<p>The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and predictors of the use of high-risk supplements, including those in the herbal, caffeinated, weight-loss, pre-workout, and muscle-building categories, among collegiate athletes. Anonymous surveys, with complete data regarding supplement use, were collected from 557 athletes participating on competitive teams at two NCAA Division 1 schools. A total of 8.3% of participants met criteria for high risk supplement use. Survey results indicated that 20 (3.6%) athletes used herbal, 1 (0.2%) athlete used caffeinated, 5 (0.9%) athletes used weight loss, 28 (5.0%) athletes used pre-workout, and 1 (0.2%) athlete used muscle-building supplements. Significant predictors of supplement use included motivations regarding endurance, fat loss, and increased muscle mass, and status as a 4th year (or later) college student. The reported motivation to use supplements to lose body fat and gain muscle mass emerged as the strongest single predictor of high-risk supplement use.

<p> The aim of this study is to investigate an organic product that has been reported to aid in improving overall exercise performance. Specifically, this study is concerned with examining the effects of tart cherry concentrate (<i> Prunus Cerasus</i>) on increased exercise performance by increased nitrate production and muscle oxygenation during exercise on a sample of 30 college aged males. </p><p> Thirty college-aged men volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects completed three separate visits in which they drank tart cherry concentrate or the placebo two times a day for seven days. The tart cherry concentrate was administered using a single blind randomization and included the tart cherry concentrate 75mg and a placebo 75mg made of an artificial cherry flavored syrup and lemon extract. Participants consumed their respective assigned drink two times a day, and thirty minutes prior to each of their lab visits. Venous blood was drawn and separated following the first consumption of the assigned group and then later frozen and analyzed for total nitrate levels. During the last day of the protocol subjects cycled for 1 hour or until exhaustion at 60% of their baseline VO₂ Peak wattage. </p><p> The results showed that there was no significant acute difference by treatment for total nitrate level, exercise lactate levels, total hemoglobin, and muscle oxygenation. There was a significant difference by treatment for Respiratory Compensation Point, and baseline VO₂ peak values. The results reveal that consumption of tart cherry concentrate provided no 67 increase in serum nitrate levels and muscle oxygenation during exercise. On the basis of the results of this research, it can be concluded that, when consumed in concentrate form, tart cherry concentrate, does not appear to have any direct ability to increase overall exercise performance.</p><p>

<p> Underserved populations suffer the highest rates of overweight and obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans have the highest obesity rates followed by Latinos (47.8% and 42.5% respectively). In the City of Long Beach, 40.9% of adults are overweight and 24.6% are considered obese. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors that contribute to chronic diseases. In an effort to help curtail these unhealthy trends, The Beach Community Wellness Program (BCWP) was created. During the second year of the program&rsquo;s implementation, the author realized additional resources could help supplement the classes being offered. The purpose of this project was to create a free fitness and nutrition manual for the BCWP participants. The manual is divided into two parts; fitness information to help increase participant&rsquo;s daily levels of physical activity and nutrition guidelines to help improve their eating habits. Recommendations for future BCWP manuals are provided.</p>

<p> This study was designed to investigate carbohydrate supplementation during cheerleading training and its effect on performance. Seventeen participants in four trials; one to gather anthropometric data and 1-repetition maximums, one familiarization trial, a carbohydrate trial, and a placebo trial. The exercises used were power snatches from a hang position, push jerks, front squats, and box squats. The exercises most mimicked a standard strength and conditioning practice for cheerleaders. Performance was measured by calculating the difference between pre- and post-training values in vertical jump repetitions, peak power, average power, peak velocity, and average velocity in a power snatch, and a 200-m shuttle sprint. Performance values for carbohydrate and placebo trials were analyzed using a paired sample t-test, which found no significant difference between the carbohydrate and placebo trials. </p><p>

<p> More than 500 million people are affected by obesity worldwide and in 2015 no state in the United States had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. It is well-documented that obesity is linked with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as: metabolic syndrome, hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia. A weight management intervention that is affordable, convenient, appealing, and effective is needed in order to target this epidemic. In an effort to provide supplemental resources needed by weight management programs, the <i>Telehealth Nutrition Manual for An Online Intensive Behavioral Weight Management Program</i> was created. The purpose of this project was to create a nutrition manual for those seeking weight loss through online program interventions. The manual includes guidance on appropriate caloric intake, monitoring biochemical markers, strategies for behavior change, and a variety of dietary approaches within a flexible meal plan. Recommendations for future nutrition manuals are provided. </p>

<p> This study investigated the effects of acute versus chronic beetroot supplementation on maximal exercise, resting blood pressure, nitrates, oxidative stress (TBARS), and antioxidant capacity (SOD) in the blood. Thirty participants were placed in one of three groups; consuming beetroot for 7 days (BR7), 1 day (BR1), or the Control. Data was analyzed using ANOVA and <i>t</i>-test (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). There were no changes in maximal exercise or blood pressure after supplementation. Nitrate levels increased significantly after 7 days of beetroot consumption (<i>p</i> = 0.04) but not after a single dose. Additionally, both a prolonged use and a single dose of beetroot supplementation increased antioxidant capacity (<i>p</i> = 0.02). Long term beetroot consumption minimized the normal exercise response in both nitrate levels and SOD activity. TBARS varied by group. This study suggests that the potential for increased lipid peroxidation associated with beetroot supplementation appeared to be mitigated by increased antioxidant capacity.</p>

<p> While adolescent endurance runners are at risk for energy deficiency, limited studies have evaluated the effect of a nutrition education intervention. We evaluated the effect of a 4-week nutrition curriculum on adolescent cross-country runners&rsquo; nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors, and self-efficacy to optimize intake of nutrient-dense carbohydrate foods, using a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design. Runners (<i>n</i> = 45; <i>n</i> = 26 F, <i>n</i> = 19 M; age 15.7 &plusmn; 0.2y) attended 4 weekly 30 to 60-minute lessons. Baseline body weight and composition were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Paired samples t-tests measured difference in nutrition knowledge and self-efficacy scores, before and after each lesson. Mean nutrition knowledge scores significantly increased from pre- to post-test for lessons 1 and 2 (<i>p</i> &lt; .001). Mean self-efficacy scores significantly improved pre- to post-test for all lessons (<i>p</i> &lt; .001). Findings suggest a benefit of the curriculum to increase nutrition knowledge, self-efficacy, and support dietary behaviors promoting increase in nutrient-dense carbohydrate intake among adolescent runners.</p><p>

<p> Obesity has risen at a significant rate over the last 20 years. By 2015, an estimated 2.3 billion adults will be categorized as overweight, and over 700 million will be considered obese. Obesity is recognized as a global health epidemic and is associated with many negative consequences to physical health, emotional health, and psychological well-being. The negative emotional impact of obesity is greater for adolescent girls than for boys, although the research into the impact on boys is scarce. Prior to this study, little was known about the experiences of previously obese men who achieved and maintained weight loss through self-guided approaches. The problem this phenomenological study addressed were the experiences of obese men who had successfully employed self-guided weight loss approaches. Understanding male dieters&rsquo; experiences with self-guided weight loss methods and how they relate to self-blame and self-efficacy may help to inform future research and weight loss interventions. The lived experiences of seven men, aged 35 to 60 were investigated for this phenomenological study. The confidential, one-on-one interviews revealed the following 14 themes: childhood weight issues, hiding and social withdrawal, developing new habits and routines, healthier food and nutrition, Weight Watchers, exercise and physical activity, motivation, determination, personal responsibility and self-reliance, self-efficacy, self-reliance, self-control, self-image, negative affect, unhealthy eating habits, denial, family history of weight issues, past failures, and lack of support. Data indicated male participants preferred self-guided weight loss interventions, but success was contingent upon their self-efficacy. Study results provide weight loss specialists with practical recommendations and important direction for future research. </p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to discover the meaning of school body mass index (BMI) screening and referral to parents. The goal of school BMI screening and referral is to provide information to compel parents to change their child&rsquo;s diet and activity levels when overweight and obesity are identified. Measuring BMI in schools and alerting parents to findings above what is considered normal is one intervention to reduce overweight and obesity that has been utilized since 2001 in Florida. </p><p> To determine the meaning of BMI screening and referral to parents a mixed methods approach was utilized. Voluntary interviews of 20 parents who had received BMI referrals for their children were conducted. Analysis of the interviews was guided by phenomenology, as delineated by van Manen (1997). A cross sectional survey developed by Ruggieri (2012), was distributed to measure parent beliefs and opinions regarding the BMI screening and their reaction to referrals.</p><p> Findings from interviews indicated that parents ascribe different meaning to school BMI screening and referral. Overarching themes of changing and reflecting were discovered. The themes were manifested as dichotomies; some parents reflected on their role as parent and were more satisfied with the process; they reported change of diet and activity for their families upon receipt of a BMI referral. Others reflected on the role of the school in their child&rsquo;s life. They were more dissatisfied with the school screening and recommended changes in the screening and referral process. Suggested changes for school screening and referrals included subthemes: sensitivity, accuracy, privacy, and notification. </p><p> Parents responded in the survey that they would change diet and activity for their families if they were told by the school that their child had a weight issue. Actions taken upon receipt of a BMI referral were not limited to changing diet and activity levels but also included discussing weight with their child and others. Parents denied they would be offended by a BMI referral. School BMI screening and referral is a valuable and effective intervention to address child overweight and obesity, especially if the process is accomplished with characteristics that parents deem caring.</p>