The present study used healthy questionnaires to evaluate the compounding effects of weight loss and weight gain in choosing to exercise. The questionnaire was distributed to 31 participants via social media outlets. Demographic information was also recorded such as height, weight, ethnicity, and income. The height and weight recorded was used to correlate the BMI with the AUC values. This data did not show a strong correlation between body mass index with high or low AUC values, these values were evenly distributed between underweight, normal/average weight, and overweight participants. . The questionnaires designed to assess how people view exercise and to determine if there is a pattern with sequencing delays with the calculated switch point and AUC. Statistical and visual analyses were conducted at the group and participant level. The switch points, were documented from each delay and was calculated to determine the compounding sequence that was preferred from each participant. The results from the study indicated that participants chose to exercise immediately within the first day, when the consequence was to lose weight. The results for the gain condition indicated that participants would gain weight instead of exercise, to a certain limit (100 days), when they chose to then engage in exercise behavior regularly. The conclusion of this study shows that the longer the delay the less valued the outcome is. This is important when understanding the obesity epidemic within the United States.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:07:05Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 polizelneto_a_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 959880 bytes, checksum: 6baf692c005332ccadf331237561b0e8 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos da torta de algodão (TA) como fonte lipídica na terminação de bovinos confinados. Para tanto, foram utilizados 40 machos da raça Nelore, não-castrados, com idade média inicial de 17 meses e peso vivo médio inicial de 313,8±41,2 kg, confinados por 102 dias com dietas contendo TA ou soja (SO). A inclusão da TA foi com base no teor de extrato etéreo (EE) da dieta: 3%, 4% e 5%. Também foram testados outros dois tratamentos referências, com teores de 3% e 5% de EE, tendo SO como fonte lipídica. As médias foram comparadas por meio de quatro contrastes não ortogonais: C1 = 3SO versus 3TA; C2 = 5SO versus 5TA; C3 = 3TA versus 5TA, e C4 = 3TA + 5TA versus 4TA. Nas dietas com 3% de EE, a TA não alterou as variáveis estudadas, contudo, nas dietas com 5% de EE, os animais alimentados com TA apresentaram maior consumo de matéria seca, 8,94 para 10,3 kg/dia, e redução da eficiência alimentar, 166 g/kg com SO e 145 g/kg com TA. Porém, por ser um ingrediente de menor custo, houve redução do custo do ganho, 3,15 e 2,63 R$/kg, respectivamente para SO e TA. Maior inclusão do teor de TA na dieta propiciou aumento do peso vivo final dos animais, respectivamente, 433, 454 e 467 kg nas dietas 3TA, 4TA e 5TA; e também aumentou do consumo de matéria seca, respectivamente, 8,34, 9,90 e 10,3 kg/dia. Além de, o aumento da TA nas dietas elevou o tempo despendido em ruminação pelos animais, sem alterar o tempo gasto na alimentação. Assim, o uso da torta de algodão não alterou o ganho de peso, as características de carcaça, e o comportamento ingestivo animais, contudo, nas dietas com maior teor lipídico, a TA elevou o consumo de matéria seca, mas reduziu o custo do ganho de peso. O aumento do teor de TA na dieta elevou o ganho de peso, o consumo de matéria seca e o tempo despendido em ruminação pelos animais, sem alterar a eficiência alimentar... / This study aimed to evaluate effects of cottonseed cake (CC) inclusion as fat source in finishing diet of beef cattle. Forty Nellore males, no castrated, with 17 months of initial age and 313.8±41.2 kg of average initial weight, were finished on feedlot for 102 days with diets containing CC or soybean products (SO). CC inclusion was based on diet ether extract (EE): 3%, 4% and 5%. Others control treatments, with 3% and 5% of EE, having SO as fat source were also tested. Means were tested using four non-orthogonal contrasts: C1 = 3SO versus 3CC; C2 = 5SO versus 5CC; C3 = 3CC versus 5CC, e C4 = 3CC + 5CC versus 4CC. In diets with 3% of EE, CC did not change the variables studied, but, in diets with 5% of EE, animals fed with CC showed major dry matter intake, 8.94 to 10.3 kg/day, and gain:feed reduction, 166 g/kg to SO and 145 g/kg to CC. However, to be a cheap ingredient, promoted gain cost reduction, 3.15 and 2.63 R$/kg, respectively to SO and CC. Major CC diet inclusion increased final live weight of the animals, respectively, 433, 454 and 467 kg on 3CC, 4CC and 5CC diets; and increased dry matter intake too, respectively, 8.34, 9.90 and 10.3 kg/day. In addition, major CC on diet increased chewing time, without changed intake spending time. So, CC use did not change weight gain, carcass traits, and intake behavior, but, in high fat level diets, CC increased dry matter intake and reduced gain cost of the animals. The diet CC inclusion, increased weight gain, dry matter intake, and chewing time, without change gain:feed, gain cost, intake spending time and carcass traits of Nellore bulls, on feedlot

Submitted by José Henrique das Neves null (nevesjh@fmvz.unesp.br) on 2017-09-01T17:31:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese para Defesa JHN.pdf: 1967282 bytes, checksum: 987c72f8fc71fc7bd2e1168935e030d2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-09-01T17:44:42Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 neves_jh_dr_bot.pdf: 1967282 bytes, checksum: 987c72f8fc71fc7bd2e1168935e030d2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-01T17:44:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 neves_jh_dr_bot.pdf: 1967282 bytes, checksum: 987c72f8fc71fc7bd2e1168935e030d2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-18 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A bovinocultura brasileira possui destaque no cenário mundial, sendo o Brasil um dos maiores produtores de carne. No entanto, o parasitismo por nematódeos gastrointestinais gera prejuízos na produção destes animais, devido a ação dos parasitas, gastos com medicamentos e manejo dos animais. Este estudo teve por objetivo de avaliar fatores relacionados ao uso de antihelmínticos em bovinos das raças Nelore, Simental e de cruzamento ½ Nelore x ½ Simental, quantificando o ganho em peso, de bovinos naturalmente parasitados, após a administração de anti-helmíntico ivermectina, sulfóxido de albendazol e sem tratamento. Foram avaliados bezerros e bezerras de três a cinco meses de idade, em quatro fazendas. Dividiu-se os bovinos em três grupos sendo: G1- tratados a cada 28 dias com ivermectina, G2 - tratados a cada 28 dias com sulfóxido de albendazol e G3 - grupo controle, sem tratamento. A cada 28 dias realizou-se pesagens e coleta de fezes para exames coproparasitológicos. Conclui-se que bovinos não tratados com anti-helmínticos apresentaram desempenho corporal inferior aos animais com tratamento antihelmíntico a base de ivermectina e sulfóxido de albendazol, independente da raça. Porém, as perdas ocasionadas devido ao parasitismo por nematódeos gastrintestinais variam de propriedade para propriedade. / Brazilian cattle breeding stands out in the world scenario, with Brazil being one of the largest meat producers. However, parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes generates germplasm in the production of these animals, due to an action of the parasites, drug spending and animal management. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors related to the use of anthelmintics in bovines of the Nelore, Simmental and ½ Nelore x ½ Simental crossbreed, quantifying the gain in weight of naturally parasitized bovines after the administration of anthelmintic ivermectin, albendazole sulfoxide and untreated. Calves and heifers were oriented from three to five months of age on four farms. The cattle were divided into three groups: G1 - treated every 28 days with ivermectin, G2 - treated every 28 days with albendazole sulfoxide and G3 - control group, without treatment. Every 28 days we performed weighing and stool collection for coproparasitological exams. It was concluded that bovine animals not treated with anthelmintics presented lower body performance than animals with antihelminthic treatment, an ivermectin base and albendazole sulfoxide, regardless of race. However, losses caused due to parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes vary from property to property. / FAPESP: 2014/02961-0

Orientador: Milva Maria Figueiredo De Martino / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T15:48:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cardozo_DanielaSchiavo_D.pdf: 2670320 bytes, checksum: 352380cc6cb2f1df7754d526a9fca400 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Os objetivos deste estudo foram: avaliar as características individuais do ciclo vigília-sono; comparar a diferença de peso, no intervalo de dois anos, entre indivíduos do turno diurno e noturno; identificar se existe associação entre tempo de trabalho no turno noturno e alteração de peso e IMC; verificar se existem associação entre alterações de peso e IMC e as variáveis do ciclo vigília-sono consideradas neste estudo como latência, qualidade de sono noturno, duração de sono e cochilos e verificar a influência da atividade física no peso. Participaram da pesquisa um total de (n=76) sujeitos, (n=50 turno noturno e n=26 turno diurno), distribuídos nas seguintes categorias: enfermeiros, auxiliares de enfermagem e técnicos de enfermagem, que trabalhavam no Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. A idade média foi de 42 anos. O horário de trabalho do turno noturno era das 19h00min até às 07h00min do dia seguinte e do turno diurno, das 07h00min às 13h00min ou das 13h00min até às 19h00min. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta de dados foram: o diário de sono (coletado durante 30 dias); questionário de informações pessoais; uma balança para pesagem e mensuração da altura para o cálculo do índice de massa corporal (IMC), e para classificar o IMC utilizou-se a tabela de BRAY (1998). Os dados do peso foram coletados em dois momentos caracterizados por peso 1, altura 1 e IMC 1 do registro da Divisão de Segurança e Saúde Ocupacional da UNICAMP, correspondendo ao controle de saúde do trabalho no período de 2003. O segundo momento em 2005, correspondendo ao peso 2, altura 2 e IMC 2. Os resultados da análise dos padrões do sono dos grupos diurno e noturno mostraram dados estatisticamente significantes (Teste de Mann-Whitney) para a latência do sono (p=<0,001), horário de acordar (p=<0,001), duração do sono noturno (p=0,002), qualidade do sono noturno (p=0,009) e presença de cochilos (p=0,001). Constatou-se pelo teste de correlação de Spearman que houve diferença significativa estatisticamente. (r=-0,296; p=0,0366) dado que, conforme aumenta a freqüenta da prática de atividade física, diminui a diferença de peso e IMC. Comparando os resultados do aumento de peso associados com o tempo de trabalho em turno noturno observou-se que não houve diferença significativa pelo teste Mann-Whitney (p=0,302), no entanto, os valores das médias do tempo de trabalho dos grupos de redução e aumento de peso mostraram diferenças (11,18 anos e 13,87 anos respectivamente). Verifcou-se que os sujeitos do grupo do turno noturno apresentaram média de IMC maior em comparação ao grupo diurno com diferenças estatisticamente significantes (teste Mann- Whitney). Entretanto,não se pode afirmar que as alterações de sono estiveram presentes influenciando o ganho de peso no grupo do noturno / Abstract: The main goals of this work were: evaluate the individuals? characteristics of the sleep-wake cycle compare the variation in weight, in the period of two years, among individuals working in the day-shift and in the night-shift; investigate the existence of any relationship between the working time in the night-shift and change in weight and BMI as well as investigate any relationship between change in weight and BMI and the variables of the sleep-wake cycle which in this study are taken as latency, quality of sleep in the night, sleep duration and napping. This research counted on a number of participants of (n=76) people, (n=50 of the night-shift and n=26 of the day-shift), from several distinct professions: nurses, nursing technician and nurses aides that worked in the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. The average age of the group was 42 years. The working time of the night-shift was from 19h00min to 07h00min of the following day, and the working time of the day-shift was from 07h00min to 13h00min or from 13h00min to 19h00min. The instrumentation used to collect the date was: the diary of sleep (which was filled in with data for 30 consecutive days); questionnaire on personal information related to life style; a balance to measure weight and height to get data for BMI calculation, and the BRAY (1998) table to classify the BMI. The data related to weight were collected in two distinct points in time; the first instant is represented by weight-1, height-1 and BMI-1 of the records from Occupational Health and Safety Division at UNICAMP, respective to the Labor Health control of the period of 2003. The second instant, in 2005, is represented by weight-2, height-2 and BMI-2. The results of the analysis of the night- shift group and day-shift group sleep patterns lead to data statistically significative (Mann-Whitney test) for the latency of sleep (p=<0,001), wake up time (p=<0,001), night sleep duration (p=0,002), night sleep quality (p=0,009), and occurrence of napping (p=0,001). It was found through the test of correlation of Spearman that there was a statistically significant difference (r=-0,296; p=0,0366), given that the difference in weight and the IMC decrease as it increases the frequency of physical activity. From the comparison among the results of the weight increase associated with time of work in the night-shift, it was noticed that there was not significant difference by means of the test of Mann-Whitney (p=0,302), however, the average time of work of the groups with weight reduction and with weight increase showed differences: (11,18 years and 13,87 years respectively). It was noticed that the individuals from the group of night-shift lead to average IMC higher than the ones from the group of day-shift with statistically significant differences (test of Mann-Whitney). However, it was not identified any reason to support the statement that the altered sleep was present and that influenced the weight increase in the group of night-shift / Doutorado / Enfermagem e Trabalho / Doutor em Enfermagem

AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie is die rol van massa-toename in die vroeë-adolessente dogter se belewenis van die self bestudeer. Aspekte uit die literatuur wat ’n betekenisvolle bydrae tot die grondslag van die studie gelê het, is die volgende: • die rol wat massa speel in die vroeë-adolessente dogter se belewenis van die self en die implikasies daarvan op haar kledinggedrag • die rol van ander in die vroeë-adolessente dogter se belewenis van die self en die implikasies daarvan op haar kledinggedrag • die strategieë wat die vroeë-adolessente dogter gebruik om die self in hierdie ontwikkelingsfase te kan handhaaf en die implikasies daarvan op haar kledinggedrag. Die steekproef is saamgestel uit 16 blanke vroeë-adolessente dogters tussen die ouderdom van 11 en 13 jaar, wat in ’n stedelike gebied woonagtig was. ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie is vir die studie gevolg met ongestruktureerde onderhoude, fokusgroepe en persoonlike dokumentasie wat ook verskeie stimulustegnieke ingesluit het. Verbatim transkripsies van die onderhoude sowel as bekrywings van die onderhoudsituasies is gebruik vir die bespreking en interpretasie van die resultate. Dit is gedoen met inagneming van die breë navorsingsvrae wat die studie gerig het. Vroeë-adolessente dogters ervaar massa-toename verskillend: • Die normale-massa vroeë-adolessente dogter ervaar dat sy deur die fase van ingrypende veranderinge, wat massa-toename insluit, eintlik vet word. Sy is konstant besig met selfmonitering; die self word ’n objek van evaluering. Sy ervaar die emosie van skaamte en poog om haar liggaam te bedek vir ander wat haar voortdurend dophou. • Aan die ander kant beleef die oormassa vroeë-adolessente dogter die ontwikkelingsfase meer ontspanne en is sy nie so bewus van haar liggaam en dit wat ander daarvan sê nie. Sy gee voor om nie so begaan te wees oor die oormassa nie, deur ander te blameer vir die situasie en vir haar voorkoms. Sy blameer selfs vir God dat Hy haar so geskep het. Sy ervaar die emosie van hartseer en deur voor te gee dat sy nie oor die situasie bekommerd is nie, hanteer sy slegs die emosie en nie die situasie nie. • Aan die einde blyk dit egter dat normale-massa en oormassa vroeë-adolessente dogters dieselfde belewenis van die self in die oorgangsfase het. Hulle voel hartseer oor die verlore kinderjare en ervaar dat hulle minder tyd het om te speel maar meer verantwoordelikhede moet dra. Die studie het die volgende bydrae gelewer: • ’n Lewensverloop- en simboliese interaksionistiese perspektief kan as geskik beskou word vir ’n studie waarin ’n ontwikkelingsfase soos vroeë adolessensie ter sprake kom. • Dit blyk dat die vroeë-adolessente dogter in die studie werklik bekommerd is oor haar voorkoms en dit wat ander van haar dink. • Dit blyk ook dat die vroeë-adolessente dogter in hierdie studie, kleding gebruik om haar voorkoms so te bestuur dat dit aan die norm van ideale liggaamsbou wat in die media voorgehou word, kan voldoen, en dat dit haar kan ondersteun in die aanneem van ‘n volwasse vroulike geslagsrol. • Dit blyk dat die normale-massa vroeë-adolessente dogter van probleem-gefokusde handhawingstrategieë gebruik maak soos bedek, wegsteek of self-manipulering van die liggaam. • Die oormassa vroeë-adolessente dogter daarenteë maak van meer emosioneel gefokusde handhawingstrategieë gebruik soos ontkenning, vermyding, kognitiewe her-ontwerp en godsdiens. Die volgende aanbevelings kan gemaak word: • Die kwalitatiewe navorsingstyl kan meer dikwels gebruik word in studies met jonger deelnemers. • Kledingkundiges behoort dit in gedagte te hou dat veral die pas van klere vir die vroeë-adolessente dogter belangrik is en dat kleding wat die liggaam ontbloot, of styf aan die liggaam pas, die liggaam benadruk en die dogter ongemaklik en skaam laat voel. • Daar behoort ook begrip te wees vir die feit dat dit vir die vroeë-adolessente dogter nou belangrik is om met verskillende voorkomsstyle te eksperimenteer ten einde ‘n voorkoms te vind wat nie net by haar veranderde liggaam pas nie, maar ook by die nuwe rol wat sy nou moet aanneem. Daar moet in gedagte gehou word dat die studie uitgevoer is met ’n beperkte aantal deelnemers en daarom kan die gevolgtrekking nie na die breë populasie veralgemeen word nie; dit het slegs betrekking op die 16 deelnemers wat met die toestemming van hul ouers aan die studie deelgeneem het. ENGLISH: In this study the role of weight gain in the early-adolescent girl’s experience of the self was studied. Aspects from the literature that were significant and formed the foundation of the study were: • the role that weight gain plays in the early adolescent girl’s perception of the self and the implication that it may have for her clothing behaviour • the role of others in the early adolescent girl’s perception of the self and the implications that it may have for her clothing behaviour • the strategies that the early-adolescent uses to cope with this development phase and the implications that it may have for her clothing behaviour The study comprises 16 white early-adolescent girls aged between 11 and 13 years who, according to acknowledged criteria, are staying in an urban environment. A qualitative research methodology was selected with unstructured interviews, focus groups, and personal documentation utilising various stimulus techniques. Verbatim transcriptions of the interviews as well as descriptions of the interview situation were used for the discussions and interpretations of the results, taking into account the broad research questions set for the study. The findings were the following: Early-adolescent girls experience weight gain differently: • The normal-weight early-adolescent girl experiences that by going through this phase of rapid change, which includes an increase in her weight, that she is actually becoming fat. She is constantly busy with self monitoring; her self is becoming an object to evaluate. She experiences the emotion of shame and wants to cover her body from people that are constantly looking at her. • On the other hand, the overweight early-adolescent girl’s experience of this phase is more relaxed; she is not so much aware of her body and what other people are saying about her. She pretends not to be worried about being overweight by blaming other people and situations for her appearance. She even blames God for creating her that way. She experiences the emotion of sadness and by pretending not to worry or by avoiding the situation, she only copes with the emotion – but the situation is not handled. • In the end it seems that normal-weight and overweight early-adolescent girls share the same experience of the self. They feel sad about losing their childhood years when they felt less ashamed and had fewer concerns about their body’s appearance. They feel the loss of having less time to play and more responsibilities. The study could make the following contribution to the theory of clothing: • The life course and symbolic interactions perspective would be suitable for studies into a developmental stage such as early adolescence. • It seems that the early-adolescent girl in this study was really concerned with her appearance and about what other people thought of her. • It seems that the early adolescent girl in this study used clothes in appearance management to manipulate her appearance in order to try and fit the ideal body that the mass media hold up as an example as well as for support in her adoption of an adult gender role. • The normal-weight early-adolescent girls in this study made use of problem-focused coping strategies such as hiding and self-manipulation of their bodies. • The overweight early-adolescent girl, on the other hand, made use of more emotionally focused coping strategies such as avoidance, re-appraisal, denial and religion. The following recommendations were made: • The qualitative research methodology could be used more often when studying younger participants. • The early adolescent girl is especially concerned about the fit of her clothes. Tight fitted clothes and clothes that expose her body make her feel uncomfortable and ashamed of herself. • An understanding of the early-adolescent girl’s need to experiment with new styles and various appearances is needed. One should keep in mind that this study was conducted with a limited number of participants and the conclusions reached therefore pertain only to the 16 participants who gave their valuable input willingly and with the consent of their parents. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

It has been shown that post-menarcheal girls are more likely to have increased their body weight and body mass index (BMI) than pre-menarcheal girls of the same age. In addition to the metabolic changes which occur during this interval, behavioural risk factors synergize to promote weight gain, putting adolescents at a much higher risk for excess weight gain and its associated health complications. Moreover, obesity during adolescence increase the risk of becoming an obese adult. A systematic review of English and French articles using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and CINAHL was conducted. Studies underwent a three level screening assessment by two independent assessors. Only studies with post-menarcheal weight change information were selected for data extraction and quality assessment, which was conducted by two independent reviewers. A meta-analysis was conducted for weight change and included 389 girls. Five studies discussed the effects of menarche on body weight change. Pooled results for three studies indicated a 10.39 kg increase from pre to post-menarche (95% CI, 9.16-11.62). The other two studies showed significant increases in body fat mass (p<0.05) and higher skinfolds measurements for post-menarcheal girls compared to pre-menarcheal girls. It is important to further explore the bio-psychosocial and environmental factors influencing the weight, especially the total fat mass and body fat distributions in young adolescent girls during the menarche transition in order to develop and evaluate preventive intervention strategies to prevent adolescent and adult obesity.

ackground: The changes in body composition markers (weight, fat mass, lean mass, and BMI) over time can be associated with TB treatment outcome among HIV-infected patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in fat mass and lean mass were associated with the treatment response among patients with HIV infection and pulmonary tuberculosis. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study. Data from HIV-infected patients commencing TB therapy were analyzed. This included body weight measurement using bioimpedance equipment at baseline, one month, and two months after starting TB treatment. Results: The study was conducted in 125 patients, 17 patients (13.6%) died during treatment, of which 5 died during the first month of treatment, 4 during the second month and 8 after the second month. The group of patients with good response, increased their weight by 1.3 kg (p <0.001) at the end of the first month of TB treatment and 2.6 kg in the second month (p <0.001), and body fat increase was 1.2 Kg (p <0.001) and 2.3 kg (p <0.001), the first and second month respectively. The group of patients who died had lost 2.1 kg fat mass after the first month (p <0.001) and 3.7 kg in the second month (p <0.001). Conclusions: Our results show that the weight change during TB treatment (increased fat mass) helps us predict therapeutic response. Weight loss during the first month of starting therapy should be evaluated thoroughly to identify the probable cause of treatment failure. / Revisión por pares

A healthy in utero environment is essential for achieving optimal outcomes for women and their children. Gestational weight gain (GWG) has been shown to impact current and future maternal-infant health outcomes. Suboptimal weight gain during pregnancy (defined by the Institute of Medicine GWG guidelines) has been linked to several complications and is implicated in the inter-general cycle of obesity. Understanding contributors to GWG and intervening during pregnancy with healthy behaviour strategies may have a multi-generational effect for chronic disease prevention. The objective of the first study of this thesis was to examine the association between i) eating habits during pregnancy, ii) advice from family or friends about GWG, and iii) personal effort to stay within weight gain limits, and meeting GWG recommendations. Cross-sectional data were collected from pregnant and postpartum women who responded to the validated electronic maternal (EMat) health survey. Regardless of receiving advice about GWG, women self-reporting less healthy eating habits in pregnancy than before pregnancy, receiving advice from family/friends about GWG, and lower personal effort to stay within guidelines, had an increased odds of weight gain discordant with recommendations. The objective of the second study was to assess the short-term effect of the SmartMoms Canada application (app) usage on promoting adequate GWG and healthy behaviours. SmartMoms Canada is an app-based intervention designed to help pregnant women adhere to GWG guidelines and improve healthful behaviours. Pregnant women using the SmartMoms Canada app more frequently had a higher moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily average when compared with women with a lower usage. Together, the EMat and SmartMoms results from this thesis contribute to identifying and mitigating potential factors associated with discordant GWG and healthy behaviours.

Background: In the pregnant population, being physical active and meeting gestational weight gain (GWG) guidelines have numerous health benefits for both mother and infant. Markers of lipid metabolism are known to be influenced by these two variables in the non-pregnant population. However, the relationship between physical activity (PA) and GWG on lipid markers has yet to be assessed during pregnancy. My thesis aims to address this gap in the literature. Methods: The first objective of my thesis was to examine the relationship between maternal PA and GWG on gross measurements of fetal and placental development (n=40). Specifically, three markers of placental efficiency (Pl-E) were examined (birthweight [BW], BW-to-placenta weight ratio, and residual BW). The second objective of my thesis was to analyze maternal serum lipid and glucose markers (n=40), in mid (24-28 weeks) and late (34-38 weeks) gestation as well as from the umbilical cord (UC) as they relate to both PA and GWG. The third objective of my thesis was to explore how PA level and GWG status affect markers of lipid metabolism in term placenta (n=31). Markers of placental lipid transport (FATP1, FABP4, FAT/CD36) were assessed at the protein level, and enzymatic activity of placental lipoprotein lipase was also measured. Lastly, placental lipid storage was assessed by examining triglyceride content, paired with lipid droplet staining. Results: There was no relationship between PA independently or in combination with GWG on any Pl-E markers. A significant association was found between GWG and BW in women who gained weight excessively compared to insufficiently. Neither PA nor GWG categorization was associated with maternal lipid and glucose markers. Total cholesterol levels measured in UC serum were significantly lower in women categorized as active throughout pregnancy (p<0.0001) or whose activity dropped in late gestation (p<0.0001) compared to those who were inactive v throughout gestation. Glucose levels were lower in UC blood of women who gained weight appropriately in mid-gestation compared to those who gained insufficient (p=0.040) or excessive (p=0.021) weight. In terms of placental fatty acid transport, there was a significant interaction between PA status and GWG categorization and placental FATP1 protein expression (F=14.62, p<0.0001). Finally, while no differences were found in placental lipid droplet staining, the droplets were more likely to be clustered within the syncytiotrophoblast border. Conclusion: In conclusion, maternal PA had no association with Pl-E, while GWG was only associated with BW. My thesis work found that while maternal serum lipid markers were not associated with PA and GWG, both maternal PA and GWG status were related to changes in UC and placental lipid markers throughout pregnancy. In combination with previous research from our lab, it is suggested that women who are physically active during pregnancy, and gain weight appropriately may be transporting fewer nutrients (i.e. fatty acid, glucose, cholesterol) to the placenta than those who are inactive, yet simultaneously increasing metabolization. Future research should further investigate these findings by performing functional experiments.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting a prospective cohort study during early pregnancy (<24 weeks gestation) examining the psychological factors associated with excessive pregnancy weight gain. Study Design: Women who had at least 1 prenatal care visit, had a live singleton gestation and were able to read English were eligible to enroll in the study. Women completed the self-administered survey at their prenatal clinics in Hamilton and Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Final pregnancy weight was obtained from women’s clinical charts. Results: All approached clinics agreed to participate in the study (100% clinic agreement). Five hundred thirty women completed the enrolment survey, which was a 90.0% uptake rate. An average of 6 women enrolled each week at less than 24 weeks gestation. Less than 10% of data were missing for all survey questions and outcome data (final pregnancy weight) was available for all but one participant (97.3%). Final pregnancy weights were obtained a median of 1.0 days (interquartile 0.0-3.5 days) prior to delivery. No psychological factors were significantly associated with the odds of gaining above the 2009 IOM/Health Canada guidelines in the exploratory univariate analysis. Conclusion: All feasibility outcomes demonstrated that conducting a full-scale study in Southwestern Ontario would be feasible. Conducting a full-scale study may identify associations between psychological factors and excessive pregnancy weight gain. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)