Exercise Physiology Commons^™

Know Your Audience: Designing A Nutrition Education Game For Middle School Kids, Vinod Srinivasan, Lars Doucet, Christine Shimek, Cynthia A. Warren, Carol J. Spaulding, Kimberly Paulhill, Catherine J. Mcneal, John David Coppin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: In recent years video games have emerged as potential tools to tackle obesity. Games that use motion-sensing controllers and interfaces are often used to promote physical activity. Games are also used to impart education about diet, nutrition and health. Our goal in this project is to address childhood obesity through the design, development and implementation of a video game to teach nutrition concepts to middle-school-aged children.

Method: Our target audience is middle-school students in a low-income neighborhood in Dallas. To guide us in the game design, we collected data about students’ gaming preferences through surveys, focus groups and student …

A Community-Academic Partnership To Improve Access To Healthy Foods In Low-Income Communities, Heather Kitzman-Ulrich, Mark Dehaven, Cindy Romero, Nicole Beltran

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Access to healthy foods is often limited in low-income communities and prevents the adoption of a healthy diet needed to meet national dietary recommendations, reduce chronic disease, and prevent obesity. The Healthy Harvest Community Gardening Partnership is a community-based participatory research program between faith-based organizations, academic institutions, local philanthropy, and other non-profit institutions, created in 2009 for improving access to healthy foods and quality of life through a community garden network. Methods: Healthy Harvest uses a social ecological framework combining individual, interpersonal, and community level influences into a single program, and employs a train-the-trainer approach for providing expertise in …

Middle School Students’ Understanding Of Calories, Energy Expenditure And The Nutrition Facts Panel, John D. Coppin, Catherine J. Mcneal, Carol J. Spaulding, Cynthia A. Warren, Vinod Srinivasan, Christine Shimek, Kimberly Paulhill, Lars Doucet

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

TORC Abstract

Exercise Attenuates Weight Gain And Fat Accumulation In Cd1- Mice Consuming A High-Fat Diet, Whitney L. Breslin, Kelley Strohacker, Katie C. Carpenter, Nadia H. Agha, Thomas W. Lowder, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: Exercise training, in combination with a healthful diet, is a reliable method of weight loss or weight maintenance. It is unknown whether an exercise training program would sufficiently attenuate weight gain during chronic consumption of a high-fat diet. Purpose: Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of an aerobic exercise training program to prevent excessive weight gain both before and during consumption of a high-fat diet in CD-1 male mice. Methods: Mice were divided into four groups (N=10 mice/group): 4-weeks of treadmill running followed by 6-weeks sedentary (EX-SD), 4-weeks sedentary followed by 6 weeks of …

The Effects Of Increasing Fat Intake On Body Composition And Blood Monocytes In Cd-1 Mice, Kelley Strohacker, Whitney L. Breslin, Katie C. Carpenter, Nadia Agha, Thomas W. Lowder, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose Obesity is a chronic, inflammatory state. Blood monocyte concentrations/proportions have been previously used to assess immune inflammatory status in humans. Although mouse monocytes exist in three subsets, shifts among these cells types have not been documented during a period of diet-induced weight gain. Thus, our purpose was to determine longitudinal changes in mouse monocyte subsets during 12 weeks of low, moderate or high-fat feeding. Methods: 40 CD-1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (N=10 per group): stock control (13.5% fat, CN), 30% fat (F30), 45% fat (F45) and 60% fat (F60). Non-lethal, saphenous vein blood samples (~70 μL) …

Mixed High-Fat And Stock Diet Caused A Greater Increase In Body Mass Than High-Fat Diet Alone, Katie C. Carpenter, Tiffany Davidson, Brian K. Mcfarlin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Increased dietary palatability may lead to excess food consumption which in turn causes an excess of caloric intake and weight gain. Although most obesity studies in rodents utilize a high-fat diet, food variation, a combination of different diets for example, may actually increase body weight and fat mass beyond that of solely high-fat feeding. Purpose: To examine the changes in weight gain and body composition in mice that consume either a high-fat diet or a combination of high-fat and stock diet. Methods: 10 CD-1 male mice were randomly assigned to one of two groups based on dietary composition (N=5/group). HF …

Relationship Between Dyslipidemia And Obesity In Children, Elias Humberto Avila-Rodriguez, Armando Avila-Rodriguez, Jesús Maria Araujo-Contreras, Abelardo Camacho-Luis, Alfredo Tellez-Valencia, Nelda Mier, Luis Joel Rodríguez-Ortega, Efren Rivas-Avila

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Dyslipidemia is a general term that refers to abnormal levels of lipids. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship among the nutritional state and the percentage of body fat with the levels of lipids in 10 to 13 year old children living in the city of Durango, Mexico. Method: The study was carried out with 823 elementary school children. The selection was done at random. The biochemical studies were done in a subpopulation of 425 children. Each child underwent the following studies: sociodemographic, anthropometric and corporal composition. After fasting overnight, a venous blood sample was obtained. …

Neighborhood Safety And Attractiveness Influence Physical Activity Among African American And Hispanic Or Latina Women, Angela M. Ho, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Introduction: Although the benefits of adopting physical activity (PA) are well publicized, physical inactivity rates remain high, and African American and Hispanic or Latina women do less PA compared to white women. Many interventions have begun to focus on conveniently performed lifestyle PA, such as walking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between neighborhood safety and attractiveness and PA in a sample of African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women participating in Health Is Power (1R01CA109403). Method: Women (AA N=202 and HL N=107) who enrolled in the study were middle-aged (M=45.8 years), overweight (M …

The Impact Of Resveratrol On Diet Induced Obesity Changes In Thymic Function, Apeksha A. Gulvady, Henry P. Ciolino, Christopher A. Jolly

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Progenitor cells, produced in the bone marrow, migrate to the thymus where the thymic microenvironment plays a critical role in their differentiation and maturation into T cells. Fat accumulates in the thymus beginning at 1 year of age, causing the thymus to gradually involute as age progresses, thus resulting in a decline in the production of mature T-cells. Obesity augments thymic fat accumulation and hastens the decline in thymic output. Resveratrol, a phytoalexin produced in plants, has also been shown to regulate fat metabolism, in an attempt to reduce hepatic fat accumulation, via 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). …

Exploring Obesity Among Wheelchair Users: Bmi Vs Body Compostion, Katherine Froehlich-Grobe

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Author(s): Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, PhD1 & Richard A. Washburn, PhD2 Affiliations: 1 University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, 2 Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management, University of Kansas Purpose: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to indicate weight status but has been critiqued for being insensitive to body composition. Americans with disabilities have significantly higher obesity rates than those without when BMI has been used as the indicator of weight status. Examining obesity prevalence based on body composition among this group is warranted. As the life expectancy of those with disabilities has increased to approximate …

Items On A Perceived Environment Tool Are Grouped Differently In Low And High Income African American Women, Heather J. Adamus, Scherezade K. Mama, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Prevalence of physical inactivity is greater in African American (AA) women than any other population sub group. The neighborhood environment is an important influence on physical activity, and accurate measurement of neighborhood perceptions is needed to determine the influence of neighborhood environment on physical activity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of constructs represented by items from the International Prevalence Study (IPS) environmental module among high and low income AA women. Method: African American women (N=387) completed the IPS environmental module questionnaire which measured perception of neighborhood environment. A principle component analysis with varimax rotation …

An Assessment Of Us College Food Environments: From Food Service To College Students, Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Debra Reed

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: As obesity continues to increase among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. and these populations enter college, Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) are facing a changing set of student health issues. With these students comes an increased responsibility to address the nutritional environment of the campus. College health educators and food service programs are on the forefront of this issue and can provide important insights into the challenges and opportunities of providing and promoting healthy food options on IHLs. Method: Initially, a series of focus groups, primarily comprised of college health educators, were conducted. Topics included the discussion …

Internet-Based Intervention To Improve Dietary Habits In Women Of Color: Saving Lives Staying Active (Salsa), Jacqueline N. Dinh, Christopher P. Sunseri, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee, Lorna Mcneill

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Background: The Internet is an inexpensive method to distribute information that spans large distances. With 2/3 of the country currently overweight or obese, the Internet is the obvious choice to delivering health information to those that need it most. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an Internet-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) and decrease fat consumption in women of color. Method: Women (N=50) were middle-aged (M=41.2 years, SD=9.6), overweight (M=29.6 kg/m2, SD=5.3) and well educated (74% were college graduates). Participants completed measures of FV and fat consumption at 4 time points (spaced …

Association Of Fat And Alcohol Consumption With Physical Activity Among Obese Women Of Color, Ygnacio Lopez Iii, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

African American (AA) and Hispanic or Latina (HL) women are highly vulnerable to obesity and related conditions. Although it has been suggested increasing physical activity (PA) may lead to weight loss and consuming high fat foods and alcohol may contribute to weight gain, it is not clear how increased PA may be associated with improved dietary habits (DH). The purpose of this study was to determine whether increased PA was associated with decreased fat and alcohol consumption among AA and HL women participating in Health Is Power (1R01CA109403). Method: One hundred fifty-eight overweight or obese women (102 AA, 56 HL; …

Obesity And Physical Activity Variance By Income And Ethnicity In Kansas City, Katie M. Heinrich, Ws Carlos Poston, Nui Jitnarin, Anthony Randles, Joseph Hughey, Laverne Berkel, C Keith Haddock

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Although obesity and physical activity prevalence systematically vary by income and ethnicity, it is unclear how well census data represent actual conditions. Using data from the Kansas City Built Environment and Health Study, we examined whether differences in measured obesity prevalence and self-reported physical activity would systematically vary by both census block group median income and percent ethnic minority and self-reported income and ethnicity. Methods: Participants included 586 adults; average age 45±14.7. Most participants were female (69.8%), married (51.5%), had some college or more (72.7%) and had incomes ≤$60,000 (54.6%). Households were solicited from 21 census block groups, stratified …

Lessons Learned From Juntos Y Saludables Peer-Led Parent Education, Daisy Escamilla, Desiree Acosta, Bonnie Dillon, Rebecca Adeigbe, Deborah Parra- Medina, Meizi He, Amelie G. Ramirez, Zenong Yin, Erica T. Sosa

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the quality of training received by peer educators in the Juntos y Saludables (Get Healthy Together) program. Juntos y Saludables is a multi-component childhood obesity prevention program for Head Start. Method: This study applied the peer led education approach to provide parents with education regarding healthy growth among their children. Seven parents were recruited through teachers, other parents, and the Parent Leadership Institute at a local Head Start center. Faculty and graduate assistants from local universities provided training to the parent educators in both English and Spanish. Training sessions were conducted …

A Preschool Aged Obesity Prevention Project Designed To Increase Moderate To Vigorous Physical Activity, Rebecca T. Adeigbe, Desiree Acosta, Alberto Cordova, Yingzhou Ma, Zenong Yin

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of Juntos Y Saludables (Get Healthy Together [GHT]) is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by focusing on physical activity and healthy eating. GHT is an ongoing project, with phase one of three completed in May 2010.The GHT program was implemented in the Edgewood Independent School District’s Head Start centers located in San Antonio, TX. These centers were selected due to high prevalence of obesity (50%) and diabetes in children and adults living in the community. Method: The gross motor intervention was implemented at two of the three centers. The intervention consisted of teacher training and …

Mobilizing Community Based Organizations To Address Obesity: Our Communities, Our Solutions, Mandy J. Hill, Kimberly Johnson, Judson Robinson, Amanda Edwards, Tiffany Thomas, Roger Mitchell, Niiobli Armah, Jasmine J. Opusunju, Misha N. Granado

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: The purpose of the focus groups is to: 1) explore existing thought patterns and lived experiences about eating habits and daily activity of African American (AA) children at risk for childhood obesity, 2) acquire an in-depth explanation of participants’ attitudes towards factors related to childhood obesity encompassing their social norms, dietary habits, and environmental influences, and 3) explore rationales for differences between children and parental perspectives of ideal health.

Method: Using a Community Based Participatory Research (CPBR) framework, the HAUL research team, comprised of public health professionals, local policy makers, physicians, and community leaders, will facilitate 20 focus groups …

Evaluating “Reach” In The Health Is Power (Hip) Study, Kristin L. Wolfe, Ygnacio Lopez Iii, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Jacqueline Reese-Smith, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Title: EVALUATING “REACH” IN THE HEALTH IS POWER (HIP) STUDY

Author(s): Kristin L. Wolfe1, Ygnacio Lopez III, MS1, Scherezade K. Mama, MPH1,2, Ashley V. Medina, BS1, Jacqueline Reese-Smith, PhD1,3, Rebecca E. Lee, PhD1

Affiliations: 1 University of Houston, 2 University of Texas School of Public Health, 3 University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Purpose. In the United States, minority women (African American [AA] and Hispanic or Latina [HL]) are most vulnerable to obesity and related health compromising conditions. Health Is Power (HIP; 1R01CA109403) was a randomized controlled community based trial to promote physical activity and vegetable and fruit consumption …

Improving Psychological And Physical Health In Women Of Color Via Salsa Dancing, Scherezade K. Mama, Ashley V. Medina, Raul O. Edwards, Lorna Mcneill, Rebecca E. Lee

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Purpose: Physical activity improves psychological and physical health. Latin dancing is popular and can be used to meet moderate to vigorous physical activity intensity recommendations. The purpose of this study was to determine whether participation in a Latin dance intervention reduced perceived stress and improved health. Method: SAving Lives, Staying Active (SALSA) was an 8-week randomized controlled cross-over design, pilot study to promote regular physical activity from Latin dance and fruit and vegetable consumption as a means to preventing obesity among women of color in Houston, Texas. Participants were randomized to a four week bi-weekly salsa dance or web-based dietary …