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Thirty six percent of Americans are obese and thirty three percent are overweight; obesity has become a known killer in the U.S. yet its prevalence has maintained a firm grasp on the U.S. population and continues to spread across the globe as other countries slowly adopt the American lifestyle. A

Thirty six percent of Americans are obese and thirty three percent are overweight; obesity has become a known killer in the U.S. yet its prevalence has maintained a firm grasp on the U.S. population and continues to spread across the globe as other countries slowly adopt the American lifestyle. A survey was compiled collecting demographic and body mass index (BMI) information, as well as Tanofsky-Kraff’s (2009) “Assess Eating in the Absence of Hunger” survey questions. The survey used for this study was emailed out to Arizona State University students in Barrett, The Honors College, and the ASU School of Nutrition and Health Promotion listservs. A total of 457 participants completed the survey, 72 males and 385 females (mean age, 24.5±7.7 y; average body mass index (BMI), 23.4 ± 4.8 [a BMI of 25-29.9 is classified as overweight]). When comparing BMI with the living situation, 71% of obese students were living at home with family versus off campus with friends or alone. For comparison, 45% of normal weight students lived at home with family.  These data could help structure prevention plans targeting college students by focusing on weight gain prevention at the family level. Results from the Tanofsky-Kraff (2009) survey revealed there was not a significant relationship between external or physical cues and BMI in men or women, but there was a significant positive correlation between emotional cues and BMI in women only. Anger and sadness were the emotional cues in women related to initiating consumption past satiation and consumption following several hours of fasting. Although BMI was inversely related to physical activity in this sample (r = -0.132; p=0.005), controlling for physical activity did not impact the significant associations of BMI with anger or sadness (P>0.05).  This information is important in targeting prevention programs to address behavioral change and cognitive awareness of the effects of emotion on over-consumption.
ContributorsGarza, Andrea Marie (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis director) / Jacobs, Mark (Committee member) / Coletta, Dawn (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor)
Created2013-05
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Description
DNA methylation, a subset of epigenetics, has been found to be a significant marker associated with variations in gene expression and activity across the entire human genome. As of now, however, there is little to no information about how DNA methylation varies between different tissues inside a singular person's body.

DNA methylation, a subset of epigenetics, has been found to be a significant marker associated with variations in gene expression and activity across the entire human genome. As of now, however, there is little to no information about how DNA methylation varies between different tissues inside a singular person's body. By using research data from a preliminary study of lean and obese clinical subjects, this study attempts to put together a profile of the differences in DNA methylation that can be observed between two particular body tissues from this subject group: blood and skeletal muscle. This study allows us to start describing the changes that occur at the epigenetic level that influence how differently these two tissues operate, along with seeing how these tissues change between individuals of different weight classes, especially in the context of the development of symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes.
ContributorsRappazzo, Micah Gabriel (Author) / Coletta, Dawn (Thesis director) / Katsanos, Christos (Committee member) / Dinu, Valentin (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor)
Created2013-12
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This creative project examines the effectiveness of several school based nutritional education and parent based programs along with multi-component interventions. Six published articles were reviewed and summarized to identify the most successful interventions to prevent childhood obesity. In addition to these studies other resources were examined to understand the developmental

This creative project examines the effectiveness of several school based nutritional education and parent based programs along with multi-component interventions. Six published articles were reviewed and summarized to identify the most successful interventions to prevent childhood obesity. In addition to these studies other resources were examined to understand the developmental levels of school-aged and adolescent students. As part of this project a narrated power point covering the key aspects of the nutritional needs of the school-aged child was developed. This power point will be utilized by future nursing students whom are working with parents in the schools or in the community on nutrition strategies. The power point will provide a context for individual or group discussions with parents to offer helpful ideas on how to work effectively with their children. The topic of nutrition and obesity in school-aged children is a current topic in health care especially in environments where nutritional resources are limited. The overall outcome of this project will be to assist in decreasing the incidence of overweight and obese youth and the prevention of the development of premature chronic diseases especially in early adolescence and young adulthood.
ContributorsLopez, Leticia Marie (Author) / Hosley, Brenda (Thesis director) / Speer, Therese (Committee member) / Storto, Pamela (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2014-12
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Description
This research addresses the importance of factors such as gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight of mothers, as well as obesity rates in infants born to these mothers who are included in the population of low-income Mexican-American mothers and infants enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,

This research addresses the importance of factors such as gestational weight gain (GWG) and postpartum weight of mothers, as well as obesity rates in infants born to these mothers who are included in the population of low-income Mexican-American mothers and infants enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Evaluating these factors will contribute to finding recommendations to help solve the obesity epidemic in this specific population. Breastfeeding duration, mother BMI, infant birth weight, and infant weight z-scores were statistically analyzed from a WIC population in Houston. The study participants are involved in a five year intervention study where the home environment and education on feeding practices, breastfeeding duration and obesity are evaluated. The results found that: (1) breastfeeding initially indicates a further continuation of breastfeeding; (2) mothers who breastfed for six months were likely to have a lower BMI at twelve to eighteen months than those who did not; (3) the birth weight of the infant is associated with the weight pattern of the child later; (4) the weight/height percentiles of a newborn are somewhat likely to stay the same until age three; (5) the prenatal weight of the mother impacts the weight of the newborn infant; and (6) the mother's postpartum BMI at one week is associated with a similar BMI at 12 months postpartum. In conclusion, women in this population tend to not breastfeed for 6 months and are not losing gestational weight postpartum, leading to increased wright retention after pregnancy, as well as heavier babies that will maintain this weight in early childhood. Further breastfeeding, nutrition, exercise, obesity, and proper infant feeding education are needed to reduce the rate of obesity in low-income Mexican-American WIC populations.
Created2016-12
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Description
Objective: Obesity is the fifth leading cause of global death and is preventable. It affects all body systems and causes major chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and some cancers. The goal of this transtheoretical stages of changes (TSOC) theory-based project are as follows: To educate the

Objective: Obesity is the fifth leading cause of global death and is preventable. It affects all body systems and causes major chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and some cancers. The goal of this transtheoretical stages of changes (TSOC) theory-based project are as follows: To educate the participants of the project to be aware of obesity and its complications; motivate them to use community resources, and improve their body mass indexes (BMI), waist circumference (WC), motivation, quality of life (QOL) and lifestyle. Methods: Twenty-three participants were recruited in a primary care clinic. Six participants dropped out during the project. All the randomly selected participants who met the criteria of obesity signed written informed consent and were provided a 4-digit code to maintain anonymity. Participants were motivated and educated using a handout, two pre-and post-project in-person nursing visits, and five telemedicine weekly nursing follow-ups visits. Pre- and post-surveys collected during in-person visits include data such as weight, BMI, WC, demographic data, comorbidities, lifestyle, motivation, QOL, TSOC, and utilization of community resources. Results: Descriptive analysis and paired t-test is done utilizing Intellectus statistics software to measure the outcome. The results show improvement in dietary choices, physical activity, motivation, QOL, use of community resources, decrease in BMI, and WC. In paired t tests, results show clinical and statistical significance in BMI, WC, MOT and clinical significance in QOL. There was increase in the revenue at the project site due to reimbursement of the services provided for the patients. Conclusion: The results are expected to develop practice change in preventing and treating obesity. More evidence-based projects and studies with large sample size are needed to develop improvement in the knowledge base of providers and current practice.
Created2022-04-28
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Description
The number of adolescents who are overweight are suffering from diseases once thought to only occur in adults, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary heart disease, and liver disease with cases increasing exponentially. This may be correlated with adolescents making unhealthy choices in life resulting in depression in obese

The number of adolescents who are overweight are suffering from diseases once thought to only occur in adults, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary heart disease, and liver disease with cases increasing exponentially. This may be correlated with adolescents making unhealthy choices in life resulting in depression in obese adolescents. Healthcare providers must continuously explore novel ways to empower teens to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, and Nutrition (TEEN) program was delivered to three adolescent participants in a primary care pediatric clinic in Southwest Arizona. The 15 sessions were provided weekly in the pediatrician’s office using the COPE TEEN manual. The participants completed the HABITS questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) before starting the program and after program cessation and kept confidential. The survey results were compared using descriptive analysis and paired t-tests to analyze the data collected. Due to a small sample size (n=3), statistical significance could not be calculated. However, clinical significance was found as evidenced by lower depression scores and improvement in healthy habits. A cognitive behavior skills-building program such as the COPE TEEN program has the potential to empower adolescents to make healthy decisions in life. These healthy choices lead to a long, happy life free from diseases caused by unhealthy choices. This program positively impacts the clinical care of adolescents who are overweight or obese by offering providers an alternative manner of educating adolescents.
Created2022-04-29
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Description
Obesity impairs skeletal muscle maintenance and regeneration, a condition that can progressively lead to muscle loss, but the mechanisms behind it are unknown. Muscle is primarily composed of multinucleated cells called myotubes which are derived by the fusion of mononucleated myocytes. A key mediator in this process is the cellular

Obesity impairs skeletal muscle maintenance and regeneration, a condition that can progressively lead to muscle loss, but the mechanisms behind it are unknown. Muscle is primarily composed of multinucleated cells called myotubes which are derived by the fusion of mononucleated myocytes. A key mediator in this process is the cellular fusion protein syncytin-1. This led to the hypothesis that syncytin-1 could be decreased in the muscle of obese/insulin resistant individuals. In contrast, it was found that obese/insulin resistant subjects had higher syncytin-1 expression in the muscle compared to that of the lean subjects. Across the subjects, syncytin-1 correlated significantly with body mass index, percent body fat, blood glucose and HbA1c levels, insulin sensitivity and muscle protein fractional synthesis rate. The concentrations of specific plasma fatty acids, such as the saturated fatty acid (palmitate) and monounsaturated fatty acid (oleate) are known to be altered in obese/insulin resistant humans, and also to influence the protein synthesis in muscle. Therefore, it was evaluated that the effects of palmitate and oleate on syncytin-1 expression, as well as 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, a key mechanism regulating muscle protein synthesis in insulin stimulated C2C12 myotubes. The results showed that treatment with 20 nM insulin, 300 µM oleate, 300 µM oleate +20 nM insulin and 300 µM palmitate + 300 µM oleate elevated 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. At the same time, 20 nM insulin, 300 µM palmitate, 300 µM oleate + 20 nM insulin and 300 µM palmitate + 300 µM oleate elevated syncytin-1 expression. Insulin stimulated muscle syncytin-1 expression and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, and this effect was comparable to that observed in the presence of oleate alone. However, the presence of palmitate + oleate diminished the stimulatory effect of insulin on muscle syncytin-1 expression and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation. These findings indicate oleate but not palmitate increased total 4E-BP1 phosphorylation regardless of insulin and the presence of palmitate in insulin mediated C2C12 cells. The presence of palmitate inhibited the upregulation of total 4EB-P1 phosphorylation. Palmitate but not oleate increased syncytin-1 expression in insulin mediated C2C12 myotubes. It is possible that chronic hyperinsulinemia in obesity and/or elevated levels of fatty acids such as palmitate in plasma could have contributed to syncytin-1 overexpression and decreased muscle protein fractional synthesis rate in obese/insulin resistant human muscle.
ContributorsRavichandran, Jayachandran (Author) / Katsanos, Christos (Thesis advisor) / Coletta, Dawn (Committee member) / Dickinson, Jared (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017