Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Factors Predicting Weight Loss And Weight Gain In Bariatric Surgery Patients, Deborah Potisek Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States that can result in problems in multiple areas of an individual's life. Bariatric surgery has been shown to be an effective weight loss treatment for obese and morbidly obese individuals; however, although many individuals obtain long-term weight loss success after surgery, there is a percentage of patients who do not obtain the expected weight loss or end up regaining the weight they had initially lost. In an attempt to identify those who may be at risk for poorer results after bariatric surgery, most surgeons require that an individual undergo a psychological …

The Relationship Between Sleep And Nutrition In Message Framing Among College Students, Abbey G. White

Doctoral Dissertations

The college years are often depicted as a time of immense change, specifically in relation to college students' level of nutrition and sleep quality. However, these health concerns not only impact college students' health but also their academic performance, mood, and as a result their future. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether technologically enhanced health messages are more effective than the traditional text format for creating healthy behavioral changes amongst college students. Secondly, the study provides the opportunity to examine previous research involving message framing, specifically, regulatory focus theory and self-efficacy, in order to provide further …

Postural Balance And Acceleration Threshold Detection For Anterior Horizontal Translation In Diabetic And Non-Diabetic Elderly, Venkatesh Balasubramanian

Doctoral Dissertations

Slips and falls, and even the fear of failing, can represent a major medical and functional deterrent to living independently, especially among the elderly population. Various groups of elders are at known risk for falling including, but not limited to, those with vestibular dysfunction, those with low visual acuity including visual neuropathies, and those with peripheral neuropathies. The first two groups are fairly well studied, but the relationship between the level of peripheral neuropathy and extent of falling has received relatively less attention.

In this study, using sliding linear investigative platform for analyzing lower limb stability (SLIP-FALLS), the psychophysical thresholds …