Obesity is a global epidemic that is associated with several adverse health consequences. In addition, there is also a growing prevalence of obesity in pregnancy. Maternal obesity places the fetus in an abnormal in utero condition that can produce alterations in development leading to permanent programming of physiological systems. Obesity is also associated with cognitive dysfunction, which calls for investigations into its effects on the hippocampus, a brain area involved in learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP), a neurophysiological correlate for learning and memory, can be examined in hippocampal slices. This study aimed to fill in the gap in literature regarding the effect of obesity on hippocampal synaptic plasticity in female rats, and maternal obesity effects on offspring hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a control diet (CD), or a high-fat diet (HFD; 40% of calories from saturated fat) for 16 weeks. Impaired glucose tolerance and greater retroperitoneal fat pad weight indicated an obese phenotype in HFD rats; as well, the modified diet led to impaired LTP: CD rats had 10% more potentiation in amplitude, and 11% more potentiation in slope than HFD rats. Offspring were weaned onto control diet at post-natal day 21. Reduced success rates for achieving LTP, and lowered magnitudes of mean LTP in the offspring, strongly suggest that maternal obesity may have compromised hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and warrants further study.

The current study utilizes a life course approach in its exploration of the connection between life stage and psychological well-being, within the context of cancer caregivers. Further the study explores this connection in light of four possible mediating unmet needs factors that is unmet work or financial needs, unmet health care needs, unmet information needs and unmet future concerns needs as well as the extent to which these factors differ within each group. The study utilizes data from The Cancer Support Person’s Unmet Needs Survey (SPUNS) conducted by Campbell et al. in which a random, stratified sample of 1128 cancer survivors and their immediate caregivers, selected from the Cancercare Manitoba Cancer Registry, were surveyed (2009). The sample for the current study included 789 support persons selected for the study by the survivor for whom they cared. The study revealed that caregivers in midlife exhibited higher levels of unmet needs in work/ financial as well as future concerns life aspects. It is the expectation that the results of this study will enable practitioners to better support and fill the needs of caregivers allowing for improved quality of life and quality of care.

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the number of food stores (FS) within 500m, 1000m and 1500m of Region of Waterloo schools and describe them by type: full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, supermarket and convenience stores; and then by elementary and secondary school levels. In addition, the associations among FS counts, median family income for the school neighbourhoods and school level academic performance were also examined. Methods: Data for 2008 and 2010 on food stores, school addresses and school results on provincial academic tests (EQAO) were obtained from publicly available information (Region of Waterloo food inspection premises data; Waterloo Region District School Board and Waterloo Catholic District School Board; and Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) as well as the Fraser Institute, respectively). The 2006 Statistics Canada census data on median household income for Dissemination Areas surrounding schools was used as the proxy for income. Food stores were classified into the four store types based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The ArcGIS program was used to geocode the addresses of food stores and schools in the Region of Waterloo. It was also used to create the buffer zones (500m, 1000m and 1500m) around schools and to calculate the number of food stores within each buffer. In addition, multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to explore the associations between food store counts to school neighbourhood income and school level academic performance indicators. School neighbourhood family income, parent education, students’ competency in English and population density were considered as study covariates. Results: From 2008 to 2010, the number food stores of all types increased in the Region of Waterloo as a whole. However, within the three buffer zones (500m, 1000m and 1500m), while the number of full-service restaurants, convenience stores and total stores were higher in 2010 than in 2008, food store counts of fast food restaurants and supermarkets were not always higher in 2010 compared to 2008. Nevertheless, of all food story types, the counts were highest for fast food restaurants in both years (2008 and 2010) and at all buffer zones around schools (500m, 1000m and 1500m) as well as for the Region of Waterloo as a whole. In addition, negative associations were found between fast food restaurant, convenience store and total store counts and school neighbourhood family income. Furthermore, these associations remained robust even after controlling for population density. Regarding food store counts and students’ academic performance, most of the significant associations were negative and were found for supermarkets, convenience stores and total store, with more significant associations in 2010 than in 2008. Most of the significant associations were found for elementary schools and when EQAO scores were treated as continuous versus binary variables. Interestingly, Grade 3 EQAO scores tended to be associated with supermarket and total store counts, whereas Grade 6 EQAO scores tended to be associated with convenience store and total store counts. Although several associations became insignificant after adjusting for study covariates (school neighbourhood family income, parent education and students’ competency in English), many significant associations remained and followed the trends observed before controlling for the covariates. Implications for practice: The totality of evidence from the current study suggests that the number of food stores around a school has a relationship to academic performance even when key factors such as neighbourhood family income and parental education are considered. If such associations were confirmed and explained through further research, there would be potential policy implications, for example, regarding zoning of food stores around schools and school practices.

Background: The high prevalence of physical inactivity among children and adolescents (youth) and the associated negative health consequences make it critical to increase physical activity levels. Social-ecological models suggest that the school environment may influence youth health behaviour. However, few studies have examined the school environment in relation to youth physical activity. Purpose: To 1) examine between-school variability in student physical activity, 2) identify school characteristics that account for between-school variability in student physical activity, and 3) examine the association between senior student participation rates in school physical activities and junior student physical activity. Methods: The study consisted of secondary data analysis of the School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System (SHAPES) Ontario project, which collected self-report data from 69,511 students in 76 secondary schools from seven public health unit districts in Ontario. Multilevel modeling was used to examine between-school variability in student physical activity, as well as school characteristics associated with physical activity. Results: There was significant between-school variability in student physical activity, and the relationship between physical activity and age and gender, respectively. School rates of physical education participation were associated with student physical activity levels. Senior student participation in other physical activities at school, such as playing outside, was associated with junior student physical activity levels. Conclusions: These findings support the social-ecological notion that the school environment can influence adolescent physical activity behaviour. A better understanding of the relationship between the school environment and physical activity will assist in the development of effective school-based policies, programs and interventions to increase physical activity.

Background. Little is known about HIV risk-behaviour and testing amongst older Canadians. In the United States the prevalence of HIV for those aged 50+ is highest in Florida, a location where many Canadian seniors winter. This small-scale pilot study examined the dating and sexual behaviour of Canadian snowbirds while in Florida, to determine their risk for HIV. This area deserves increased attention as the proportion of older Canadians infected with HIV is increasing. Methods. A broad cross-section of Canadian snowbirds were surveyed. Eligible participants were: aged 50+, visited Florida in the past 12 months and stayed for 1+ month on their latest trip, and live in Canada for 6+ months each year. Univariate and bivariate frequencies were primarily reported due to the descriptive research objectives. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with HIV testing. Results. The study sample consisted of 299 participants, with more males (53.51%), more married participants (78.6%) and a mean age of 66.86 years. One quarter (23.14%) of the sample had dated in the past five years. Of these daters, 5.36% dated in Florida, 41.07% dated in Canada and 53.57% dated in both locations. Over three-quarters of daters in both Canada (79.49%) and Florida (77.78%) engaged in sex with their dates in the previous year. Few daters in Canada (20%) and Florida (14.29%) used condoms consistently with their dates. Only 17.7% of the sample had ever HIV-tested. The odds of HIV testing were increased for: those aged 50-65, the unmarried, those who had discussed sexual risk-behaviour with a physician and those who indicated that sex was important. Dating males were twice as likely to test as non-dating males; and 14 times more likely to test than females who dated. Conclusions. Sexual risk-behaviour is occurring within the Canadian snowbird population, especially amongst the unmarried. In both Canada and Florida, most snowbirds did not use condoms consistently with dates, many reported multiple sexual partnerships and few had HIV-tested. Overall, this research supports the need for a large-scale study to further understand the social and sexual interactions of Canadian snowbirds to determine their risk for HIV.

Background: The high prevalence of physical inactivity among children and adolescents (youth) and the associated negative health consequences make it critical to increase physical activity levels. Social-ecological models suggest that the school environment may influence youth health behaviour. However, few studies have examined the school environment in relation to youth physical activity. Purpose: To 1) examine between-school variability in student physical activity, 2) identify school characteristics that account for between-school variability in student physical activity, and 3) examine the association between senior student participation rates in school physical activities and junior student physical activity. Methods: The study consisted of secondary data analysis of the School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System (SHAPES) Ontario project, which collected self-report data from 69,511 students in 76 secondary schools from seven public health unit districts in Ontario. Multilevel modeling was used to examine between-school variability in student physical activity, as well as school characteristics associated with physical activity. Results: There was significant between-school variability in student physical activity, and the relationship between physical activity and age and gender, respectively. School rates of physical education participation were associated with student physical activity levels. Senior student participation in other physical activities at school, such as playing outside, was associated with junior student physical activity levels. Conclusions: These findings support the social-ecological notion that the school environment can influence adolescent physical activity behaviour. A better understanding of the relationship between the school environment and physical activity will assist in the development of effective school-based policies, programs and interventions to increase physical activity.

Background. Little is known about HIV risk-behaviour and testing amongst older Canadians. In the United States the prevalence of HIV for those aged 50+ is highest in Florida, a location where many Canadian seniors winter. This small-scale pilot study examined the dating and sexual behaviour of Canadian snowbirds while in Florida, to determine their risk for HIV. This area deserves increased attention as the proportion of older Canadians infected with HIV is increasing. Methods. A broad cross-section of Canadian snowbirds were surveyed. Eligible participants were: aged 50+, visited Florida in the past 12 months and stayed for 1+ month on their latest trip, and live in Canada for 6+ months each year. Univariate and bivariate frequencies were primarily reported due to the descriptive research objectives. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with HIV testing. Results. The study sample consisted of 299 participants, with more males (53.51%), more married participants (78.6%) and a mean age of 66.86 years. One quarter (23.14%) of the sample had dated in the past five years. Of these daters, 5.36% dated in Florida, 41.07% dated in Canada and 53.57% dated in both locations. Over three-quarters of daters in both Canada (79.49%) and Florida (77.78%) engaged in sex with their dates in the previous year. Few daters in Canada (20%) and Florida (14.29%) used condoms consistently with their dates. Only 17.7% of the sample had ever HIV-tested. The odds of HIV testing were increased for: those aged 50-65, the unmarried, those who had discussed sexual risk-behaviour with a physician and those who indicated that sex was important. Dating males were twice as likely to test as non-dating males; and 14 times more likely to test than females who dated. Conclusions. Sexual risk-behaviour is occurring within the Canadian snowbird population, especially amongst the unmarried. In both Canada and Florida, most snowbirds did not use condoms consistently with dates, many reported multiple sexual partnerships and few had HIV-tested. Overall, this research supports the need for a large-scale study to further understand the social and sexual interactions of Canadian snowbirds to determine their risk for HIV.

A subset of data was used from the Waterloo Longitudinal Reactivity Study (WLRS)to examine predictors of cardiovascular reactivity during the Type A Structured Interview (SI). Sex, age, total cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), activity level, smoking, drinking, family history of cardiovascular disease, anger-management styles (i.e., hostility, SI Components, and anger) and respective resting levels for the dependent measures were the predictor variables. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), norepinephrine, and epinephrine were the dependent measures. For this study, 111 males and 129 females completed the study. They were first or second year students from the University of Waterloo. The subjects' mean age was 20.44 years. In the WLRS, subjects were asked to come to the laboratory on several occasions. The first occasion was to obtain consent. The second occasion was to habituate subjects to the laboratory setting and the equipment. The third session was the test proper. The focus of this secondary data analysis was to examine the predictive property of anger-management styles to reactivity during one task in the test proper, the SI. Factor analyses were done on the psychometric scales. From this, three factors emerged: hostility, SI components, and anger. These variables, along with the remaining independent variables were entered in multiple regression equations. For norepinephrine, epinephrine, and DBP reactivity only the respective resting values were predictive of reactivity. The independent measures, sex and BMI were predictive of SBP reactivity. Predictors of HR reactivity were resting HR, anger(one of the three factors), and sex. The results of this study did not support the contention that personality measures are predictive of catecholamine or blood pressure reactivity. H R reactivity, however, was predicted by personality and demographic measures. Although clinical applications are not possible, the study allows for the possibility that one day only psychometric scales will need to be completed in order to predict reactivity.

The current study utilizes a life course approach in its exploration of the connection between life stage and psychological well-being, within the context of cancer caregivers. Further the study explores this connection in light of four possible mediating unmet needs factors that is unmet work or financial needs, unmet health care needs, unmet information needs and unmet future concerns needs as well as the extent to which these factors differ within each group. The study utilizes data from The Cancer Support Person’s Unmet Needs Survey (SPUNS) conducted by Campbell et al. in which a random, stratified sample of 1128 cancer survivors and their immediate caregivers, selected from the Cancercare Manitoba Cancer Registry, were surveyed (2009). The sample for the current study included 789 support persons selected for the study by the survivor for whom they cared. The study revealed that caregivers in midlife exhibited higher levels of unmet needs in work/ financial as well as future concerns life aspects. It is the expectation that the results of this study will enable practitioners to better support and fill the needs of caregivers allowing for improved quality of life and quality of care.

Abstract Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the number of food stores (FS) within 500m, 1000m and 1500m of Region of Waterloo schools and describe them by type: full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, supermarket and convenience stores; and then by elementary and secondary school levels. In addition, the associations among FS counts, median family income for the school neighbourhoods and school level academic performance were also examined. Methods: Data for 2008 and 2010 on food stores, school addresses and school results on provincial academic tests (EQAO) were obtained from publicly available information (Region of Waterloo food inspection premises data; Waterloo Region District School Board and Waterloo Catholic District School Board; and Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) as well as the Fraser Institute, respectively). The 2006 Statistics Canada census data on median household income for Dissemination Areas surrounding schools was used as the proxy for income. Food stores were classified into the four store types based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The ArcGIS program was used to geocode the addresses of food stores and schools in the Region of Waterloo. It was also used to create the buffer zones (500m, 1000m and 1500m) around schools and to calculate the number of food stores within each buffer. In addition, multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to explore the associations between food store counts to school neighbourhood income and school level academic performance indicators. School neighbourhood family income, parent education, students’ competency in English and population density were considered as study covariates. Results: From 2008 to 2010, the number food stores of all types increased in the Region of Waterloo as a whole. However, within the three buffer zones (500m, 1000m and 1500m), while the number of full-service restaurants, convenience stores and total stores were higher in 2010 than in 2008, food store counts of fast food restaurants and supermarkets were not always higher in 2010 compared to 2008. Nevertheless, of all food story types, the counts were highest for fast food restaurants in both years (2008 and 2010) and at all buffer zones around schools (500m, 1000m and 1500m) as well as for the Region of Waterloo as a whole. In addition, negative associations were found between fast food restaurant, convenience store and total store counts and school neighbourhood family income. Furthermore, these associations remained robust even after controlling for population density. Regarding food store counts and students’ academic performance, most of the significant associations were negative and were found for supermarkets, convenience stores and total store, with more significant associations in 2010 than in 2008. Most of the significant associations were found for elementary schools and when EQAO scores were treated as continuous versus binary variables. Interestingly, Grade 3 EQAO scores tended to be associated with supermarket and total store counts, whereas Grade 6 EQAO scores tended to be associated with convenience store and total store counts. Although several associations became insignificant after adjusting for study covariates (school neighbourhood family income, parent education and students’ competency in English), many significant associations remained and followed the trends observed before controlling for the covariates. Implications for practice: The totality of evidence from the current study suggests that the number of food stores around a school has a relationship to academic performance even when key factors such as neighbourhood family income and parental education are considered. If such associations were confirmed and explained through further research, there would be potential policy implications, for example, regarding zoning of food stores around schools and school practices.