Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) --University of Limpopo, 2009 / Obesity is a complex and chronic disease that is associated with many complications including type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanism leading to these events is unclear. To determine the role played by obesity in the development of T2D, it was purposed to examine serum protein profiles of diet-induced obese Wistar rats. These protein(s) will be used as potential biomarkers for early detection, diagnosis, as target for drug discovery and hopefully treatment of obesity and obesity-induced disorders. An animal model of obesity-induced T2D was established by feeding male Wistar rats a diet with a high fat content for 44 weeks. Weight changes and food intake were monitored weekly during the diet phase. Fasting blood glucose levels were measured while blood was collected for serumpreparation every second week for the first eight weeks; using these parameters, a model for the identification of diet-induced obese rats was established. Serum protein profiles were then compared between the two groups using 2D-PAGE analysis coupled to MALDI-MS at termination of the study. Several proteins showed differences in their expression when compared between the low fat (LF) and high fat (HF) groups. However, only proteins that showed expression that was either two fold low or high between the two groups were considered to be differentially expressed. High fat fed rats weighed significantly heavier starting at the fourth week on diet and throughout the study, their glucose homeostasis and serum protein expression was altered. Three protein spots were identified as dysregulated in the HF group, where Apolipoprotein-AIV was found to have been up-regulated whereas C-reactive protein and Fetuin-A were down-regulated. These proteins might help in the understanding of the mechanism(s)that underlie the pathogenesis of obesity and its related disorders. However, further studies are required to determine the relationship between these proteins, obesity development and its comorbidities.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 74-93).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-49).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-174). Also available via the World Wide Web.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Background The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSBs) among children and adolescents, particularly carbonated soft drinks, are always blamed to be the contributor to the epidemic of overweight and obesity. With the number of obese population increased, people become increasingly more focus on the relationship between SSB and the weight gain problems. However, because there are some characteristics of these beverages that people can get energy and happiness, so that people enjoy drinking sugar-sweetened beverage especially children who like sugar and sweet. So, people are still wondering the association between SSB and obesity. Methods A literature search was performed using Google scholar and Pubmed to locate all relevant articles in English that study the impacts of SSB on the weight gain and obesity on children and adolescent up to December 2013. Findings Eleven core references were found to study the association between SSB and the weight gain among children and adolescent including 4 randomized trial studies, 6 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study. Conclusions The data collected from large cross-sectional studies, especially the long-term studies shows that there is a positive association between the intake of SSB and the weight gain and obesity in children and adolescent. A case control study based on hospital shows that the children who with less soft-drink consumptions have lower prevalence of obesity and overweight. In addition, the randomized control trials indicate that the greater consumption of SSB, the easier to gain weights among children and adolescents. Although more evidence are needed, the sufficient evidence exists now are not encouraging the public to intake too many sugar-sweetened beverage as a healthy behavior. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

Thesis (D.Tech. degree in Nursing)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2012. / While obesity has reached epidemic levels worldwide, it is not regarded as negative or unacceptable among South African black socio-cultural groups. It is estimated that 29% of men and 56% of women in South Africa are obese. Variations in worldview create differences between perceived weight and actual weight which influence obesity levels and interventions. This makes it necessary to develop culturally congruent weight reduction interventions so that they are acceptable to targeted communities. The objective of the study was to develop, implement and evaluate a weight reduction intervention in Thulamela in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore demographic associations and their predictive value of effective weight maintenance among participants in the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta [CHOA] Strong4Life program for children and youth ages 2 to 20. METHODS: Analyses are based on the Strong4Life clinic data collected by Strong4Life from 2010 through 2014. Participants of the program fell into the 85th percentile and above for Body Mass Index (BMI). Descriptive tests, comparison of means, and logistic regression analyses were run to determine if patterns in the data examining demographic characteristics of the sample and their relationship to successful weight management were statistically significant. RESULTS: Logistic regression findings indicate that ethnicity (OR=2.737, CI: 1.273-5.892) p =0.01 is a predictor of successful weight management (n=324). Stong4Life defined program success as a decrease in BMI z-score of 0.04. While gender, race, baseline weight, asthma and pre-diabetes status were examined; statistical tests did not detect significant variations among the participants. Overall, the Strong4Life program is successful as seen by the p value< 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study are important for childhood obesity programs because tailoring strategies that align with unique segments of the population maximize their potential reach. Obesity research is required to advance intervention development that is sensitive to patterns and distinctions that exist among subpopulations. These findings are important for prevention of childhood obesity efforts and promotion of multidisciplinary approaches to combat obesity world-wide.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this research study was to assess the degree of agreement between simple anthropometric measurements (i.e. body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio) and the measures of regional adiposity, with a primary focus on the androidlgynoid ratio, assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This secondary purpose of the study was to identify any significant correlations between the measures of regional adiposity, physical activity, and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: Forty-eight subjects, 19 males (48.7 ± 16.9 years) and 29 females (43.6 ± 16.2 years), volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects underwent laboratory testing compromised of resting blood pressure, blood lipid analysis, waist & hip circumference, total body DXA scan, and a one week physical activity assessment. Results: Significant correlations were observed between body mass index and region body fat % (r = 0.84, 0.79), waist circumference and android fat % (r = 0.79, 0.75), and waist-to-hip ratio and androidlgynoid ratio (r = 0.72, 0.61) for men and women, respectively. Fasting insulin was correlated with region body fat %, android body fat %, trunk body fat %, and the android/gynoid ratio. The android/gynoid ratio was correlated with high density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and fasting glucose. There was a statistically significant negative relationship observed between average steps per day and body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, region body fat %, android body fat %, and trunk body fat %. Conclusions: This study found that there are strong relationships between simple anthropometric measures and regional body fat measures from the DXA. According to the data in the present study, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio provide simple yet sensitive methods for the estimation of regional body fat in Caucasian males and females. In addition, this study found significant correlations between measures of the blood lipid profile, physical activity, and both simple anthropometric and DXA measures of regional body fat. Key words: android fat, body mass index, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, gynoid fat, obesity, waist circumference. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science