Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes both ASU Theses and Dissertations, submitted by graduate students, and the Barrett, Honors College theses submitted by undergraduate students.
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Description
The increase in obesity since the 1980's has been associated with fast-food consumption. In hopes that calorie labeling will be an effective tool to combat obesity, congress included a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) that will require all restaurants with twenty or more locations to post calorie information for each menu item. Current research has provided mixed results regarding the effectiveness of calorie labeling, but overall seems to suggest that calorie labeling may only be effective among certain populations. In September, 2012 McDonald's began to post calorie labels on their menu boards before it was federally mandated under the ACA. This policy provided the opportunity to study the impact of calorie labeling on the purchasing behavior of McDonald's patrons. This cross-sectional study was designed to determine if self-perception of diet, self-perception of health, smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, or knowledge of daily calorie requirements is associated with the likelihood of noticing or using calorie labels, or total calories purchased. In addition, relationships between noticing or using calorie labels with total calories purchased were also examined. Receipts and survey responses were collected from 330 participants who purchased food and beverage items from 27 different McDonald's locations within a 20 mile radius of downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Results indicated that only 16.1% of the sample reported using calorie labels, and those who reported using calorie labels purchased an average of 136 fewer calories. Multivariate analysis indicated there were no statistically significant relationships between self-perception of diet, self-perception of health, smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, or knowledge of daily calorie requirements with the likelihood of noticing or using calorie labels, or total calories purchased. However, it is possible that the small sample size of participants using calorie labeling precluded any statistically significant relationships among these variables from emerging. Further research with larger sample sizes should be conducted, to investigate individual level factors that may be associated with use of calorie labeling.
ContributorsBrown, Alan (Author) / Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam (Thesis advisor) / Bruening, Meredith (Committee member) / Wharton, Christopher (Christopher Mack), 1977- (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2013
Description
Availability and accessibility of foods in the home influence dietary behaviors. However, much of the literature involving measurement of the home food environment (HFE) has examined only self-reported data, and home food inventory tools have not been used to assess behavior change intervention efficacy. Thus, this quasi-experimental study was conducted to test the preliminary efficacy of a 10-week dietary behavioral intervention on the HFE, measured through the presence of fruits, vegetables, and sources of sugars in the household. Participants included 23 parents (21 females; age=36±5.5) of children 6-11 years old living in an ethnically diverse community within a Southwestern metropolitan area. Sociodemographic information was collected at baseline using a survey. A modified version of the Home Food Inventory was completed in the homes of participants by trained research assistants at baseline and following termination of the intervention. Relative to baseline, the intervention resulted in significant increases in availability of different types of fruits (7.7±3.2 vs. 9.4±3.1; p=0.004) and high fiber/low sugar cereal (2.3±1.4 vs. 2.7±1.4; p=0.033). There was a significant reduction in availability of sugar-sweetened beverages (3.2±1.9 vs. 1.7±1.3; p=0.004), and an increase in the number of households with accessible 100% fruit juice (3 vs. 17 households; p=0.001) and bottled/contained water (9 vs. 22 households; p<0.001). Moreover, there were meaningful changes in the number of households with accessible chocolate milk (7 vs. 0), strawberry milk (3 vs. 0), and diet soda pop (2 vs. 0). There was a significant increase in the number of households with accessible ready-to-eat vegetables (8 vs. 19 households; p=0.007), and ready-to-eat fruit (8 vs. 17; p=0.022), and a significant reduction in available prepared desserts (3.0±2.0 vs. 1.7±1.3; p=0.005), and candy (2.0±1.7 vs. 0.6±0.7; p<0.001). There were no significant changes in availability of vegetables and sugar-laden cereals, or accessibility of fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, dry cereal, candy, soda pop, desserts, and sports/fruit drinks. Overall, results suggest that the current dietary behavior change intervention resulted in positive changes in the HFE. Further research to confirm these results in a randomized controlled trial is warranted.
ContributorsCassinat, Rachel (Author) / Vega-Lopez, Sonia (Thesis advisor) / Bruening, Meredith (Committee member) / Crespo, Noe (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
The transition to college has been identified as a vulnerable period for weight gain and the onset of obesity. Research has shown that the gut microbiota is different in obese compared to lean individuals, but a period of weight gain has never been studied in free-living individuals. The objective of this longitudinal, observational study was to assess the association between changes in the intestinal microbiota and weight-related outcomes in healthy college students living in on-campus dormitories at Arizona State University (n=39). Anthropometric measures and fecal samples were collected at the beginning and end of the school year, and microbial relative abundance for A. muciniphila, F. prausnitzii, R. gnavus, and L. acidophilus was measured through qPCR analyses. In this population, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) increased by 0.97 ± 1.28 kg/m2 and 2.64 ± 4.90 cm, respectively. Wilcoxon-Rank tests revealed that R. gnavus fold change was significantly different between groups of weight loss/maintenance and weight gain ≥ 5% body weight (0.14 [-0.21, 0.64], n=24 vs. -0.14 [-0.92, 0.05], n=15, respectively; p=0.028). Correlation analyses suggested a significant negative association between A. muciniphila fold change and both % WC change and % BMI change (r= -0.66; p<0.01 and r= -0.33; p=0.04, respectively). However, multivariate regression analysis controlling for sex and race/ethnicity showed a significant association between A. muciniphila and % WC change, but not % BMI change (R2= 0.53; p<0.01 and R2= 0.24; p=0.15). F. prausnitzii was not associated with weight-related outcomes in this sample. L. acidophilus was excluded from study analyses after subsequent qPCR trials revealed no amplification in participant samples. Overall, this was the first study to show a relationship between A. muciniphila fold change and weight-related outcomes over a period of weight gain. Specifically, A. muciniphila was strongly negatively associated with WC in this sample. Further research is needed to more accurately describe these associations and potential mechanisms associated with the shift in gut microbiota observed with weight gain. Findings from future research may be used to develop interventions for college students aiming to shift the gut microbiota to prevent weight gain.
ContributorsJourney, Elizabeth (Author) / Whisner, Corrie M (Thesis advisor) / Bruening, Meredith (Committee member) / Sweazea, Karen (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
College weight gain and obesity are significant problems impacting our society, leading to a considerable number of comorbidities during and after college. Gut microbiota are increasingly recognized for their role in obesity and weight gain. Currently, research exploring the gut microbiome and its associations with dietary intake and body mass index (BMI) is limited among this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess associations between the gut microbiome, BMI, and dietary intake in a population of healthy college students living in two dorms at Arizona State University (n=90). Cross-sectional analyses were undertaken including 24-hour dietary recalls and anthropometrics (height, weight and BMI). High throughput Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing of fecal samples was performed to quantify the gut microbiome and analyses were performed at phyla and family levels. Within this population, the mean BMI was 24.4 ± 5.3 kg/m2 and mean caloric intake was 1684 ± 947 kcals/day. Bacterial community analysis revealed that there were four predominant phyla and 12 predominant families accounting for 99.3% and 97.1% of overall microbial communities, respectively. Results of this study suggested that a significant association occurred between one principal component (impacted most by 22 microbial genera primarily within Firmicutes) and BMI (R2=0.053, p=0.0301). No significant correlations or group differences were observed when assessing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio in relation to BMI or habitual dietary intake. These results provide a basis for gut microbiome research in college populations. Although, findings suggest that groups of microbial genera may be most influential in obesity, further longitudinal research is necessary to more accurately describe these associations over me. Findings from future research may be used to develop interventions to shift the gut microbiome to help moderate or prevent excess weight gain during this important life stage.
ContributorsHotz, Ricci-Lee (Author) / Whisner, Corrie (Thesis advisor) / Bruening, Meredith (Committee member) / Vega-Lopez, Sonia (Committee member) / Lespron, Christy (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2016
Description
Objectives. This study primarily explored the relationship between family meal frequency and youth intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and added sugar from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in a population of Latinx parents and their middle school children. The study secondarily explored factors influencing family meal frequency; specifically, whether parent education level, income level, acculturation level, and food insecurity are associated with family meal frequency.
Methods. Latinx parents and their 6th-8th grade children were recruited from eligible middle schools in Maricopa County to participate in a larger intervention study. A sample of parent-youth dyads from the first cohort of the larger study was selected for cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in this study (n=124). Participants completed a survey requesting demographics, family meal habits, and dietary intake. Participants were asked to report annual income, education level, and number of family meals in the home in the past week. They were also asked to complete an Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, a 6-item Household Food Security Questionnaire, and a 26-question Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Analyses were run using Spearman’s Rank Correlation test and a Chi Square test of Independence.
Results. Mean daily youth intake of FV was 2.7 ± 1.4 cup equivalents, and daily youth intake of sugars from SSBs was 8.6 ± 4.9 teaspoon equivalents per day. Fifty percent of parents reported 7 or more family meals per week, while 38.7% reported 3-6 family meals per week and 11.3% reported 2 or fewer family meals per week. There was no significant association between family meal frequency and youth FV (r=-0.154; p=0.256) or added sugar from SSBs (r=0.027; p=0.807) intake. Similarly, results from Chi Square analyses suggested there was no association between family meal frequency and parent income level (p=0.392), Mexican-oriented acculturation level (p=0.591), Anglo-oriented acculturation level (p=0.052) and food insecurity (p=0.754). In contrast, a significant association between parent education and family meal frequency was found (p=0.014).
Conclusions. Parent education may play a role in shaping family meal practices in Latinx families. More research is needed to further understand this relationship and the relationship between family meal habits and youth dietary intake.
Methods. Latinx parents and their 6th-8th grade children were recruited from eligible middle schools in Maricopa County to participate in a larger intervention study. A sample of parent-youth dyads from the first cohort of the larger study was selected for cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in this study (n=124). Participants completed a survey requesting demographics, family meal habits, and dietary intake. Participants were asked to report annual income, education level, and number of family meals in the home in the past week. They were also asked to complete an Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, a 6-item Household Food Security Questionnaire, and a 26-question Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Analyses were run using Spearman’s Rank Correlation test and a Chi Square test of Independence.
Results. Mean daily youth intake of FV was 2.7 ± 1.4 cup equivalents, and daily youth intake of sugars from SSBs was 8.6 ± 4.9 teaspoon equivalents per day. Fifty percent of parents reported 7 or more family meals per week, while 38.7% reported 3-6 family meals per week and 11.3% reported 2 or fewer family meals per week. There was no significant association between family meal frequency and youth FV (r=-0.154; p=0.256) or added sugar from SSBs (r=0.027; p=0.807) intake. Similarly, results from Chi Square analyses suggested there was no association between family meal frequency and parent income level (p=0.392), Mexican-oriented acculturation level (p=0.591), Anglo-oriented acculturation level (p=0.052) and food insecurity (p=0.754). In contrast, a significant association between parent education and family meal frequency was found (p=0.014).
Conclusions. Parent education may play a role in shaping family meal practices in Latinx families. More research is needed to further understand this relationship and the relationship between family meal habits and youth dietary intake.
ContributorsMasek, Emily (Author) / Vega-Lopez, Sonia (Thesis advisor) / Bruening, Meredith (Committee member) / Ayers, Stephanie (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2020