The percentage of obese adults in the U.S. has more than doubled since the late 1970.s. A large percentage of adults, especially women, are trying to lose weight at any given time. Although recommended weight-loss strategies combine reduced caloric intake with physical activity, the actual strategies used can vary. This dissertation uses a mixed-methods approach to investigate weight, weight loss, and body image in post-menopausal women ages 50 to 64. Quantitative data were analyzed from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and semi-structured interviews with 81 women in Kentucky. Qualitative data was gathered from in-depth interviews with eight Kentucky women focusing on life-course factors that affect weight and perception of weight. Over 70% of the Kentucky subjects had attempted weight loss in the last year; 47% of the NHANES women had done so. The most common weight-loss strategies of the Kentucky sample were .ate less food. and .exercised.; in the NHANES samples, the most common choices were .ate less food. and .ate less fat.. In the Kentucky sample, feeling that one is in control of one.s own weight was associated with having joined a weight loss program. Exercise and restaurant frequency and were the most significant predictors of the weight outcomes investigated. Increased exercise was associated with an increased likelihood of being normal weight, gaining less than 10 pounds in the last 10 years, and gaining less than 30 pounds since age 25; decreased restaurant frequency was associated with all of these outcomes in the Kentucky sample. The in-depth interviews revealed that making good food choices, having others as role models, and the desire to be attractive were seen as positive influences on weight. The consumption of .bad. foods, stress, health problems that prevent exercise, menopause, and age were seen as negative influences. The qualitative data also strongly suggested that childhood weight, and past reactions of others to one.s weight, influence perception of current weight. It is the responsibility of women and the public health sector to make the most of these acknowledged motivators and minimize the perceived barriers to reverse the increasing obesity levels in the U.S.

A interrelação de fatores como o avanço da idade, aliado às condições sócio-econômicas e à vulnerabilidade social, refletem na proeminência de doenças crônicas como a osteoporose e a doença periodontal. Tendo em vista que a perda óssea é a principal consequência para ambas as doenças, a osteoporose e a doença periodontal podem estar relacionadas. Considerando o limitado número de estudos longitudinais sobre a associação entre osteoporose e doença periodontal, o objetivo do nosso estudo foi avaliar, através de parâmetros clínicos periodontais, o efeito da osteoporose sobre os resultados do tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico em mulheres na pós-menopausa, acompanhadas por um ano. Delineou-se um ensaio clínico controlado, duplo cego, para avaliar trinta e cinco mulheres selecionadas divididas em dois grupos: o grupo OST, composto por dezoito mulheres com diagnóstico de periodontite e osteoporose e o grupo controle (CTRL), composto por dezessete mulheres diagnosticadas para periodontite, porém, sistemicamente saudáveis. O efeito do tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico foi avaliado por meio das mensurações dos parâmetros clínicos como índice de placa bacteriana, sangramento à sondagem, profundidade de sondagem e nível clínico de inserção após o tratamento, nos períodos de três e doze meses. Assumindo-se como resultado principal a diferença no nível clínico de inserção, aos doze meses após o tratamento periodontal, utilizou-se o teste student t para amostras pareadas na análise intra-grupo e, para a comparação entre os grupos, o teste t para amostras independentes. Observou-se que o tratamento periodontal foi efetivo e ambos os grupos mostraram melhora em todos os parâmetros estudados após tratamento periodontal, quando comparado aos valores iniciais (p<0,05), houve ganho de inserção clínica para ambos os grupos, aos doze meses de avaliação, não havendo, porém, diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos (p>0,05). Não pudemos observar, dentro das limitações deste estudo, a interferência da osteoporose sobre as alteraçôes dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais após um ano de avaliação dos resultados do tratamento não cirúrgico da peridontite em mulheres na pós-menopausa. / To date no studies have evaluated the effect of osteoporosis on non-surgical periodontitis treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of osteoporosis on non-surgical periodontal therapy in post-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis. 35 women diagnosed with slight to moderate periodontitis were divided in two groups: osteoporotic (OST, n=18) and non-osteoporotic (CTRL, n=17) women. The effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment was assessed by measuring the changes in plaque (PI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) scores, probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) during one year. Only sites with baseline PD 4mm were used for statistical analysis. The periodontal therapy resulted in significant improvements for both groups. At the end of twelve months, the mean PI, BOP, PD and CAL for the OST group were 27.2 ±17.7, 2.6 ±3.0, 2.5 ±0.7, 3.6 ±1.3, respectively, versus 30.2 ±17.0, 8.4 ±10.6, 3.2 ±1.2, 4.3 ±1.5, respectively, for the control group. Using an individual-based analysis and Student t test for unpaired and paired observations (significance of differences between and within groups, respectively), women in CTRL group showed enhanced in BOP and PD scores (p<0.05) over a period of 12 months compared with those in OST group but no significant difference was found between the groups for PD and CAL difference changes (p>0,05). Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that osteoporosis did not influence the result of non-surgical periodontal therapy in slight to moderate periodontitis, the effect of osteoporosis condition on changes in clinical parameters could not be observed after one year post non-susrgical periodontal treatment.

A interrelação de fatores como o avanço da idade, aliado às condições sócio-econômicas e à vulnerabilidade social, refletem na proeminência de doenças crônicas como a osteoporose e a doença periodontal. Tendo em vista que a perda óssea é a principal consequência para ambas as doenças, a osteoporose e a doença periodontal podem estar relacionadas. Considerando o limitado número de estudos longitudinais sobre a associação entre osteoporose e doença periodontal, o objetivo do nosso estudo foi avaliar, através de parâmetros clínicos periodontais, o efeito da osteoporose sobre os resultados do tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico em mulheres na pós-menopausa, acompanhadas por um ano. Delineou-se um ensaio clínico controlado, duplo cego, para avaliar trinta e cinco mulheres selecionadas divididas em dois grupos: o grupo OST, composto por dezoito mulheres com diagnóstico de periodontite e osteoporose e o grupo controle (CTRL), composto por dezessete mulheres diagnosticadas para periodontite, porém, sistemicamente saudáveis. O efeito do tratamento periodontal não cirúrgico foi avaliado por meio das mensurações dos parâmetros clínicos como índice de placa bacteriana, sangramento à sondagem, profundidade de sondagem e nível clínico de inserção após o tratamento, nos períodos de três e doze meses. Assumindo-se como resultado principal a diferença no nível clínico de inserção, aos doze meses após o tratamento periodontal, utilizou-se o teste student t para amostras pareadas na análise intra-grupo e, para a comparação entre os grupos, o teste t para amostras independentes. Observou-se que o tratamento periodontal foi efetivo e ambos os grupos mostraram melhora em todos os parâmetros estudados após tratamento periodontal, quando comparado aos valores iniciais (p<0,05), houve ganho de inserção clínica para ambos os grupos, aos doze meses de avaliação, não havendo, porém, diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos (p>0,05). Não pudemos observar, dentro das limitações deste estudo, a interferência da osteoporose sobre as alteraçôes dos parâmetros clínicos periodontais após um ano de avaliação dos resultados do tratamento não cirúrgico da peridontite em mulheres na pós-menopausa. / To date no studies have evaluated the effect of osteoporosis on non-surgical periodontitis treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of osteoporosis on non-surgical periodontal therapy in post-menopausal women with chronic periodontitis. 35 women diagnosed with slight to moderate periodontitis were divided in two groups: osteoporotic (OST, n=18) and non-osteoporotic (CTRL, n=17) women. The effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment was assessed by measuring the changes in plaque (PI) and bleeding on probing (BOP) scores, probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) during one year. Only sites with baseline PD 4mm were used for statistical analysis. The periodontal therapy resulted in significant improvements for both groups. At the end of twelve months, the mean PI, BOP, PD and CAL for the OST group were 27.2 ±17.7, 2.6 ±3.0, 2.5 ±0.7, 3.6 ±1.3, respectively, versus 30.2 ±17.0, 8.4 ±10.6, 3.2 ±1.2, 4.3 ±1.5, respectively, for the control group. Using an individual-based analysis and Student t test for unpaired and paired observations (significance of differences between and within groups, respectively), women in CTRL group showed enhanced in BOP and PD scores (p<0.05) over a period of 12 months compared with those in OST group but no significant difference was found between the groups for PD and CAL difference changes (p>0,05). Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that osteoporosis did not influence the result of non-surgical periodontal therapy in slight to moderate periodontitis, the effect of osteoporosis condition on changes in clinical parameters could not be observed after one year post non-susrgical periodontal treatment.

[Truncated abstract.] Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia world-wide accounting for more than two thirds of all dementia cases. AD is characterised by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and congophillic amyloid angiopathy in the brain tissue of affected individuals. Of these neuropathological features the extracellular amyloid plaques are the most characteristic containing a peptide termed amyloid- beta (Aβ); the major protein component of these structures. In addition a number of genetic risk factors for AD have been identified. Of these the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene found on chromosome 19 is considered to be the main genetic risk factor attributing to about 40-60% of all AD cases in most populations. Although there is strong evidence that genetic risk factors play an important role in AD they do not actually trigger the disease process. Deficits in memory and learning are the most common clinical signs of AD in the initial stages of the disease. Neuropsychological tests such as the CAMCOG and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) are important diagnostic tools used for the assessment of cognition. The CAMCOG is an accurate and efficient measure of global cognitive ability, while the CVLT is more specific to areas of cognition influenced in the early stages of the disease such as verbal memory. Substantial evidence indicates that changes in sex hormones following menopause in women are important factors in AD. Specifically, the reduced levels of oestrogen in post-menopausal women have been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of dementia. In addition the elevated level of the gonadotropins, a characteristic of the post-menopausal period, have been implicated with the disease. Numerous nonhormonal factors such as age and education may also be associated with the development and progression of cognitive decline.

abstract: Background. Despite research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of essential hypertension, instances of this condition continue to rise. Recent findings indicate that the administration of dietary nitrates, in the form of beetroot juice and other nitrate-rich vegetables, may offer anti-hypertensive effects in various study populations. Objective. This randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial sought to compare the effects of high-nitrate vegetable salads to the effects of low-nitrate canned vegetables on plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration, peripheral and central-aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures, pulse wave velocity, and flow-mediated dilation. Methods. Healthy, post-menopausal women (n=5; 80% Caucasian; 52.6 ± 5.7 years) with mildly elevated blood pressure (mean blood pressure ≥ 115/70 mm Hg and < 140/80 mm Hg) were randomly assigned to ingest a fresh, high-nitrate vegetable salad or a low-nitrate vegetable medley, twice per day, for a total of 10 consecutive days. Given the crossover design of the trial, participants observed a two to three week washout period followed by reassignment to the opposite condition. Findings were considered significant at a p-value < 0.05, and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank tests compared mean differences between conditions. Results. Plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration was significantly higher following consumption of the high-nitrate versus the low-nitrate condition (p = 0.043). Conversely, the differences in peripheral systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not statistically significant (p = 0.345 and p = 0.684 for systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively) nor were the differences in central-aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures statistically significant (p = 0.225 and p = 0.465 for systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively). Similarly, when comparing the effects of the high-nitrate condition to the low-nitrate condition, the difference in pulse wave velocity was not statistically significant (p = 0.465). Finally, flow-mediated dilation tended to improve following consumption of the high nitrate condition (p = 0.080). Conclusion. Twice daily consumption of a fresh, high-nitrate vegetable salad significantly increased plasma nitrate/nitrite concentration. Although the trial was underpowered, there was a trend for improved flow-mediated dilation. Finally, twice daily consumption of a fresh, high-nitrate vegetable salad did not significantly lower peripheral or central-aortic systolic or diastolic blood pressures or pulse wave velocity. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Nutrition 2017

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:22:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2977.pdf: 497005 bytes, checksum: de1ddd4b87d6bd92e7b994ebcb91ba87 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-14 / Objective: To determine the effect of a resistance training program on body composition andplasmatic concentrations of leptin and resistin in pos-menopausal women.Methods: Twenty-three post-menopausal women (mean age = 56.52 ± 4.42 years) were submitted to12 months of resistance training, twice a week. The training program was performed in 3 sets of 8-10RMs maximal repetitions with an intensity of 75-85% of 1RM. Body composition (DXA), musclestrength (bench press, leg press 45º, arm curl), plasmatic concentration of resistin and leptin wereassessed before and after the training program. Paired Student s t test was used for Bodycomposition, muscle strength and plasmatic concentration of resistin and leptin and non-parametricWilcoxon test for variables of quality of life. Significance level was set at 5%.Results: After the resistance training program, there was a significant increase in muscle strengthand lean mass, and a significant reduction in body weight, fat percentage, fat mass, andconcentrations of leptin and resistin with consequent improvement in quality of life.Conclusions: the interpretation of the results shows that resistance exercise can have significanthealth benefits and quality of life and reduce the concentrations of Leptin and Resistin induced byaging in postmenopausal women. / Objetivo: determinar o efeito produzido por um Programa de Treinamento de Força sobre asvariáveis de Composição Corporal, concentrações plasmáticas de Leptina e Resistina e qualidade devida em mulheres pós-menopáusicas.Métodos: 23 mulheres pós-menopáusicas (56,52 ± 4,42 anos) realizaram durante doze meses umprograma de Treinamento de Força em intensidades entre 75 e 80% de 1 RM, com 3 séries entre 8-10 Repetições Máximas, duas vezes por semana. A força máxima foi testada no supino, leg press 450e rosca direta. Variáveis de Composição Corporal (DXA), Força Muscular, concentração plasmáticade Resistina e Leptina e Qualidade de Vida (SF-36) foram realizadas antes e a após o período detreinamento. Para comparação entre valores iniciais e finais. Foi aplicado o teste t Pareado para asvariáveis de composição corporal, força muscular, Leptina e Resistina e o teste não paramétrico deWilcoxon para as variáveis de Qualidade de Vida. O nível de significância utilizado para asconclusões das analises estatísticas foi de 5%.Resultados: Além do esperado aumento de força, houve redução significativa nos valores de PesoCorporal, % Gordura, Massa Gorda e aumento nos valores de massa magra com conseqüentemelhoria na Qualidade de Vida. Houve redução significativa também nas concentrações plasmáticasde Leptina e Resistina quando comparados os valores pré e pós-treinamento.Conclusão: a interpretação dos resultados permite concluir que o Treinamento de Força podeacarretar importantes benefícios para a saúde e qualidade de vida além de reduzir as concentraçõesde Leptina e Resistina em mulheres pós-menopáusicas.

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