Obesity is a serious health problem that leads to several chronic diseases and premature deaths. TheIn this project,was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the the Weigh Forward (WF) program, a 10-week weight-loss program administered in retail clinics, was evaluated, and it is provided in retails stores. The project analysis was completed on a limited data set on The population consisted of 15 obese participantsmembers of the program, 18 years and above, at 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and Virginia.in the WF program from 13 dispersed clinics in Maryland and VirgiObesity is a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Participants were 18 years and above The theory of planned behavior (TPB) was used as the framework from which to view the project. The project was usedpurpose was to determine the efficacy of the WF program for weight reduction by comparing the baseline body mass index (BMI) and the waist circumference (WC) to the BMI and WC at the end of the program. Descriptive The aanalysis was done using correlation coefficient on the 15 participants,, who completed the 10-week WF program. The result, showed the mean and mode for BMI reduction to be 2 kg/m2, and the mean and mode for the WC reduction was 3 inches. The percentage weight loss varied from 3-11%, with the completion rate for the enrolled participants at 29%. Thise study has implications for the social change because the findings support intensive behavioral modification as an effective approach to weight loss. The study can help healthcare providers appreciate the is the need to complete preventive care assessment on patients, identify patients with obesity, and provide these patients with the requisite information on the need to lose weight. Also, the clinicians provide the patients with information and available resources to enable help them lose weight. The mean and mode of 2 kg/m2 for BMI reduction, and 3 inches for the reduction in WC at the end of 10 weeks, showed that the WF program was effective for weight loss because the participants lost significant amount of weight. The findings from the project can guide the development of practice guidelines for administering the WF program in the retail clinic.

Rapid development of domain specialized medical imaging tools is essential for deploying medical imaging technologies to advance clinical research and clinical practice. This work describes the development process, deployment method, and evaluation of modules constructed within the 3D Slicer environment. These tools address critical problems encountered in four different clinical domains: quality control review of large repositories of medical images, rule-based automated label map cleaning, quantification of calcification in the heart using low-dose radiation scanning, and waist circumference measurement from abdominal scans. Each of these modules enables and accelerates clinical research by incorporating medical imaging technologies that minimize manual human effort. They are distributed within the multi-platform 3D Slicer Extension Manager environment for use in the computational environment most convenient to the clinician scientist.

The inflammatory process is important in protecting the body against the invasion of pathogens, but recent research has suggested that a long-term inflammatory response may lead to chronic diseases (e.g., Black, 2003; Wu, Dorn, Donahue, Sempos, & Trevisan, 2002). Two factors that have been implicated in the inflammatory and disease processes are stress and obesity (Black, 2003). While their individual lines of research continue to grow, few researchers have attempted to integrate these factors into one model to explain their effects on inflammation. This study aimed to replicate previous findings suggesting relationships between stress, obesity and inflammation and test an integrated model of stress and obesity by examining a possible interaction between the effects of stress and obesity on inflammation. Socioeconomic Status (SES) and depression were employed to examine the association between stress and the inflammatory marker, c-reactive protein (CRP). The study utilized the data resulting from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; National Center for Health Statistics, 2006). Included in the dataset are 4998 adults (2416 males and 2582 females) ranging in age from 18 years to over 85 years (M = 47.13, SD = 20.86). A subsample (N = 589) completed the Major Depression module of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CDCI). The results indicate that body mass index, waist circumference, income, education, and depression symptoms significantly predict CRP. The data also suggest an interaction between the adiposity variables and the SES variables. This supports the hypothesis that the inflammatory effect of stress on an individual is moderated by adiposity.

<p>This paper deals with the development of scientific geography during Antiquity from its mythical background before the seventh century BC to Claudius Ptolemy during the second century AD. The main focus is on questions concerning the shape of the earth, its place in the universe, size and mapping of the earth. Already before 400 BC, the idea of the earth as a globe was firmly estabished. During classical time, Aristotle used empirical and rational arguments to prove that the earth was a sphere and that it was situated motionless in the center of the universe. In the third century BC, the first reasonably correct measurements of the circumference of the earth was carried out by Eratosthenes. Later, a lower, incorrect measurement of the circumference of the earth was made by Poseidonius. His measurement was for some reason accepted by later geographers.The first map of the earth that we know of is on a clay tablet from Mesopotamia from c. 600 BC. The first useful maps were constructed during the Roman era.</p>

Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Adiposity has been linked to impaired respiratory function in adults but whether the distribution of adipose tissue has a differential effect on pulmonary function is still uncertain. Moreover, in children, the relationship between adiposity and lung dysfunction is not clearly understood. A two-stage multivariate analysis was conducted using data from 5604 Canadians aged 6 to 79 years who participated in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). The associations of various anthropometric and skinfold measures with lung function were examined separately in adults and children. After adjustment of covariates, waist circumference and subscapular skinfold thickness showed the strongest inverse associations with FVC and FEV1 in men. In women, BMI and sum of five skinfolds had the largest impact on pulmonary function. FVC and FEV1 in boys were most affected by waist-to-hip ratio and triceps skinfold. In girls, adiposity was not linked to the lung function testing variables. Adiposity measures have differing effects on respiratory function depending on age and sex group.

This paper deals with the development of scientific geography during Antiquity from its mythical background before the seventh century BC to Claudius Ptolemy during the second century AD. The main focus is on questions concerning the shape of the earth, its place in the universe, size and mapping of the earth. Already before 400 BC, the idea of the earth as a globe was firmly estabished. During classical time, Aristotle used empirical and rational arguments to prove that the earth was a sphere and that it was situated motionless in the center of the universe. In the third century BC, the first reasonably correct measurements of the circumference of the earth was carried out by Eratosthenes. Later, a lower, incorrect measurement of the circumference of the earth was made by Poseidonius. His measurement was for some reason accepted by later geographers.The first map of the earth that we know of is on a clay tablet from Mesopotamia from c. 600 BC. The first useful maps were constructed during the Roman era.

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of childbearing age and the obstetric consequences of abnormal thyroid hormone levels during pregnancy have been established. Less understood is the implication of the presence of maternal thyroid autoantibodies on infant outcomes among women who are euthyroid during pregnancy. The objective of this study was two-fold: 1) to examine the influence of antenatal thyroperioxidase (TPO) status on fetal/infant brain and body growth measurements at delivery and 2) to explore the relationship of antenatal TPO status and maternal postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) on early infant growth and neurocognitive development. Six-hundred thirty-one (631) euthyroid pregnant women were recruited from prenatal clinics in Tampa Bay, Florida and the surrounding area between November 2007 and December 2010. TPO status was determined during pregnancy and fetal/infant brain and body growth variables were assessed at delivery. A subsample of forty-one (41) mother-infant dyads participated in a 6-month longitudinal supplemental study. Infant growth assessments were conducted at 3, 4, 5 and 6 months postpartum. Regression analysis revealed maternal TPO positivity was significantly associated with smaller head circumference, reduced brain weight and lower brain-body-ratio; however maternal race/ethnicity was identified as an effect modifier in the relationship. No significant differences were noted in birth weight, birth length, abdominal circumference or chest circumference measurements among infants born to TPO positive mothers of any racial/ethnic group as compared to their negative counterparts. Mixed model analysis of the smaller subset (n=41) revealed infants of TPO+ mothers were smaller at birth but experienced accelerated growth between birth to 3 months when compared to infants born to TPO- mothers. This acceleration led to their catch-up in growth to their TPO negative counterparts by 3 months of age. No significant differences were noted in neurocognitive outcomes between infants born to TPO+ mothers compared to those born to TPO- mothers. The findings in this dissertation indicate that maternal/race ethnicity modifies the relationship between TPO positivity and reduced fetal/infant brain growth. Additionally, the analyses suggest that maternal autoantibody status could lead to variations in early infant growth and development. The end-result of these variations is unclear. Further research is needed to determine the potential impact of reduced head circumference and accelerated growth as it relates to long-term neurocognitive consequences. Currently, TPO antibody status is not assessed as part of the standard prenatal care laboratory work-up, but findings from this study suggest that fetal brain growth may be impaired by TPO positivity among certain populations, therefore autoantibody screening among high-risk sub-groups may be useful for clinicians to determine whether prenatal thyroid treatment is warranted.

Abstract Validity of waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for type 2 diabetes risk in non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Mexican American Adult Women, from the ages 20-65 years of age. Background: A prominent screening measure for type 2 diabetes is a simple measure of waist circumference. Waist circumference is an aggregate measurement of the actual amount of total and abdominal fat accumulation and is a crucial correlate of the complexities found among obese and overweight patients. However, waist circumference does not take into consideration the frame of an individual. Hence, recent epidemiologic data have suggested the use of height adjusted waist circumference (waist-to-height ratio). The use of waist-to-height ratio in screening for type 2 diabetes is poorly understood. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine racial/ethnic differences in the association of the independent variables waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference, with type 2 diabetes in non-Hispanic Whites, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Mexican American adult women, ages 20-65 years old. Methods: Data from the NHANES 2007-2008 surveys were used. Race/ethnic specific odds ratios from univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were to estimate the associations of waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference with type 2 diabetes. In the multivariate models, adjustments were made for age and alcohol use. Results: In the univariate models, WC was associated with 1.06, 1.07 and 1.04 increased odds of type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, respectively. The corresponding values waist-to-height ratio were 2.85, 3.20 and 1.88, respectively. On adjusting for confounders, WC was associated with 1.07, 1.05, and 1.05 increased odds of type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, respectively. WHtR was associated with 2.95, 2.38, and 2.37 increased odds of type 2 diabetes in Mexican Americans, non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicates that WHtR may be a powerful anthropometric predictor of risk for type 2 diabetes for Mexican American, non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black American women ages 20-65.The literature on WHtR as a screening tool for type 2 diabetes in American women is lacking. This study is one of the first to examine the association between WHtR across varying races of American women. Future researchers should explore populations of women and men in the US with more races represented.

The increasing prevalence of abdominal obesity worldwide poses a serious public health problem and hence, presents a target for research designed to improve the assessment or treatment of abdominal obesity. Specifically, the first study in this thesis investigated the influence of age and gender on visceral (VAT) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (ASAT) for a given waist circumference (WC) in 481 men and women varying widely in age and BMI. Significant gender differences in VAT and ASAT for a given WC were observed, however, only the relationship between WC and VAT was substantially influenced by age. The second study examined whether the associations between VAT, ASAT and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) were altered depending on measurement methodology used to assess VAT and ASAT. The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was higher for total VAT volume (OR=7.26) and the partial volumes at T12-L1 (OR=7.46) and L1-L2 (OR=8.77) compared to the classic L4-L5 (OR=3.94) measurement. The OR for MetS was not substantially different among the ASAT measures (OR~2.6). Measurement site for VAT, but not ASAT, has a substantial influence on the magnitude of the association with MetS. The third study examined the independent associations between VAT, ASAT, liver fat and all-cause mortality in 291 men (97 decedents and 194 controls, mortality follow-up of 2.2±1.3 years). In a model including VAT, ASAT, liver fat, age, and length of follow-up, only VAT (1.93 [1.15-3.23]) remained a significant predictor of mortality. We concluded that VAT is a strong, independent predictor of all-cause mortality in men. The purpose of the final study was to determine the effect of aerobic exercise dose (energy expenditure) on WC in sedentary, overweight/obese postmenopausal women (n=424). The women were randomly assigned to a control group or one of three aerobic exercise groups that exercised at energy expenditures of 4-, 8-, or 12-kcal/kg body weight/week. By comparison to control, there were significant reductions in WC in the exercise groups (~3 cm, P <0.05), which were independent of weight loss. However, the amount of exercise performed was not associated with reductions in WC in a dose dependent manner. / Thesis (Ph.D, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2007-05-17 19:24:06.777