published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

The purpose of this research was to examine some of the factors which may affect body composition of postmenopausal women. The effect of estrogen, physical activity, diet and lifestyle were examined in 9 women receiving estrogen replacement therapy and 11 women not using this drug. For 3 consecutive days, the subjects collected 24-hour urine samples and recorded their dietary intake. Body fat was estimated by obesity indices based on height and weight and a regression equation based on abdominal skinfold, abdominal circumference and bideltoid diameter (Young, 1964). Lean body mass (LBM) was estimated from urinary excretion of creatinine (Forbes & Bruining, 1976). Physical activity and lifestyle were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Age, height, physical activity, diet and lifestyle were similar for the two groups. Estrogen users were heavier than non-users (p < 0.05) and as a group had a higher prevalence of obesity. Percent body fat and LBM also tended to be higher in the estrogen users than in the non-estrogen users. The weight difference between the two groups was already present at age 25 years and persisted through the subsequent 30-year period. All 20 subjects maintained their weight between ages 25 and 35 years, thereafter, increasing in weight significantly (p < 0.05) by decade through age 55 years. For all 20 subjects no correlation was found between energy intake and any measure of obesity or body fatness. Obesity was unrelated to energy consumption. Physical activity did not correlate significantly with any estimate of body composition. Energy intake showed an inverse correlation with hours spent watching television (r = -0.82, p < 0.002). Nutrient intake for most women was adequate; however, calcium intake in women not receiving estrogen replacement therapy may be insufficient. / Graduation date: 1987

The study was conducted in two phases. Phase I consisted of generating models of risk reduction behaviors in order to implement and test risk reduction interventions for Phase II. The purposes of Phase I were: (a) to identify among a group of African-Americans individual and group risk factors for hypertension, and to identify demographic and psychosocial variables most predictive of risk reduction behaviors for hypertension, (b) to design and test a model that combines important demographic and psychosocial determinants of risk reduction behaviors, and (c) to generate data based models of the predictors of each risk reduction behavior for hypertension in the group of African-Americans. The conceptual model for the study was developed by combining variables from the Health Belief Model--susceptibility, severity, and barriers with variables from social learning theory-health locus of control and self-efficacy. The focus of Phase I was to test the model to determine the interactions among the variables, because the assumptions of the underlying theories suggest multiplicative rather than linear relationships. One hundred forty-three subjects completed Phase I. The demographic variables age, gender, and education entered the model as direct effects and strong moderators. Education was a direct effect for stress reduction and moderated the effect of risk severity in diet fat. Age as a direct effect explained 19 percent of the variance in diet sodium intake and 21 percent of the variance in diet fat as a direct effect and moderating effect of risk severity. Twenty-seven percent of the variance in alcohol use was explained by age (B = -.24) difficulty (B =.26), and risk health value moderated by age (B = -.27). Sixty-three percent of the variance in smoking behaviors was explained by the direct effects of age (B = -.20), gender (B = -12) and difficulty (B =.25), and by the interaction of age and difficulty (B =.52). In Phase II, interventions were developed that used either motivational or educational skills strategies such as monetary incentives, screening, risk assessment, health education, dietary analysis, and self-monitoring. Twenty-eight subjects participated in the pilot test of Phase II. Participants were most interested in modifying their diet fat intake and increasing stress reduction. The findings that each risk reduction behavior was predicted by different variables and/or different interaction patterns of the same variables supports further study of each risk reduction behavior rather than looking at risk reduction behavior as a conglomerate or as a summed health-promotive behavior. The study also supported the underlying theoretical assumptions of the Health Belief Model, and Social Learning Theory that the relationships between the variables is multiplicative, as moderating effects were found, but no mediating effects were supported.

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No description available.

The purpose of this investgation was to study the effects of repeated weight loss and physical training on the plasma levels of testosterone, growth hormone, insulin and cortisol. A further purpose of this study was to determine if changes in plasma hormone concentrations could be avoided through a nutritional education program and the addition of nutritional supplements to the diet. Lastly the effects of acute and seasonal weight loss upon mean anerobic power, peak power, and percent fatigue were measured.MethodsA total of 34 adolescent high school wrestlers ranging age from 14 to 18 years, were pair matched for age, size, percentage weight loss, and skill level (varsity or JV) and then randomly assigned into a control and treatment group. The treatment group recieved a nutritonal education program and nutritional supplements. Blood samples were taken four times throughout the study period: once in the preseason (October 14), twice in December (Dec. 7 and 14), and once in January (Jan. 13). The blood was drawn at the same time each morning after an 8 hour fast. The blood was analyzed to detect changes over time and between groups for hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma levels of insulin, cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone. The wrestlers were also measured for caloric and nutrient intake, weight, height, body fat percentages, and for arm power with the Wingate test. The experimental design consisted of a pretest-posttest randomized groups test design. The hormone and power data were analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA, and a probability level of 0.05 or above was chosen as statistical significance. Polynomial contrasts were used to determine whether significant differences over time followed linear, quadratic, or cubic trends. Post hoc tests were also used to determine where the difference did exist.ResultsThere were no significant (p<0.05) differences between the treatment and control groups in any variable tested. Over the experimental period, each group showed significant (p<0.05) decreases in weight, percent body fat, and fat free weight. No significant changes (p<0.05) in any of the power indicies occurred, but specific trends were apparent. Both groups had reductions in their absolute peak and mean power, and increases in their relative peak and mean power. Changes in percent fatigue and fatigue slope were inconsistent and nonsignificant. Serum concentrations of cortisol and insulin showed significant (p<0.05) decrements over the investigative period. The decline in serum growth hormone levels approached significance (p = 0.085), and serum testosterone levels showed a nonsignificant decreasing trend. Hormone levels per kilogram free fat weight were not changed, along with testosterone to cortisol ratios, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.ConclusionsThe treatment of consuming a nutritional beverage (Exceed) and information on proper dieting did not produce a significant (p<0.05) difference between the groups. Over time the wrestlers lost significant amounts of weight, body fat, and fat free weight due to significant decreases in the intake of calories in the form of fat, protein and carbohydrate. There were also significant decreases in plasma levels of insulin and cortisol. These results indicate that weight loss over a wrestling season may significantly alter plasma hormone levels. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of the study was to examine nutrition knowledge of elderly congregate meal site participants with particular interest directed towards nutrition risk levels and the demographic characteristics of education, age, and gender. The population utilized in this study were 120 elderly, both male and female, over the age of 60 years who attended ten congregate meal sites in Allen County, Indiana and who volunteered to participate. The researcher administered a 25 question nutrition knowledge survey and the 10 question Determine Your Nutritional Health Checklist at the meal sites. The study was designed to determine if there was a significant difference in nutrition knowledge among elderly at congregate meal sites who exhibit varying nutrition risk, education, and age levels and between elderly men and women. The conclusion was that there was a significant difference between nutrition knowledge of men and women with women scoring more correct answers on the survey. Although not shown statistically other preliminary findings suggest the need for further research; a greater proportion of females than males were in the lowest nutrition risk level; the 60-74 years olds had a higher nutrition knowledge average score than did the two older groups. Further, those with 9-11 years of education and in the lowest nutrition risk level (all females) had the highest nutrition knowledge score; and males with less than eight years of education had the lowest nutrition knowledge score and a preponderance of those were in the moderate or high risk level. The researcher also concluded that more nutrition education is needed for these participants, but it must be geared to their learning level to be effective. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

No description available.