap in practice by improving health care professionals' ability to provide culturally competent care to African American youth. An educational intervention framed by the Purnell model for cultural competence was developed to address the question, Will cultural competency staff education improve knowledge to prevent and …

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Survey To Assess Adults Knowledge, Attitudes, And Consumption Patterns Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Jeff Schafer

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have a direct impact on the general health of the country when looking at the rising obesity levels (CDC, 2017a). The USDA’s dietary guidelines suggest that the daily intake of added sugar should be limited to 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men (Hughes, 2017). However, the average American consumes 20 teaspoons of sugar daily (Hughes, 2017). These extra calories are converted into fat and stored in the body. Data collected throughout the years indicates a rise in the number of Americans living with a weight above healthy recommendations, which is termed, obese. Obesity is …

Right Size Me : Policy Responses To The Obesity Eidemic And Behavioral Change, Wenhui Feng

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Obesity is a critical health and social concern. Almost 40% of American adults are obese, creating more than $300 billion dollars in annual medical costs. While obesity is a public concern that has been on the policy agenda for some time, obesity policies have proven difficult to formulate, adopt and implement in practice. In this dissertation, I explore three obesity-related policies – adoption of obesity prevention policies by local health department, calorie labeling on restaurant menus and food assistance benefits – and find the importance of ideological and political considerations for obesity policies at different stages in the policy process …

Socioeconomic Correlates Of Overweight And Obesity Among Ever-Married Urban Women In Bangladesh, Tania Sultana Tanwi, Sayan Chakrabarty, Syed Hasanuzzaman, Sue Saltmarsh, Stephen Winn

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background

The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity globally is reflected amongst urban women in many low-to-middle income countries. Evidence also shows that overweight and obesity is an increasing trend in Bangladesh. The present study assessed the prevalence and socioeconomic determinants of overweight and obesity among urban women in Bangladesh.

Methods

Data were extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014. A two-stage stratified sampling technique has been used for data collection in this cross-sectional survey. A sample of 1701 ever-married non-pregnant urban women aged 15–49 years was selected for statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis, multiple binomial logistic regression analysis …

Associations Between Dietary Fat Intake And Waist Circumference, Phonchit Teng Soukhamneut

All ETDs from UAB

The objective of this study was to assess: 1) trends in dietary fat intake from 2003-2016 2) the association between type of dietary fat intake and waist circumference (WC), 3) the association between type of dietary fat intake and body shape, and 4) whether these associations vary by sex and race/ethnicity. This secondary data analysis included 27,057 adults aged 19 to 65 from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2016. For WC, participants were categorized into high-risk (men: WC ≥ 40 in; women: WC ≥ 35 in) and low-risk (men: WC < 40 in; women: WC < 35 in). Total fat intake was categorized as high (TOTFAT ≥ 35%) and low (TOTFAT< 35%). Saturated fat intake was categorized into high (SATFAT ≥ 10%) and low (SATFAT < 10%). Unsaturated fat intake was categorized into high (UNSATFAT ≥ 25%) and low (UNSATFAT < 25%). Logistic regression was performed to assess the associations between DFI and WC and DFI and body shape, controlling for age, BMI, and total caloric intake. NHW men with high TOTFAT were found to have 1.41 (OR: 1.41, 1.19 – 1.68) times the odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in TOTFAT, controlling for age, BMI, and total caloric intake. NHW men with a diet high in SATFAT were at increased odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in SATFAT, after controlling for covariates (OR: 1.49, 1.21 -1.84). NHW men with a diet high in UNSATFAT were at increased odds of having a high-risk WC compared to men with a diet low in UNSATFAT after controlling for covariates (OR: 1.375, 1.09 – 1.74). There were no significant associations found among NWB and MA men for any type of dietary fat intake. For women, no associations were found between type of dietary fat and WC by race/ethnicity. There were no associations between DFI and body shape by race/ethnicity groups and sex. Future studies are needed to further investigate the body shape cut-off points for increased risk associated with chronic disease.

Water And Life. A Cross-Sectional Study On Determinants Of Beverage Consumption And Water Access In One Tribal Community, Christina White

All Master's Theses

Increasingly, poor diet has been shown to be one of the most crucial factors associated with cause of death, even more critical than smoking. Research in the past two decades has consistently linked increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) to the obesity epidemic contributing to a public health crisis all over the United States. Native Americans, among other minority groups, suffer obesity disproportionately from the rest of the US population, yet they continually fail to be included in research on the subject. Traditional research methods, sparse care coverage on reservations, consolidation of unique tribes into one classification, and failure to …

Community Risk Factors And Health Inspection Violations In Mississippi Delta Census Tracts, Chrystal S. Early

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A concerning public health issue in America is about food deserts urban and rural communities that lack grocery retailers that offer affordable, nutritious, and diverse foods. Empirical evidence has shown significant associations between neighborhood disadvantage/disorder risk factors of high poverty and high percentages of ethnic minority residents with presence/ absence of healthy food retailers in food deserts. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study, framed by the disparities in food safety conceptual model, was to examine if county-level poverty, number of African American residents, number of elderly (i.e., age 65 or older) residents, vehicle ownership, and crime rates were significantly …

Ecological Influences On Dietary Behavior: The Interaction Between Person And Neighborhood Environment In A Low-Ses, Hispanic Community, Emily Kiresich

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Despite existing knowledge about lifestyle choices and their relationships to obesity and diabetes, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is increasing, and the number of Americans at risk is greater than 70% (CDC, 2019). Obesity is a complex, multifactorial, and largely preventable disease, affecting, along with overweight, over a third of the world's population today. A significant factor in lifestyle management is the ecology of food choice. Literature suggests that environment and exposure can predict food-related health risk behaviors and health outcomes. The objective of this dissertation was to conceptualize and carry out a series of pilot studies …

Instrumental Role Modeling And The Sensitive Topic Of Obesity: A Grounded Theory, Tulie Blot Gay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nurse practitioner (NP) role is more prominent now than ever before in primary healthcare, positioning them as providers who defend initiatives and ongoing health agendas. Obesity is among those agendas. The concept of instrumental role modeling was explained as a combination of understanding and physical presence that gives meaning and quality to inspire change. It implied that health professionals are not merely insightful clinicians but suggested their expertise is complimented by demonstrations of wellness in knowledge and practice. This topic of weight was perceived as sensitive but must be addressed. In this grounded theory study, the perspectives of NPs …

So You Think You Can Exercise: The Gap Between Exercise Confidence And Physical Activity Among Samoan Adults, Diksha Brahmbhatt

Public Health Theses

Samoa is experiencing one of the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity in the world, placing its population at increased risk of developing several noncommunicable diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The role of physical activity in reducing the burden of these diseases and overweight is well-established. Exercise self-efficacy or confidence is a predictor, if not determinant, of recreational physical activity. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to assess the relationship between exercise confidence and levels of recreational physical activity among Samoan adults. We confirm that exercise confidence is correlated with time spent exercising. However, despite considerable …

Postpartum Weight Trajectories In A Cohort Of 127 Samoan Women: Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Postpartum Weight Retention?, Grace Castillo

Public Health Theses

Rising global obesity rates impact every aspect of health, including maternal-fetal health. Samoa has a disproportionate burden of obesity, with more than half of Samoan women entering pregnancy obese. Given Samoan women’s high parity (4), postpartum weight retention (PPWR) may be a significant source of weight gain over women’s lifetimes. Little is currently known about PPWR among Samoan women, so this analysis sought to document PPWR trajectories, assess factors – like breastfeeding -- associated with PPWR. Data of 127 mother-infant dyads from the 2017 Foafoaga O le Ola cohort were used in analysis. Researchers collected demographic and lifestyle data, as …

Leptin Level Variance In Adults With And Without Cancer, Vilisa Chatman-Terry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

In 2018, health statistics revealed that, despite the many preventive measures established,

cancer was the second leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause

of death in 22 states, exceeded only by heart disease. With obesity/leptin levels reaching

pandemic levels worldwide, and cancer having a well-known association with obesity,

both chronic diseases represent a large proportion of public health challenges. Guided by

the social ecological model, the purpose of this cross-sectional, quantitative study was to

examine if a significant difference exists in leptin levels among adults with different

types of obesity-associated and common cancers and …

Mother Feeding Style And Health Outcomes Of Children, Marie Youngblood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood and adolescent obesity are pervasive among single mother households. Obesity causes many health risks including psychological/emotional illnesses. The purpose of this secondary analysis study was to examine the association between the parental feeding styles of single mothers and the degree that ethnicity moderates the rates of childhood obesity. Data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used with a total of 1,630 children in the study for a total of 842 minorities (African American and Hispanic American); 788 participates were not minorities (European American) with an average body mass indent of 15.9. Using the cross-sectional design, the quantitative …

Trends In Obesity And Multimorbidity In Canada., Michael Lebenbaum, Gregory S Zaric, Amardeep Thind, Sisira Sarma

Epidemiology and Biostatistics Publications

Very few studies have examined trends in multimorbidity over time and even fewer have examined trends over time across different body mass index (BMI) groups. Given a general decline in death rates but increased cardiovascular risk factors among individuals with obesity, the trend in the association between obesity and multimorbidity is hypothesized to be increasing over time. The data for our study came from the 1996-97 National Population Health Survey and the 2005 and 2012-13 Canadian Community Health Surveys (N = 277,366 across all 3 surveys). We examined trends in the association between BMI groups and multimorbidity using a logistic …

Patient Barriers For Weight Management Among African American Women, Owen Bowie, Jennifer Kusch, George L. Morris Iii, Tracy Flood, Jessica Gill, Renee E. Walker, Ron A. Cisler, Jennifer T. Fink

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to assess the perceptions of local African American women who are overweight or obese using semi-structured focus groups to identify barriers to weight management and factors that support strategy success. The secondary aim of this study was to determine recommendations for patient-centered weight management interventions established specifically for African American women in the Milwaukee-area community.

Methods: Three semi-structured focus groups to explore barriers to weight management were performed among women patients. Participants (N = 41) were recruited via email, postal mail, and phone as available from an academic medical center in Milwaukee, …

Metabolic Syndrome And The Risk Of Breast Cancer And Subtypes By Race, Menopause And Bmi, Daniel T. Dibaba, Dejana Braithwaite, Tomi Akinyemiju

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with the risk of invasive breast cancer and molecular subtypes across race, menopause, and body mass index (BMI) groups. We examined the association of metabolic syndrome and its components with risk of invasive breast cancer among 94,555 female participants of the National Institute of Health-American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study, accounting for ductal carcinoma in situ as a competing risk. Cox proportional hazard regression with the Fine and Gray method was used to generate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) …

Determinants Of Successful Weight Loss In Low-Income African American Women: A Positive Deviance Analysis., Elaine Seaton Banerjee, Sharon J. Herring, Katelyn Hurley, Katherine Puskarz, Kyle Yebernetsky, Marianna Lanoue

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: We set out to investigate the behaviors of low-income African American women who successfully lost weight.

METHODS: From an urban, academic, family medicine practice, we used a mixed methods positive deviance approach to evaluate 35 low-income African American women who were obese and lost at least 10% of their maximum weight, and maintained this loss for 6 months, comparing them with 36 demographically similar control participants who had not lost weight. Survey outcomes included demographics and behaviors that were hypothesized to be related to successful weight loss. Interviews focused on motivations, barriers, and what made weight loss successful. Survey …

Influence Of Body Mass Index And Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome On Icsi/Ivf Treatment Outcomes: A Study Conducted In Pakistani Women, Rehana Rehman, Rozina Mustafa, Rabiya Ali, Saeeda Shaharyar, Faiza Alam

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Obesity may establish a crucial barrier for effective fertility treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) females.
Objective: To compare results of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in females with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome and further appraise the effect of obesity in PCOS females.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study from June 2015 to July 2016 included non-PCOS and PCOS (recognized by Rotterdam criteria) females who underwent ICSI. The PCOS were further stratified into non-obese and Obese according to the South Asian criteria for body mass index. Results were categorized on the basis of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and transvaginal …

Obesity Inequalities According To Place Of Birth: The Role Of Education, Elena Rodriguez-Alvarez, Nerea Lanborena, Luisa N. Borrell

Publications and Research

This study examined obesity inequalities according to place of birth and educational attainment in men and in women in Spain. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2011–2012 and from the European Health Survey in Spain 2014. We used data for 27,720 adults aged 18–64 years of whom 2431 were immigrants. We used log-binomial regression to quantify the association of place of birth with obesity before and after adjusting for the selected characteristics in women and in men. We found a greater probability of obesity in immigrant women (PR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.22–1.64) and …

More Rapid Increase In Bmi From Age 5–15 Is Associated With Elevated Weight Status At Age 24 Among Non-Hispanic White Females, Katherine N. Balantekin, Emily E. Hohman, Elizabeth L. Adams, Michele E. Marini, Alison K. Ventura, Leann L. Birch, Jennifer S. Savage

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: A rapidly increasing BMI trajectory throughout childhood is associated with negative health outcomes in adulthood such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The purpose of the current study was to assess whether BMI trajectories from age 5–15 predicted changes in weight and BMI from adolescence to adulthood, and dieting-related behaviors in young adulthood.

Methods: Non-Hispanic White female participants from Early Dieting in Girls (n=182), a longitudinal cohort study, were followed from age 5 to 15 and completed a follow-up survey at age 24. Participants were classified by age 5–15 BMI trajectory groups: UPC, accelerated weight gain from age …

Epigenomics And Metabolomics Reveal The Mechanism Of The Apoa2-Saturated Fat Intake Interaction Affecting Obesity, Chao-Qiang Lai, Caren E. Smith, Laurence D. Parnell, Yu-Chi Lee, Dolores Corella, Paul Hopkins, Bertha A. Hidalgo, Stella Aslibekyan, Michael A. Province, Devin Absher, Donna K. Arnett, Katherine L. Tucker, Jose M. Ordovas

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: The putative functional variant −265T > C (rs5082) within the APOA2 promoter has shown consistent interactions with saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake to influence the risk of obesity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to implement an integrative approach to characterize the molecular basis of this interaction.

Design: We conducted an epigenome-wide scan on 80 participants carrying either the rs5082 CC or TT genotypes and consuming either a low-SFA (< 22 g/d) or high-SFA diet (≥ 22 g/d), matched for age, sex, BMI, and diabetes status in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS). We then validated the findings in selected participants in the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) Study (n = 379) and the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) (n = 243). Transcription and metabolomics analyses were conducted to determine the relation between epigenetic status, APOA2 mRNA expression, …

A New Benchmarking Methodology To Monitor Industry's Investment In Community-Based Obesity Prevention And Food Access Initiatives: Gaps And Opportunities, Olivia Barata Cavalcanti

Dissertations and Theses

Background:

Despite increased public health efforts and investment in obesity prevention, obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States.¹ Excess weight increases the risk for a series of correlated diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, joint abnormalities, polycystic ovarian syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, sleep disturbances and a decreased life span.^2–9

Traditional interventions to improve nutrition or decrease obesity have not achieved the desired success so far because obesity is a complex problem, involving a vast number of factors, sectors and actors that influence individuals’ energy balance.^10,11 To achieve change in …

Use Of International Classification Of Diseases, Ninth Revision Codes For Obesity: Trends In The United States From An Electronic Health Record-Derived Database., Michelle Mocarski, Ye Tian, B. Gabriel Smolarz, John Mcana, Albert Crawford

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Obesity is a potentially modifiable risk factor for many diseases, and a better understanding of its impact on health care utilization, costs, and medical outcomes is needed. The ability to accurately evaluate obesity outcomes depends on a correct identification of the population with obesity. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and accuracy of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding for overweight and obesity within a US primary care electronic health record (EHR) database compared against actual body mass index (BMI) values from recorded clinical patient data; characteristics of patients with obesity who did …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Overweight And Obesity Among Preschool-Aged Children In San Luis Obispo County, 2006-2014, Kristine Z. Jankovitz, Alison K. Ventura, Trevor M. Curry, Victoria B. Howarth, Caitlin C. Moran, Robin M. Mertens, Leland A. Bailey, Kristen Thompson, Karen Mcgaughey

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background and Purpose: National prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among children remains high; surveillance of OW/OB at state- and local-levels is needed. This study determines the prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of OW/OB among preschool-age children in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County.

Methods: Cross-sectional convenience samples of Head Start, California State, and private preschools were surveyed in 2006 (n=482), 2009/10 (n=559), and 2014 (n=442). At all waves, preschool children aged 3-5 years were measured for height and weight using standardized stadiometer and digital scale protocols. In 2014, parents completed a demographics questionnaire.

Results: Children assessed in 2009/10 and 2014 were …

Dynamical Properties Of Postural Control In Obese Community-Dwelling Older Adults, Christopher W. Frames, Rahul Soangra, Thurmon Lockhart, John Lach, Dong Sam Ha, Karen A. Roberto, Abraham Lieberman

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Postural control is a key aspect in preventing falls. The aim of this study was to determine if obesity affected balance in community-dwelling older adults and serve as an indicator of fall risk. The participants were randomly assigned to receive a comprehensive geriatric assessment followed by a longitudinal assessment of their fall history. The standing postural balance was measured for 98 participants with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 18 to 63 kg/m2, using a force plate and an inertial measurement unit affixed at the sternum. Participants’ fall history was recorded over 2 years and participants with at least …

Household Financial Assets Inequity And Health Disparities Among Young Adults: Evidence From The National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent To Adult Health, Shiyou Wu, Xiafei Wang, Qi Wu, Kathleen Mullan Harris

Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice

Introduction: Research has established a strong relationship between financial resources and health outcomes. Yet, little is known about the effects of assets disparities on health outcomes, especially during the critical period when adolescents transition to adults.

Methods: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 10,861), this study investigated the relationships between three household total assets value groups (low, moderate, and high assets) and three net worth groups (negative, neutral, and positive) on young adults’ general health, obese, and depression.

Results: Both assets and debts were related to young adults’ health status, …