Thesis (M.S.) in Food Science and Human Nutrition--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 43-47).

Since 1993, diet and fitness promoter Susan Powter has gained significant prominence with her passionate message of health and wellness. This study used fantasy theme analysis to examine Powter's view of reality and her ability to persuade her audience. The analysis revealed a coherent vision, "Stop the Insanity!," within which Powter and other dieters are viewed as heroes. Additionally, the diet and fitness industries are viewed as conspiring villains who starve dieters and exclude the unfit from exercise programs. Powter differentiates herself from these villains by promoting herself as an uneducated but sincere speaker who does not starve or exclude people. Rather, she can identify with dieters because she has experienced their pain and frustration. Because anything is better than the "starvation" and "exclusion" promoted by the diet and fitness experts, Powter's program cannot help but succeed in the eyes of those who share her vision of reality. / Department of Speech Communication

This study determined outcomes of a low-carbohydrate (CHO) and moderate-CHO diet on weight loss, ketone production, and urinary calcium excretion in a convenience sample of 14 (ages 18-26, m=2, f=12) overweight students at a midwestern college for one month in a two-week, cross over study design. Results showed significant weight loss in subjects over time (p< .01). However, no significant difference between diet groups over time for weight loss was shown. Outcome of urine ketone production remained unaffected over time and between groups over time. A significant difference was noted in urinary calcium excretion within subjects over time (p=.035), yet not between groups over time. These findings suggest that weight loss may be due to a decrease in water and lean body mass from glycogen mobilization. Ketone production was unaffected possibly due to non-compliance with diet recommendations and small sample size of the study. Urinary calcium excretion increases may be attributed to higher protein intakes in participants on the modified-CHO diets, possibly allowing for a negative calcium balance in the body leading to premature osteoporosis. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Thesis (M.A.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 121-129). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

No description available.

Thesis (MNutr (Interdisciplinarty Health Sciences. Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Objectives: To determine aspects of knowledge, attitudes and practices of Medical Practitioners on obesity and weight management in three urban centres in Kenya. Research methods and procedures: A cross sectional survey of a randomly selected sample of 485 Medical Practitioners (MPs) from three urban centres in Kenya namely Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu was carried out. Four hundred and thirty (89% response) questionnaires were fully completed and returned. Data was gathered on the demographics of the study population; knowledge of nutrition and obesity; awareness of obesity as a health problem assessment, management (diet, exercise and pharmacology) and practices regarding obesity as well as if and how the MPs would like their knowledge of obesity improved.

M.Tech. (Homoeopathy) / Overweight and obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat and can be classified using the body mass index (BMI). Being overweight has a whole host of health-related risks, which includes metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus type II to name a few (Goedecke et al. 2005). Interleukin 6 (IL-6), secreted from the adipose tissue surrounding the waist line is responsible for a state of systemic chronic low level inflammation and plays a crucial role in the development of diseases associated with being overweight (Fantuzzi, 2005). Food sensitivities further contributes to this state of low level chronic inflammation. Symptoms of food sensitivities include, difficulty losing weight as well as over eating, which hinders weight loss in over weight individuals (Joyal, 2010). Anti-inflammatory diets such as the Mediterranean diet focuses on a diet rich in antiinflammatory foods, which is known to decrease chronic low level inflammation caused by being overweight and obese. (Galland, 2010). The aim of this study was to determine the comparative effect of the Mediterranean diet to a modified Mediterranean diet (excludes common food sensitivities) on the circulating levels of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in overweight females by measuring weight loss and IL-6 levels. The study was an experimental comparative study involving thirty female participants who were between the ages of 20-45 and were overweight (BMI 25-30 kg/m²). Potential participants attended an initial interview where they were screened by means of inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as a physical exam that included vitals, weight (kg), waist measurement (cm), hip-to-waist ratio and calculation of BMI. Individuals who met these criteria were sent for blood tests to measure their Interleukin 6 levels (IL-6). Those individuals with an IL-6 level of greater than 0.96pg/ml were then contacted to set up a first appointment. Participants were allocated to either the modified Mediterranean diet or to the Mediterranean diet using matched pairs. Participants attended a three week as well as a 6 week follow up to tract weight-loss progress.

A pretest-posttest control group design was used to compare the effectiveness of a behavioral caloric reduction/exercise increase treatment package with a caloric reduction approach. The participants consisted of 32 people selected from those responding to a community newspaper advertisement announcing the weight control program. The caloric reduction/exercise treatment group focused on energy expenditure methods for reducing weight and improving physical fitness along with procedures for controlling food intake patterns. The caloric reduction group concentrated on procedures for controlling food intake patterns only. The results indicated that weight loss was achieved by both the caloric reduction group and the combined caloric reduction and exercise group, however, the latter group achieved significantly higher weight loss. Additionally, all measures of physical fitness improved most for the combined group. The results suggest the necessity of combining caloric reduction approaches and exercise in treating obesity.

M. S.

A weight reduction program was conducted for obese females who attend Virginia Health Department family planning clinics. The 8-week program, using behavior modification techniques in conjunction with nutrition education showed weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week; increase in nutrition knowledge; and changes in food habits, behavior patterns, and activity levels. The program was subjected to cost benefit/cost effectiveness analysis, varying the number of participants, the discount rate, and the number of years into the future when benefits accrued. The low cost of the program was instrumental in producing a program cost effective in reducing the pregnancy risks of obese females, under almost all conditions tested. Because the number of subjects was so small, none of the results can be considered to have implications which can be generalized, but they do point out areas for further investigation. These areas include procedures for recruitment and techniques to reduce attrition. Subjects need to be followed beyond the 8-week program to determine if weight loss is continued and maintained. / M.S.