Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nutrition|Public health'

The purpose of this study was to compare the level of basic nutrition knowledge between future nutrition professionals, health professionals, and non-health professionals. Specifically, this study assessed and compared basic nutrition knowledge of nutrition, health-related, and non-health related undergraduate majors enrolled in an introductory nutrition course.

Participants for this study were recruited through convenience sampling from an introductory undergraduate nutrition class. An online basic nutrition knowledge exam was used to measure nutrition knowledge. Independent one-way ANOVA demonstrated there was no statistically significant difference in basic nutrition knowledge between nutrition, health-related, and non-health related undergraduate majors. Post-hoc analysis revealed there was no significant difference of basic nutrition knowledge between health-related majors and non-health related majors, and there was a significant difference in basic nutrition knowledge between nutrition majors and health-related majors as well as between nutrition majors and non-health related majors. Thus, the results demonstrate there was a statistically significant difference in basic nutrition knowledge between nutrition students, and either health-related, and non-health related undergraduate majors.

This dissertation consists of two substudies. The objectives of Substudy 1 were as follows: 1) to examine changes in obesity rates throughout elementary school in a large sample of children with respect to socioecological factors, especially trends in body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of “severe high obesity” during elementary school, and 2) to explore the longitudinal effect of socioecological obesogenic factors (including individual, parental, familial, and environmental factors) on the transition from a normal/healthy weight to being overweight or obese among children aged three to 13 years old. This longitudinal panel study used the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program (ECLS-K). A modified socioecological model was used as a conceptual framework to guide the investigation of this study’s research questions. Two longitudinal ordered regressions were performed to determine the associations between socioecological obesogenic variables (e.g., family activity and parental involvement) and changes in obesity rates, as well as the transition from a normal/healthy weight to being overweight, obese, or severely obese. A total of 1,264 children (representing 379,297 at the population level) were identified for this study (mean age: 5.24 years; female: 48.7% at baseline). Hispanics and other nonwhite children, children with less socioeconomic and environmental support, and children living in households with fewer family members were more likely than their counterparts to gain weight (all ps < 0.05). This study revealed multiple dimensions of how sociological obesogenic factors influence children’s weight increases and transitions in a longitudinal setting. Unhealthy BMI status among children was affected not only by individual factors but also by parents, family, and environments. Parents and family play a crucial role in children’s physical activity and nutrition, and obtaining family and environmental support is critically important for maintaining a healthy BMI status. The findings suggest that a greater focus on family and social support is necessary to help children maintain a healthy weight over time.

Substudy 2 aimed to investigate the association between the Head Start Program and children’s BMI status, as well as their quality of life with respect to socioecological obesogenic factors. This cross-sectional study employed the ECLS-K as well. A propensity-score matching analysis was performed to examine the association between the Head Start Program and children’s BMI status, as well as the quality of life, controlling for socioecological obesogenic factors. A total of 3,753 children (representing 1,284,209 at the population level) were recruited for this study (mean age: 13.69 years; female: 49.42%). In the final matched model, the Head Start Program did not have a statistically significant effect on children’s obesity. Children who were African American, had less participation in school-sponsored activities, perceived themselves as overweight, lived in a household with fewer family members, and had less strict TV regulations were more likely to be overweight than their counterparts (all ps < 0.05). Evidence suggests that multiple dimensions of sociological obesogenic factors—including individual as well as parental, familial, and community support factors—affect the weight of children from low-income families and should be considered when establishing behavioral and policy interventions to thwart the childhood obesity epidemic.

The purpose of this project was to create a cardiac rehabilitation nutrition education program with relevant nutrition topics. This program aimed to educate cardiac rehabilitation participants about Eating Heart Healthy as it relates to various topics leading to successful lifestyle changes. Therefore, this program may be used as a secondary prevention tool for post-cardiac event patients.

The eight-week nutrition education program consists of three modules: general dietary guidelines, dietary factors associated with heart disease, and food selection and preparation. Each lesson includes research-based curriculum, in-class activities, take home activities, and supplemental handouts to foster multiple learning styles. Evaluation forms for each session and the program overall were included.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder and the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Type 2 diabetes is linked to many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic kidney failure. African American adults have a high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes with early onset of diabetes complications. Poor dietary behavior is the primary cause of Type 2 diabetes and its complications, changing dietary behaviors can prevent the onset of diabetes complications or impede existing ones. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore patients’ perceptions of diet-only therapy in the prevention of diabetes complications. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with six African American adults with Type 2 diabetes between 40 to 64 years using purposeful sampling method. Health belief model formed the conceptual framework of the study. I applied inductive coding process and manually analyze data for themes. Participants expressed fear of diabetes complications, acknowledged effectiveness of dietary therapy, physician communication and strong family support in Type 2 diabetes management. Findings can produce positive social change among African American adults with type 2 diabetes. Patients can be motivated to change their dietary behaviors to prevent disability and death from diabetes complications. Adherence to diet can reduce medical costs associated with Type 2 diabetes and its complications at the individual, family, community, and government levels. Health care providers can apply the findings in their interactions with patients to provide a more patient-centered education that integrates patients’ cultural and dietary preferences to facilitate adoption of dietary interventions and long-term adherence.

The purpose of this project is to create a fun and educational nutrition program for middle school students including sixth, seventh and eighth grade. The nutrition program strives to increase understanding about the benefits of nutrition to encourage middle school students to consume more fruits and vegetables and to decrease the rate of childhood obesity. Based on current research, a curriculum was developed to include lecture, discussion, and activity components to guide in: creating cafeteria posters, responsible use of social media, and empowering other students by sharing their knowledge. Pre- and post-program questionnaires were also included. A committee of nutrition professionals and educators reviewed the curriculum and revisions were made based on their feedback. The program was not pilot-tested for the purposes of this project, but it is encouraged to do so prior to implementation.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary analysis to examine the association between the change from baseline to follow-up in Latino mothers’ self-reported nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, intentions, food label use, and role modeling from baseline to follow-up with their reports of children’s dietary intake measured at follow-up. Data were obtained from from Sanos y Fuertes, a culturally-tailored community-based nutrition education intervention. The participants were Latino mothers and their children ages 2 to 8 years old. A dietary quality scoring system was created using food frequency data. To account for reported frequencies, five set points were created to define criteria for high dietary quality. Logistic regression tests were conducted for the five set points. The change in nutrition knowledge (p = .019) and role modeling (p = .034) of the mothers significantly predicted probability of higher child dietary quality at follow-up. Findings suggest the need for interventions that focus on increasing parental dietary knowledge while emphasizing the importance of role modeling. Further research is needed to explore cultural-related dietary differences between Latinos and non-Latinos.

Background: With the increasing variety of snack foods containing probiotics infiltrating the market, it is important that consumers become more aware and knowledgeable about these products. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate consumer behaviors by assessing frequently consumed snacks, knowledge about probiotics, and awareness of snack foods containing probiotics among students across various disciplines within a university setting. Methods: There were 125 college students (n = 34 male, n = 91 female) recruited, all 18 years and older, and evaluated via a 19-item questionnaire using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Gabriel’s post hoc test. Level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in knowledge about probiotics among the colleges, p = 0.012. Specifically, students in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) were statistically significantly more knowledgeable than those in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) college, p = 0.010. There was no statistically significant difference in awareness of snack foods containing probiotics, p = 0.262. On average, participant’s knowledge about probiotics was low (48.1%) and awareness of snack foods containing probiotics was very low (2.5%), though, a majority of participants (94.1%) were aware that yogurt contained probiotics. Conclusion: Overall, these findings should guide food product developers and marketers to create products that are relevant and messages that enhance consumer’s knowledge and awareness to the existence of the probiotics in that product.

Proper nutrition during early life is imperative for growth and development. Furthermore, infant growth is measured with CDC or WHO standards, as a static or change (longitudinal) outcome. There is a need to define optimal growth in relation to feeding practices, especially in diverse samples. The purpose of this study is to determine the association between infant feeding practices (breastfeeding, formula, mixed feeding (both formula and breastmilk) and complementary foods) in infants aged six months or less using the modified Infant Feeding Practices Study II (mIFPS II) questionnaire and indicators of growth (i.e. weight-for-age, weight-for-length and head circumference zscores/percentiles) in the same infants up to 12 months of age using WHO growth charts.

The validated mIFPS II questionnaire was administered to 247 caretakers of infants between 28 days and six months of age in a pediatric outpatient clinic located in Chicago, IL. At least two time points for growth data were collected for 149 of the 247 infants surveyed. We examined demographic correlates of infant feeding practices in relation to WHO growth indicators using chi-square and Kruskal Wallis tests with SPSS, version 23 (IBM, Chicago, IL). Weight status was categorized according to WHO growth chart standards using weight-for-length z-scores. Additionally, rapid weight gain was defined as a change in weight-for-age z-score of ≥0.67 between birth and six months of age. Logistic regression using rapid weight gain was conducted with feeding practice as the predictor and additional demographic covariates.

The largest proportion of our 149 caretakers was African American (37%), with 46% having a college degree of above and 48% being enrolled in WIC. Of the infants, 32% were formula fed, 18% were breastfed, 25% were mixed fed and 25% were complementary fed. Feeding practices were associated with caretaker race-ethnicity, caretaker education level and WIC enrollment. Nearly 40% of infants demonstrated rapid weight gain by 6 months with weight gain being significantly less among exclusively breastfed infants as compared to mixed fed infants. Those who were complementary fed were almost five times more likely to have rapid weight gain than those breastfed exclusively.

Our findings suggest that various demographic correlates are associated with feeding practices. Exclusive breastfeeding may have a protective effect on obesity. However, more growth data are needed to adequately characterize correlates of infant growth perfoililance in this diverse sample. Accrual of caretaker/infant dyads are ongoing.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between two Mediterranean diet indices and to evaluate the proportion of participants who were ranked into identical tertiles of accordance with the Alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMed) and MedDietScore (MDS) tools when applied to an American samples.

Methods: In this secondary analysis, participants from four samples were pooled into two groups – one in which respondents completed the web-based VioScreen™ (n=200) food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the second, those who completed a paper-based Brief Block 2000 FFQ (n=827). Mediterranean diet scores were calculated based on the sex-specific median intakes of nine aMed components as well as meeting target frequency per week of the MDS components. Participants were categorized into a priori tertiles for each score.

Results: Scores for aMed and MDS were moderately correlated in the VioScreen™ (rho= 0.546, p<0.001) and Brief Block (rho=0.627, p<0.001) samples. The greatest proportion of participants was classified into Tertile 2 for VioScreen™ each scoring paradigm (40% for aMed and 71% for MDS). In the Brief Block sample, 47% of participants were assigned to Tertile 1 for aMed and for MDS 52% into Tertile 2. Only 47% of VioScreen™ and 60.3% of Brief Block participants were ranked into identical tertiles for aMed and MDS. Classification agreement between aMed and MDS was fair for VioScreen™ (weighted &kgr; = 0.223, p<0.001) and Brief Block samples (weighted &kgr; = 0.384, p<0.001).

Conclusions: Agreement between aMed and MDS was no more than fair for either FFQ, indicating that the scoring paradigms are not interchangeable in measuring accordance to the Mediterranean diet. Further investigation into the effects of FFQ selection on aMed and MDS scoring in addition to factor analysis of the variability between aMed and MDS is warranted in American samples.

Today, obesity has become the number one concern of kids and teens. About one in three Americans are overweight or obese. This in part is due to the consumption of highly commercialized and processed foods that lack the essential nutrients in maintaining a healthy weight in addition to normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Studies have shown that eating habits are learned early in life and are carried on throughout the rest of their lives. As children grow older into their adolescent years, they are more aware of their eating habits and have gained more autonomy in regards to food choices.

Plant-based foods have shown to drastically improve the overall health of individuals with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess weight.

Power Plant is a facility that intends offer plant-based nutritional services in the form of informative lectures, interactive workshops, one-on-one nutritional guidance by appointment, with access to peer-mentors for additional support and guidance. Power Plant will dedicate their services to the Whittier Union high school district, surrounding community colleges, and universities in the Los Angeles County area.

Power Plant’s unique program design, physician referrals and the critical need of our generations to come, are all factors that will contribute to its success in the Los Angeles County community and for years to come.

In the United States, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been categorized as a major health-threatening problem affecting a wide cross section of people. About one third of the population is unaware that they have the disease; however, early recognition of symptoms would lead to prevention, diagnosis for a better prognosis, and, in some cases, the reversal of the disease. Researchers have shown that late diagnosis leads to high mortality, morbidity, disability, loss of productivity, and high costs of health care to individuals, families, and the government. The main purpose of this study was to establish a new model mechanism for the detection and prevention of T2DM using the lived experiences of the primary care physicians. This qualitative study investigated the lived experiences of seven primary care physicians from the Northern California Bay area community. The primary data collection method was by interview through e-mail correspondences and the data were organized, coded, and analyzed on the responses to the interview questions and research questions. The research study resulted in four major themes: (a) lifestyle choices to reduce T2DM, (b) desire to improve the lives of patients, (c) government involvement, and (d) shared perception of T2DM. Recommendations were developed based on the compiled data from this study and future studies could involve health-care accessibility and treatment interventions of T2DM for patients with low socioeconomic status and use of the new model mechanism to improve early detection and prevention of T2DM.

The purpose of this study was to assess user preference of three smartphone applications, My Net Diary, My Fitness Pal, and Lose It. Applications across different smartphone platforms were used. Specifically the study evaluated users' view regarding the app's (a) convenience, (b) satisfaction with the nutrient analysis reports, and (c) perceived behavior change.

Participants (n=50) were obtained from Introductory Nutrition Classes at California State University, Long Beach and assigned an app to use for a duration of2 weeks. After that time an email was sent including a link to the Survey Monkey questionnaire. The results, using ANOVAs, indicated no significant differences between the apps in users' view regarding (a) convenience, (b) satisfaction with the nutrient analysis reports, and (c) perceived behavior change. The insignificant results could be attributed to the fact that these apps are widely popular and cited on top 10 lists. Further study is warranted.

Lack of fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption is directly linked to the prevalence of obesity and chronic disease in the United States. The USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) offers elementary school teachers access to healthy foods as part of the public school classroom experience. The purpose of this study—which was based on self-efficacy theory and the socio-ecological model—was to examine if an association exists between selected factors: (a) daily fruit and vegetable consumption, training status in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), and an established school nutrition policy and (b) nutrition-teaching self-efficacy (NTSE) among elementary school teachers who participated in the FFVP. Using an online survey, 66 teachers out of 114 (58% response rate) completed a 26-question survey adapted from the Nutrition-Teaching Self-Efficacy Scale and the National Cancer Institute's Food Attitude and Behavior Survey. Based on the results of the chi-square test of association (p = 0.031), an association between daily FV intake and NTSE among teachers involved in the USDA FFVP was confirmed. The odds of having high NTSE are 3.45 higher in those who consume more than 3 cups of combined FV each day (p = 0.029). There were no significant associations between NTSE and FFVP training and established school nutrition policy. The social change implication of this study is that healthier, confident teachers build healthier school environments and create the impetus for increasing FV consumption in the community at large, thereby helping to reduce the risk of obesity and chronic diseases.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of age, marital status, household size, and number of years residing in the United States on knowledge of nutrition and health topics, confidence, and intent for lifestyle change among Latinos. Specifically, the population being studied was from the Long Beach area in southern California.

Data were obtained from a larger, childhood obesity prevention intervention, Sanos y Fuertes, which collected demographic and behavioral surveys from Latino families with children between the ages of 2 and 8 years old. Significant differences for knowledge, confidence, and intent were detected between different age groups. Further research needs to be conducted to expand on the understanding of the variables researched in this thesis in order to further understand the complexity of the multiple influences on healthy behaviors. This will serve as a stepping-stone towards alleviating health disparities, and creating health equity among minority groups.