Background: Low protein diet is one of the treatments for patients with chronic kidney disease during the pre-dialysis period. Studies about this subject have been published for more than 20 years, but the conclusions about its effect and the most appropriate composition are not clear. A low-protein diet is recommended for some patients at the Nephrology Clinic of General University Hospital. These patients are educated and re- educated by a nutrition therapist who also controls their food intake through a food diary. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of low-protein diet on the progression of chronic kidney disease in our conditions and to compare the results with the control group. Furthermore, to evaluate the nutritional status of these patients and the influence of the diet on it. Last but not least, describe a set of patients coming to education about low-protein diet. Methods: The input data was retrospectively retrieved from the medical records of patients who attended medical checks at the Nephrology Clinic of General University Hospital between 10/2016 and 3/2018. A group of 15 patients with a low-protein diet was compared with a control group of 15 patients who did not receive low-protein diet education. The main data collected was year of birth, estimated GFR, urea, creatinine, albumin,...

BACKGROUND School‐based interventions hold promise for child obesity prevention. Implemented as a part of the Winning With Wellness obesity prevention project, the “Go Slow Whoa” meal pattern (GSW) was designed to promote healthier foods in school cafeterias. This investigation determined perceived program effectiveness and impact on student's food purchases. METHODS A mixed method design was used, including focus groups with cafeteria staff (CS), quantitative analysis of CS and teacher surveys, and pre‐post analysis of cafeteria sales. A total of 37 CS and 131 teachers from 7 schools in northeast Tennessee participated. RESULTS CS recognized the important role of school nutrition services in influencing student choices, yet perceived lack of administrative support for cafeteria‐based interventions and minimal interaction with teachers were barriers. CS also believed that students choose less nutritious options due to family influence. Cafeteria sales indicated that changes were made in menu planning and production, yet students' choices improved minimally. Teachers expressed moderate levels of confidence in GSW as influential in children's dietary habits. CONCLUSIONS Successful implementation of school‐based nutrition programs requires supportive policies, administrators, and teachers. CS should be included in program implementation efforts and the role of school nutrition services should be maximized.

Thesis advisor: John Michalczyk / Why do we eat the foods that we do? This question is one that is not often considered by individuals as they go about their daily lives, but can have large implications on public health – for, there is a strong, physiological connection between food consumption and one’s health and wellbeing. Accordingly, when reflecting upon the health of a nation it is often important to consider its nutritional status. Ultimately, many determinants can contribute to how and why an individual eats certain foods, as can be seen in Ecuador. In this Latin American country, for instance, historical, socioeconomic, cultural, behavioral, socioeconomic, and environmental factors (among others) can be seen to influence the different diets – and by extension, the nutritional statuses – of different ethnic, regional, and geographic populations. Though common across Ecuador, discrepancies among these groups are particularly noticeable in the highland region, the Sierra. Overall, this paper examines the different forms of malnutrition, their implications on one’s health, and their prevalence across Ecuador. Additionally, it considers how the Ecuadorian diet was shaped, and how different subcuisines lend themselves to varying forms of malnutrition. Specifically, this paper focuses on the Sierra, given that levels of malnutrition are noticeably higher in this region, and that this highland area is home to large rural and indigenous communities who are most significantly impacted by the region’s nutritional conditions. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2017. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Arts and Sciences Honors Program. / Discipline: .