Browsing by Subject "BMI"
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Item Dietary Behaviors and Nutrition Knowledge among South Asians(2012-02-14) Qamar, ZubaidaSouth Asians have 2-4 times higher risk of heart disease than Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanics and India has the highest number of individuals with type 2 diabetes. National studies on South Asians chronic disease prevalence, nutrition knowledge, and dietary patterns are limited in the U.S. since all Asian subgroups are aggregated into the "Asian" category. These are particularly important for South Asians because their genetic predisposition and acculturation into the westernized lifestyle after immigration increases their risk for chronic diseases. The objectives of the study were to focus on various factors that influence dietary patterns and changes that increase the risk of diet-related diseases and general nutrition knowledge of South Asians living in the U.S. The data were collected using a survey questionnaire on dietary habits, nutrition knowledge and health of 105 South Asians (men=58, women=47). The mean age and Body Mass Index (BMI) of the participants was about 24 years and 22.8 +/- 3.5 kg/m^2 respectively. On average, respondents scored moderately on dietary habits scale. Participants reported an increase in weight after coming to the U.S. The top 3 barriers to eating healthy were "not a priority", "busy lifestyle" and "healthy foods not tasting as good." The top 3 motivators for healthy eating were "losing weight", "prevention of diseases", and "ability to find quick healthy recipes." The nutrition knowledge was assessed by qualitative and quantitative measures .Approximately half of the participants reported avoiding junk, incorporating low fat, low sugar, more vegetables, fruits and increased intake of water. Furthermore, obese individuals scored better on dietary behavior scale as compared to their peers. The multivariate regression model was significant (df=13, F=2.980, R2 =0.356, P<0.002) for Nutrition Behaviors of South Asians and 35.6% of the variance in nutrition behavior was explained by the variables in the model. Nutrition Behavior was significantly and positively related to use of food labels and BMI. With the current emphasis on cultural competency and providing culturally appropriate health services, results from this study can help to develop strategies to prevent diseases using nutritional strategies and to promote a general healthy life style among this educated South Asian group.Item Growing minds: evaluating the effects of gardening on quality of life and obesity in older adults(2009-05-15) Lillard, Aime Jo SommerfeldOlder adults represent a growing part of the population of the United States. Due to decreased physical activity, dietary changes, and alterations in metabolic rate this population is susceptible to an increased rate of diseases. The generation entering older adulthood is one which welcomed fast food and meal replacement foods allowing them to adapt to a more sedentary lifestyle and to need programs of preventative health. The Nutrition and Life Satisfaction Survey was used to investigate gardening as a preventative health intervention for older adults. This instrument was used to compare older (age 50+) gardeners and nongardeners on their perceptions of personal life satisfaction, nutrition, health, and gardening habits. The instrument was posted online at the Aggie Horticulture website in spring 2005. Respondents differentiated themselves as gardeners or nongardeners by responding positively or negatively to the question ?Do you garden?? Then, they completed the questionnaire about their quality of life andhealth status and, for gardeners, their gardening habits. Results indicated that gardeners had more desirable responses: Overall quality of life scores were higher for gardeners compared to nongardeners, and four individual quality of life statements yielded more positive answers by gardeners. Additionally, gardeners reported a higher consumption of total fruits and vegetables, including herbs, and of vegetables only including herbs. Personal reports of physical activity and of perceived health were higher among gardeners. Females were more likely than males to garden and spend a higher percentage of their budget on fruits and vegetables. Higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and higher levels of physical activity result in healthier lifestyles and, in turn, can increase quality of life.Item Internet Technology and Social Support: Are They Beneficial for Overweight Older Adolescents?(2011-10-21) Olson, Wendy AnnIn recent years, literature in the area of web-based interventions for health-related concerns has burgeoned due to the increasing popularity and accessibility of the World Wide Web. Researchers have investigated the success of web-based programs to facilitate improved health behaviors, weight loss, and social support. However, due to the relatively recent application of web-based health-behavior programs, little research has studied whether these interventions are effective with overweight older adolescents. The purpose of this study was to test the application of health behavior theory in an on-line intervention designed to address health behaviors such as exercise and nutrition in a sample of overweight older adolescents. Using a pre-test, post-test, randomized, control group design, participants (n=71) were randomly assigned to either the comparison (Information) group, or the treatment (Information plus Discussion) group. Specific aims of the study were: 1) To test a new health behavior theory, the Model of Influence of Social Support on Health Behavior (MISSHRB), in a group of older adolescents; 2) To determine the feasibility and clinical utility of an internet intervention for social support for overweight older adolescents, and 3) To examine the impact of that intervention on the MISSHB variables. Results provided partial support for the MISSHRB, with social support correlating significantly with expectancies, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control. Results also provided support for the hypotheses that family general support, family specific support, attitudes, and engagement in health behaviors would improve over time. Results supported the feasibility of using an internet intervention with overweight older adolescents, with participants easily engaging in the study, fulfilling study requirements and reporting improved perceptions of the utility of online groups for providing social support. Additionally, results approached significance for medical outcomes, with trends representing Body Mass Index decrease over time, and suggesting that the Information plus Discussion group lost more weight than the Information group. These data suggest that internet information and discussion groups have promise as a means of social support for older overweight adolescents who are interested in improving their health behaviors. These results also provide information about the usefulness of web-based programs in facilitating overweight older adolescents? engagement in health-related behaviors and the utilization of internet support groups for other marginalized or socially stigmatized groups.Item The relationship between BMI and asthma is a significant health concern among pre-adolescent and adolescent children(2009-06-02) Furman, Jennifer LeahIn the U.S., the prevalence rates of obesity and asthma have increased over the past 20 years and led to speculation that a correlation exists between them. Most of the research that has been conducted on the association between obesity and asthma has been done so in adults. Little data are available on this association in children. Obesity and asthma are associated with significant morbidity and mortality risk. Concern that the prevalence of overweight and asthma in children will persist and/or worsen in adulthood has prompted the current study. This study analyzed the association between asthma and allergy prevalence and measures of overweight, dietary intake, supplement use, ethnicity, child?s guardian, mother?s education level, and whether the mother smokes among children aged 9 to 11 years and 13 to 15 years. This study also analyzed the association between the use of prescription asthma and allergy medication and asthma and allergy diagnosis, measures of overweight, dietary intake, supplement use, ethnicity, guardian, mother?s education level, and whether the mother smokes. The findings of this study revealed that non-White children had greater odds of asthma diagnosis and were more likely to use asthma medications. A positive correlation was found between asthma diagnosis and allergy diagnosis and between asthma diagnosis and the use of allergy medication. Positive correlations were found between asthma diagnosis and BMI category, subscapular skinfold thickness, and waist circumference among children 9 to 11 years old. Age and weight were found to be inversely correlated with asthma diagnosis among children 13 to 15 years old. BMI category was found to be positively associated with asthma diagnosis among males, but not among females. Asthma diagnosis in females was not found to be significantly correlated with any of the variables. Dietary intake, multi-vitamin/mineral and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, guardian, waist/hip ratio, mother?s smoking habit, and mother?s education level were not found to be significantly correlated with asthma or allergy diagnosis or with asthma or allergy medication use. A significance value of p<0.05 was used for all analyses.