Rising obesity rates have generated serious policy concern and public interest. Along with biological and genetic factors contributing to weight gain, dietary and physical activity behaviours are considered the main determinants of individual body weight. In order to tackle the increasing obesity problem and change individual behaviour, effective policy interventions need to be developed which target specific groups within the population. Economic frameworks that have been designed to model individual choices can be applied to improve the understanding of how individual characteristics and socio-economic factors affect weight-related behaviours and body weight. This thesis uses data from the Scottish Health Survey and the HILDA (Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia) survey to empirically analyse (1) if average BMI and socio-economic characteristics differ across combinations of weight-related behaviours, (2) how diet and physical activity behaviours, as well as their determinants, can be adapted to explain BMI on average, (3) how determinants of BMI impact differently across a conditional BMI distribution, and (4) to what degree a change in BMI over time can be explained by changing influences. While previous economic research did not consider the combined effect of dietary and physical activity behaviours on body weight, this work will investigate the relationship between the weight-related behaviours and individual BMI on average and across the conditional BMI distribution to identify areas for policy interventions. Results indicate that an increase in individual physical activity is an effective measure to target individual weight. Although the energy balance framework suggests a promotion of both weight-related behaviours and traditional weight management measures promote a reduction in caloric intake, the analyses have shown that physical activity is the predominant behaviour regarding the influence on individual BMI (compared to individual diet measured by quality proxies rather than the overall caloric intake).

The purpose of this study was to explore the need for school nurses in the Saudi school system and to explore the current role of nurses in school health education and health promotion in Saudi Arabia. The study used a qualitative approach that was guided by implementation literature. Fifteen participants (8 nursing students; 4 nursing faculty members; 3 nurses) answered open-ended questions and participated in semi-structured interviews. From the findings, three themes emerged to identify the current role of nurses in Saudi Arabian school: “Health educator”, “Health promoter”, and “Liaison with community”. Four themes were identified based on the potential role of nurses in Saudi Arabian schools: “Leadership role”, “Care provider role”, “Educator role”, and “Liaison with community”. Five themes were identified based on facilitators and barriers to providing health and physical education in Saudi schools: “University and college level support”, “School health services”, “Governmental support”, “Lack of cultural approval”, and “Demand for nurses exceeds supply”. This study contributes to our understanding of what are the current and potential roles of nurses in Saudi Arabian schools, are nursing students currently prepared to provide health education and promotion to school staff and students, and what facilitators and barriers exist for nursing to provide health education and promotion in Saudi schools. This information can contribute to decision-making processes, formulation of necessary legislation, and government measures towards the implementation of school nursing and physical education, particularly in girls’ schools in Saudi Arabia, so as to maximize health and wellness in the Saudi community. / Graduate / 0680,0523,0714 / hebah.alqallaf@gmail.com

The obesity epidemic has only soared to higher intensities in the past decade. The frightening part is that the proportion of obese children in society is greater than ever before. Many studies show the positive benefits of physical activity for children and adults alike. The medical community has recently accepted the fact that the brain can form more neural connections and physical activity aides the process. The majority of this study is dedicated to the good health, behavior, and academic excellence that can be achieved by elementary students if they are allowed to be physically active for at least forty-five minutes a day. The responsibility lies with the public school system. It is their job to ensure these requirements are met by adjusting the curriculum to allow time for physical activity.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for future diabetes, a condition largely preventable by healthy eating, increased physical activity and weight management. Postpartum women with young children face many barriers to adopting healthy lifestyle programs including time constraints, multiple commitments, tiredness and resuming work. Clearly, to prevent diabetes occurring health professionals need to understand how to help post-partum women adopt healthy lifestyles. Behaviour change occurs in five stages and matching healthy lifestyle information to stage of change can promote readiness to change. The aim of the current study was to identify whether a stage-matched intervention could promote diabetes risk reduction behaviours in a cohort of women with previous GDM in the Goulburn Murray catchment area. A total of 210 eligible women, identified from medical records as GDM in the past five years were invited to participate in a healthy lifestyle program incorporating stage-matched information reinforced with telephone contact or to receive routine information only. / Data were collected via a mailed health behaviour questionnaire incorporating validated tools; the Active Australia Survey, Stage of Change tool and Fat and Fibre questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. At follow-up women answered a series of open-ended questions describing the promoters of and the barriers to behaviour change. Results were coded and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 14). Seventy-seven women (mean age 35 years) agreed to participate and were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. Eighty-eight percent completed the six-month assessment. The attrition rate was similar in both groups. There was a positive trend towards increased readiness to be active (progression of one or more stages, p< 0.05) in the intervention group compared to standard information only. There was no difference between groups in progression of stage readiness to reduce fat intake or lose weight. Both groups increased the total amount of activity undertaken by approximately 60 minutes per week and the proportion of women meeting activity guidelines increased to a similar extent in each group. There was minimal difference between the groups for weight loss or reducing fat intake. The women stressed the importance of having a goal, especially a health goal, and strong social support as important promoters of health behaviour change. In contrast, low mood, emotional eating, tiredness, lack of time and support reduced the likelihood that behaviour change would occur. / Conclusion: It is possible to implement and meaningfully evaluate an intervention incorporating stage-matched information and regular telephone reminder calls for women with a history of GDM. Despite the small sample size, this intervention can increase readiness to be more active compared to routine health promotion information. However, the intervention was unable to produce any difference between the groups in engagement in any of the diabetes risk reduction behaviours measured. Further research is needed to explore these findings in a larger population, such as with a multi-centre study. The intervention should be enhanced with strategies to address social support, post-natal depression, self-efficacy for behaviour change, mood and emotional eating.

Im Vergleich zu den traditionellen Risikofaktoren wurde die Bedeutung körperlicher Aktivität für die primäre und sekundäre Prävention der koronaren Herzerkrankung nur ungenügend berücksichtigt. Insbesondere bei Jugendlichen hat sich in den letzten Jahren eine deutliche Abnahme an körperlicher Aktivität verbunden mit einer gleichzeitigen Zunahme des Übergewichtes bemerkbar gemacht. Inzwischen gelten bis zu 25% der Schulkinder in Europa als übergewichtig, der Trend ist weiter steigend. Als einer der wichtigsten Ursachen für diese Entwicklung wird die Abnahme der körperlichen Aktivität diskutiert. Körperliches Training ist einer der Hauptpfeiler der Primär- und Sekundärprävention bei Patienten mit kardiovaskulären Erkrankungen. Die protektive Wirkung auf das kardiovaskuläre System und die prognostische Bedeutung körperlicher Aktivität wurde in großen Kohortenstudien überzeugend dokumentiert und die zugrunde liegenden Mechanismen sind zumindest teilweise aufgeklärt. Bei erwachsenen und älteren Menschen ist die Bereitschaft körperlich aktiv zu sein jedoch gering und nimmt mit zunehmendem Alter ab. Um ein hohes Niveau körperlicher Aktivität lebenslang zu erhalten, muss bei Kindern und Jugendlichen begonnen werden, diesen Lebensstil zu erzeugen und zu pflegen. Ziel des Leipziger Schulprojektes ist es, durch gezieltes körperliches Ausdauertraining im Rahmen eines täglichen Sportunterrichts in Verbindung mit Unterrichtsstunden zur gesunden Lebensführung eine Steigerung der körperlichen Aktivität (gemessen anhand der maximalen Sauerstoffaufnahme VO2 max) der Schulkinder zu erreichen. Des Weiteren sollen als sekundäre Studienvariablen der Einfluss täglichen intensivierten Sportunterrichts auf das atherogene Risikoprofil gemessen und anhand verschiedener Parameter untersucht werden. Zusammen mit der sportwissenschaftlichen Fakultät (Frau Prof. Alfermann) werden zudem psychosoziale Aspekte analysiert. Das Leipziger Schulprojekt wurde 2005 an 3 Schulen begonnen. In diesem Pilotprojekt sollte zudem geprüft werden, inwieweit ein Interventionsprogramm mit täglichem Sportunterricht in den Schulen etabliert werden kann. Die Effizienz dieses Projektes sollte ebenfalls nach einem Jahr durch Erfassung verschiedener Parameter überprüft werden.

The thesis deals with physical activity in the prevention of childhood obesity. It is focused on children, namely pupils of the eighth and ninith grades of elementary school. Obesity is responsible for more human lives than both of the world wars and if we want this epidemic of obesity and problems associated with inactivity minimized, we have to start where it is most efficient and that is with children. The main objective is to explore physical activity in a selected group of pupils. Partial aim is to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the investigated group of students using somatometric measurements in the selected location. Another objective is to determine how many of childrens parents did sports in the past or actualy do sports. The final goal is to prepare educational material for students about the importance of physical activity. The work is divided into two parts theoretical and practical. The theoretical part was compiled as a secondary data analysis. Sources of data and information originated from the Czech Republic and abroad in the form of scholarly books, journals and electronic resources. The contents of the theoretical part is focused on explenation of terms such as obesity, its consequences, complications, ways to prevent obesity, physical activity, appropriate kinds of physical activity and its effects on the human body. Distinctive part is the chapter dealing with the myths of obesity some of them are really surprising. The second part is practical part and includes its own research. The investigation was conducted in a primary school Komenského alej in Žatec for pupils of the eighth and ninth grades. File featured 107 pupils. The research was conducted as a quantitative survey complemented by measurements of somatometric indicators. The data were collected using a custom non-standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 14 questions and two columns separated by line for recording the exact weight and height. We checked these data at pre-agreed periods.

This study aimed to investigate associations between psychosocial factors, obesity, and oral health in a study population of 10- to 18-year-old adolescents who participated in the LIFE Child study. Psychosocial information (socioeconomic status (SES) based on parents’ education, occupation and household income, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), health-related quality of life) and physical activity behavior were obtained. Nutritional status was classified based on age- and sex-adjusted body mass index into underweight, overweight, normal weight and obese. Clinical dental examinations were performed and scored with respect to caries experience (CE), oral hygiene (OH), and periodontal status (periodontal health score: PERIO-S). Age-adjusted regression analysis under the assumption of a double Poisson distribution was performed with and without adjusting for SES (α = 5%). A total of 1158 study participants (590 girls, 568 boys; mean age 13.2 ± 2.3 years) were included (17.2% were classified as obese). CE was 20% higher for moderate and 60% higher for low SES compared to high SES (p < 0.05). PERIO-S was 10% higher for moderate and 30% higher for low compared to high SES (p < 0.05). Poor OH was associated with higher CE (Ratio R = 2.3, p < 0.0001) and PERIO-S (R = 3.1, p < 0.0001). Physical activity in a sports club was associated with lower CE-S and PERIO-S (R = 0.85, p < 0.001). Obesity was associated with increased CE (R = 1.3, p < 0.001) compared to normal weight. For low but not high SES, more reported difficulties were associated with higher CE. In conclusion, low SES, poor OH, and obesity are associated with unfavorable oral health conditions, whereas physical activity and high SES are potentially protective.

Objectives We aimed to examine the association between immigrant generation and obesity among Californian adults and Asian Americans. Results Overall, 23.3% of the Asian population was obese, and 40.0% was overweight. The percentage of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation were 72.7%, 22.6%, and 4.6%, respectively. Overall, 1st generation of Asians had lower odds of being obese compared to Whites (OR = 0.34, 95%CI = 0.26–0.45). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that overall, 2nd generation (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.10–2.60) and 3rd generation (OR = 2.33, 95%CI = 1.29–4.22) Asians had higher odds of being obese compared to 1st generation Asians. Among Chinese, compared to the 1st generation, the 3rd generation had increased likelihood of being obese (OR = 6.29, 95%CI = 2.38–16.6). Conclusion Compared to Whites, Hispanics, and Blacks, Asian immigrants are less likely to be obese. Among Asians, 2nd and 3rd generations were more likely to be obese compared to 1st generation. The obesity rate seems to increase the longer Asian immigrants remain in the U.S.

Title: Obesity monitoring in middle aged men in Hradec Kralove Targets: The targets of thesis is to determine prevalence of the obesity in men at age 30 - 50 years in Hradec Kralove. The necessary data for this empirical research will be obtained on the basis of the questionnaires distributed among 30 active athletes and 30 pacients of prof. Martinik's diabetology office, who suffer from obesity and undergo treatment in his office. Subsequently, I will perform a deep analysis of all the data obtained from the questionnaries, in order to identify hazard factors for obesity, stress management, physical aktivity, fixed daily routine and life management or the prevalence of the genetic load in the group of surveyed athletes and surveyed obese patients of prof. Martiník's diabetology office. These data will be then compared in order to identifily the main differences between active athletes and obese patients. Methods: The empirical research was conducted at 30 randomly selected active athletes (at age 30 - 50 years), who live in Hradec Kralove and at 30 random patients (also at age 30 - 50 years) of prof. Martiník, who also live in Hradec Kralove and undergo medical treatment on the basis of the questionnaire, which I created myself and filled personally with the patients and athletes in order to...

This work follows the studies focused on obesity, its global extent and its serious health and economic impact. At the same time, the work examines the unsuccessful fight of public policies which try to reverse growing prevalence of obesity. Nevertheless, the main goal of the thesis is a discussion about priorities of new orientation in the research on the causes of the obesity epidemic and effectiveness of precautions that were taken in many countries and international organizations with the main aim to stop the obesity and its consequences. The discussion leads to the more detailed description of the problems connected with obesity, for instance, environmental aspects, housing culture in relation to physical activities, lifestyle in relation to advertisement/marketing, psychological and socio- psychological aspects, combating stress, etc. My intention was to find out utility of contemporary research on obesity for setting of policy fighting against obesity. At the same time, I wanted to find out other possible directions in the research into this field and discover how the discussion about priorities of the research in the experimental community proceeds. Two international dimensions of paradigmatic approaches separated to the certain degree can be considered as relevant with regard to the global...