<p> <i>Purpose:</i> To determine if personality style is related to perceptions of health coaching and if there is a relationship between perceptions of health coaching and the ability to lose weight. <i>Methods:</i> Data was gathered from approximately 2,000 MR program participants via an electronic survey. The Client Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing scale was used to determine if perceptions of health coaching affect the ability to lose weight. The Ten Item Personality Inventory was used to determine if personality style is associated with the perception of health coaching. Self-reported start weight and current weight were used to calculate percent of starting weight. Linear regression was used to determine the specific aims. Statistical analysis was controlled for age and sex. <i>Results:</i> Participants who reported a greater satisfaction with their health coaches&rsquo; knowledge, ability, time, support, and relationship displayed a greater weight loss than those who were not satisfied. Satisfaction with the relationship/connection with health coach was associated with extraversion (<i>p</i> = .039). Satisfaction with support of the health coach was associated with emotional stability (<i>p</i> = .061). <i>Conclusion:</i> Positive perceptions of health coaching influence weight loss in MR program participants. Some personality styles indicated satisfaction with specific aspects of health coaching. However, it can be assumed that personality is not the sole determining factor for health coaching perceptions.</p><p>

<p> Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness costing over $300 billion per year in the United States with an estimated 100 million individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Complications due to diabetes place individuals at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, amputations, blindness, kidney failure, disability, and early death. Education has been shown to be effective in improving health behaviors that decrease complications due to diabetes. Common risk factors for development of diabetes are modifiable behaviors such as sedentary lifestyle and obesity. </p><p> A peer-led approach to diabetes education has the potential to overcome multiple barriers to receiving education. Peer-led diabetes education can provide education at low or no cost in communities where individuals feel welcomed and travel is minimized. Diabetes education has the potential to decrease disability, early death, and the economic costs of diabetes. </p><p> The purpose of this study was to determine if peer-led sessions on diabetes self-management impacted health behaviors, empowerment, and knowledge of diabetes. Four topic-driven educational sessions were provided for participants in Northeast Arkansas who had either a diagnosis of pre-diabetes or diabetes. Pre and post-questionnaires were used to assess changes in knowledge using the Revised Diabetes Knowledge Test, empowerment using the Diabetes Empowerment Scale - Short Form, and health behaviors. </p><p> A statistically significant difference was found in the empowerment scale with an increase in mean scores from 31.23 to 36.04. A paired samples t-test found a statistically significant difference in scores on Diabetes Knowledge Test, (t (25) = &ndash;2.54, p &lt; .05). Significant changes in health behaviors were found for knowledge of A1C levels, the frequency of foot exams, and days of exercise per week. </p><p> Focus groups following intervention provided qualitative results indicating satisfaction with the peer-led model. In order to implement peer-led education, there is a need to develop improved strategies for recruitment. A peer-led model for diabetes education has potential to provide needed education.</p><p>

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1940.

Thesis (M.S.P.H.)--University of Michigan, 1940.

<p> This dissertation consists of two substudies. The objectives of Substudy 1 were as follows: 1) to examine changes in obesity rates throughout elementary school in a large sample of children with respect to socioecological factors, especially trends in body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of &ldquo;severe high obesity&rdquo; during elementary school, and 2) to explore the longitudinal effect of socioecological obesogenic factors (including individual, parental, familial, and environmental factors) on the transition from a normal/healthy weight to being overweight or obese among children aged three to 13 years old. This longitudinal panel study used the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Program (ECLS-K). A modified socioecological model was used as a conceptual framework to guide the investigation of this study&rsquo;s research questions. Two longitudinal ordered regressions were performed to determine the associations between socioecological obesogenic variables (e.g., family activity and parental involvement) and changes in obesity rates, as well as the transition from a normal/healthy weight to being overweight, obese, or severely obese. A total of 1,264 children (representing 379,297 at the population level) were identified for this study (mean age: 5.24 years; female: 48.7% at baseline). Hispanics and other nonwhite children, children with less socioeconomic and environmental support, and children living in households with fewer family members were more likely than their counterparts to gain weight (all <i>p</i>s &lt; 0.05). This study revealed multiple dimensions of how sociological obesogenic factors influence children&rsquo;s weight increases and transitions in a longitudinal setting. Unhealthy BMI status among children was affected not only by individual factors but also by parents, family, and environments. Parents and family play a crucial role in children&rsquo;s physical activity and nutrition, and obtaining family and environmental support is critically important for maintaining a healthy BMI status. The findings suggest that a greater focus on family and social support is necessary to help children maintain a healthy weight over time. </p><p> Substudy 2 aimed to investigate the association between the Head Start Program and children&rsquo;s BMI status, as well as their quality of life with respect to socioecological obesogenic factors. This cross-sectional study employed the ECLS-K as well. A propensity-score matching analysis was performed to examine the association between the Head Start Program and children&rsquo;s BMI status, as well as the quality of life, controlling for socioecological obesogenic factors. A total of 3,753 children (representing 1,284,209 at the population level) were recruited for this study (mean age: 13.69 years; female: 49.42%). In the final matched model, the Head Start Program did not have a statistically significant effect on children&rsquo;s obesity. Children who were African American, had less participation in school-sponsored activities, perceived themselves as overweight, lived in a household with fewer family members, and had less strict TV regulations were more likely to be overweight than their counterparts (all <i>p</i>s &lt; 0.05). Evidence suggests that multiple dimensions of sociological obesogenic factors&mdash;including individual as well as parental, familial, and community support factors&mdash;affect the weight of children from low-income families and should be considered when establishing behavioral and policy interventions to thwart the childhood obesity epidemic.</p><p>

<p> Today, obesity has become the number one concern of kids and teens. About one in three Americans are overweight or obese. This in part is due to the consumption of highly commercialized and processed foods that lack the essential nutrients in maintaining a healthy weight in addition to normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Studies have shown that eating habits are learned early in life and are carried on throughout the rest of their lives. As children grow older into their adolescent years, they are more aware of their eating habits and have gained more autonomy in regards to food choices. </p><p> Plant-based foods have shown to drastically improve the overall health of individuals with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess weight. </p><p> Power Plant is a facility that intends offer plant-based nutritional services in the form of informative lectures, interactive workshops, one-on-one nutritional guidance by appointment, with access to peer-mentors for additional support and guidance. Power Plant will dedicate their services to the Whittier Union high school district, surrounding community colleges, and universities in the Los Angeles County area. </p><p> Power Plant&rsquo;s unique program design, physician referrals and the critical need of our generations to come, are all factors that will contribute to its success in the Los Angeles County community and for years to come.</p><p>

Thesis (M.A.)--Pacific Lutheran University, 1997. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

<p> Over 85% of all adults are active on social media. Social media is challenging as an information-sharing community because there is no formal review process before the information is published. College students are among the most active users of social media and have been shown to be ineffective in determining credible information online. Eighty-three students from two universities participated in a voluntary, online survey that assessed the relationship between gender, enrollment year, and academic major of college students and how the students navigated social media to obtain nutrition information. Variables were tested using a chi-square analysis; if determinants were <i>n</i> &lt; 5 a Fisher&rsquo;s exact test was run. </p><p> Results indicated that female students were significantly more likely to use Instagram, <i>x</i>² = 5.224, <i>p</i> = 0.022 or Pinterest, <i>p</i> = 0.002, to access nutrition information and placed higher importance on the quality of photos than males, <i> x</i>² = 4.953, <i>p</i> = 0.026. Additionally, female students were more likely to search for healthy recipes, <i>x </i>² = 11.044, <i>p</i> = 0.001, weight loss information, <i>x</i>² = 7.675, <i>p</i> = 0.006, and to trust chefs, <i>x</i>² = 6.863, <i>p</i> = 0.009 and food bloggers, <i>p</i> = &lt; 0.001. Descriptively, it was found that students are more likely to search for broad nutrition topics such as general nutrition tips, weight loss, and healthy recipes. Students were found to trust both credible (registered dietitians, physicians) and non-credible professionals (personal trainers, nutritionist). Future research should expand on how students use social media for nutrition/health information using a larger, more culturally diverse subject pool with a more detailed focus on implications of social media as a nutrition source.</p><p>

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.