Rates of obesity and the associated comorbidities continue to increase for women in the United States. Despite information available, efforts at weight loss are often unsuccessful because women lack integral knowledge of how to approach the various components essential for weight loss. This doctoral project was created to address the practice question of whether obesity can be reduced through a step-wise weight loss program that identifies essential elements to reduce weight in menopausal age women. Guided by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model, this project led 17 volunteer participants from a Northwest, Florida primary care clinic through 6 weeks of protocols supplemented with Facebook interactions. A pretest/posttest comparison showed increased knowledge regarding weight loss and increased self-efficacy as measured by the PANSE scale. All participants had some decrease in weight and an average of a drop in systolic blood pressure of 4 mmHg. This supports the use of a nurse-lead structured education and support model for improved weight loss in women. This project can lead to positive social change with the ability to assist women with obesity and hypertensive disorders, thus reducing morbidity and mortality as well as improving quality of life.

Previously for my M.A., I centered on the negative side of unhealthy foods and its effects on the body. It was my shout at the top of my lungs with my fist in the air against negative consequences of those foods. Though the passionate anger still burns, my focus is now aligned with a more personal approach. For my M.F.A. thesis, I will make use of hand drawn images to tell the story of my weight loss journey. Images will be from my memories of the reality of morbid obesity. They will progress from where I started up to when I lost 125 pounds. The images will be grossly exaggerated to more strongly express my emotion. The descriptions for each image will be recorded onto the drawings. They will be placed in different areas on each of the pages to avoid repetition. The images will be in color. The color palette will be derived from the posters I created for my M.A. project [image 8]. The bright, attention grabbing color palette will prove beneficial for the urgency of my story. The completed project will be a fully illustrated, color graphic novel. In 18 months time I lost 125 pounds, mostly on my own, with very little help. The right people came along at the right times. I did not have the popular reality TV show Biggest Loser, nor any personal trainers. I spent 7 months taking a kickboxing/ body-shaping class, I read dozens of books, and I changed what I ate. I accomplished this feat the old fashioned way: I worked my ass off. One of my life goals is to help others, who are willing, loose weight and exit their private hell. I want people to know that positive, healthy change, no matter the obstacle, is obtainable.

[Truncated abstract] Dyslipidaemia in obesity and the metabolic syndrome is typically characterized by elevated plasma concentrations of apolipoprotein (apo) B and chylomicron remnants, and low apoA-I levels. This may account for the increased risk of cardiovascularrelated diseases. Although the precise mechanisms whereby visceral obesity confers the onset of dyslipidaemia have not been fully established, it may relate chiefly to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance leads to increased hepatic secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) apoB, as well as impaired catabolism of VLDL, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and chylomicron remnants, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) apoA-I. This thesis tests the unifying hypothesis that lipoprotein metabolism, in particular apoB, chylomicron remnants and apoA-I, is abnormal in the metabolic syndrome, and that medical intervention can correct for these abnormalities. The primary objectives were to examine firstly, the kinetics of apoB and apoA-I by stable isotope technology and secondly, chylomicron remnant kinetics by using an indirect assessment of a new breath test. Six observational statements and related hypotheses were constructed and derived from the unifying hypothesis that examine the kinetics of lipoprotein metabolism, adipose tissue mass compartments and liver fat accumulation, as well as the impact of plasma adipocytokines in subjects with visceral adiposity and features of the metabolic syndrome. The first four observational statements related to cross-sectional studies of lipoprotein kinetics, adipose tissue mass distribution and liver fat accumulation as well as plasma adipocytokines in both obese and non-obese men. The latter two observational statements related to the effect of statin therapy and dietary weight loss on the improvement of lipoprotein kinetics in obesity. The findings from these studies collectively support the unifying hypothesis. The kinetics of apoB in VLDL, IDL and LDL, and apoA-I in HDL were assessed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry following either a primed-constant infusion of 13C-leucine or an intravenous bolus injection of d3-leucine. ... This is the first study to examine the effects of dietary weight loss on LDL and HDL metabolism and the relationships with adipocytokines in men with the metabolic syndrome. The data support the unifying hypothesis that medical intervention with dietary weight loss could correct the kinetic abnormalities in VLDL, LDL and HDL. The aforementioned studies showed that plasma lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities in visceral obesity are chiefly regulated by the combination of hepatic over-secretion of VLDL particles, and catabolic defects in apoB and chylomicron remnants as well as apoA-I-containing lipoprotein particles. These kinetic defects may also relate to low and high plasma adiponectin and RBP-4 levels, respectively. The data arising from the thesis are consistent with the unifying hypothesis and support the role of dietary intervention and pharmacotherapy as a recommended treatment in correcting the abnormalities in lipoprotein metabolism within the metabolic syndrome.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 75 p. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 48-54).

Using an existing data set comprised of 368 individuals newly diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck, we investigated the predictive validity of the Head and Neck Patient Symptom Checklist (HNSC) by comparing scores on the HNSC to scores on the Patient-Generated Symptom Global Assessment (PG-SGA), and by examining the ability of HNSC scores and four demographic variables to predict dietary intake, weight loss, and functional capacity. HNSC sensitivity (0.79 0.98), specificity (0.99 1.00), positive predictive value (92% 100%), and negative predictive value (94% - 100%) were excellent. Pain, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing predicted 82% of reduced dietary intake. Advanced tumor stage, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing predicted 79% of weight loss. Loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, feeling full and lack of energy predicted 78% of reduced functional capacity. The HNSC appears to be valid and could aid with early symptom identification, intervention and improved outcomes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-142).

Graduation date: 1992

The purpose of this project was to design a concise weight loss and exercise program that could be incorporated into a typical family physician's office utilizing routine personnel and physician time commitments. The program was developed to include caloric restriction, diet instructions, behavioral modification, and patient education. It also included outlining an exercise program that was specific enough to allow patients to have a concrete amount of exercise to do but flexible enough to be applicable to all patients. The accompanying manual can serve as a general guide to all physicians who wish to instruct patients on weight loss and exercise. Where the physicians did not agree with the specific information offered in the manual they could substitute their own information but still follow the same general guidelines for use in handling patients. If used properly this program could be quite helpful for handling a very difficult and common problem for the busy family practitioner.

En del personer med övervikt vill gå ner i vikt, men det kan vara svårt att lyckas. Studiens syfte var att ta reda på deltagares upplevelse av sin viktminskning på Itrim. En kvalitativ studie med 9 personer, varav 7 kvinnor som deltagit i Itrims viktminskningsprogram intervjuades och datamaterialet analyserades genom meningskoncentrering. Enligt motivationsteorin Self-Determination Theory (SDT) så ökar sannolikheten för att beteendeförändringar blir bestående om de är autonoma och motivationen intern. Resultatet visade att deltagarna upplevde sin viktminskning som positiv och att Itrims koncept fungerar bra. Deltagarna motiverades genom olika uppsatta mål, använde sig av olika strategier och upplevde ett bra stöd. Genom att gå på ett viktminskningsprogram känner personerna en stark samhörighet och ser sig själva som en del av en helhet. De känner sig inte ensamma i sin situation. Svårast är beteendeförändringen då den tar tid och kräver energi, men till hjälp använder deltagarna egna personliga strategier.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rutgers University, 2009. / "Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences." Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-49).