The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that Americans consume at least three servings of whole grain foods per day to reduce the risk of chronic disease and to help with weight maintenance. However, most Americans fall short of this recommendation. To reduce the prevalence of chronic disease, overweight, and obesity, health educators should promote healthy behaviors at young ages. The purpose of this study was to measure whole grain intake in college students and to determine its association with body mass index (BMI), a measure of overweight and obesity. The participants (N=164) were recruited from a freshmen level nutrition course (of 485 students) at Virginia Tech in spring of 2004. Students kept food records to record their usual diets for 14 days, and had their height and weight measured by the researchers in order to determine their BMI. On average, the students consumed 5.4±1.7 (mean±SD) servings of grain based foods per day, of which 13% (0.71±0.76 servings) were from whole grain foods. The students who were in the normal weight range (based on their BMI) consumed more servings of whole grains per day than the overweight and obese students (ANOVA with linear contrasts; p<0.05). Results from this study indicate that whole grain intake is low in college students, but similar to the national average, and higher in students with a normal body weight. Efforts should be made to help develop healthy eating habits in this population, including increasing whole grain intake. / Master of Science

Background: Dietary patterns that include recommended servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dietary fiber, and dairy, combined with regular physical activity and frequent breakfast consumption are optimal choices for weight loss or weight maintenance over time. College students are at an increased risk for weight gain due to environmental and behavioral changes that are associated with decreased dietary quality and physical inactivity. Preventing weight gain in college students may have a profound impact on prevalence of overweight or obesity later in life. Objective: To examine associations between weight change and dietary patterns in college students. Design: A longitudinal observational study. Dietary intake and physical activity were self-reported on seven-day food records and compared to dietary guidelines for compliance with recommendations. Subjects/Setting: Data from 80 students enrolled in a fall semester introductory nutrition course at a large state university were analyzed in the fall and spring semester . Main outcome measures: Daily servings of total fruit (fruit and juice), total vegetables (fried and non-fried), dairy (regular and low-fat), whole grains, and dietary fiber, breakfast consumption, body weight changes and physical activity. Statistical Analysis Performed: Associations between diet quality and weight change were analyzed using Chi-square analysis. Weight change was analyzed by diet quality and breakfast consumption using t-test and by metabolic equivalents (METHRS/day) using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p<0.05). Significant associations were analyzed by Pearson's correlation (two-sided, p<0.05). Results: Weight and body mass index (BMI kg/m2) were significantly higher compared to baseline. The majority of students did not meet recommendations for daily servings of fruit, vegetable, dairy, whole grains, and dietary fiber. Higher diet quality was significantly associated with more frequent breakfast consumption and students who maintained or lost weight reported significantly higher intakes of total fruit, low-fat dairy and whole grains. Conclusion: Failure to meet dietary guidelines resulting in lower diet quality was distinctive of this population and was associated with significant changes in body weight over one academic year. Applications: Educational interventions aimed at improving diet quality may inhibit weight gain commonly seen in college students. / Master of Science

by Hung Chi-Wai, Pang Kin-Wah. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-52). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / Chapter CHAPTER I --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER II --- METHODOLOGY --- p.4 / Chapter CHAPTER III --- TARGET USERS --- p.6 / Chapter CHAPTER IV --- OBJECTIVES --- p.7 / Aim at Fitness --- p.7 / Build a Healthy Base --- p.7 / Plan a Diet Sensibly --- p.8 / Chapter CHAPTER V --- HEALTHY WEIGHT & OVERWEIGHT --- p.10 / Chapter CHAPTER VI --- BODY MASS INDEX --- p.12 / General Guideline of BMI --- p.13 / BMI is a Diagnostic Tool --- p.14 / BMI Measures Body Fat --- p.14 / Chapter CHAPTER VII --- DAILY CALORIE REQUIREMENT --- p.16 / Basal Metabolic Rate --- p.17 / Activity Level --- p.17 / Losing Weight and Increasing Weight --- p.18 / Limitation of Basal Metabolic Rate Calculation --- p.18 / Chapter CHAPTER VIII --- PHYSICALLY ACTIVE --- p.20 / Physical Activity and Nutrition --- p.22 / Chapter CHAPTER IX --- FOOD PYRAMID --- p.23 / Grains --- p.25 / Fruits and Vegetables --- p.25 / Know More About Fat --- p.25 / Chapter CHAPTER X --- CORRECTING OR AVOIDING BAD EATING HABITS --- p.28 / Skip Breakfast --- p.28 / Eat Too Fast --- p.29 / Eat Too Much Fast Food --- p.29 / Have Unhealthy Snacks and Drinks --- p.29 / Chapter CHAPTER XI --- DESCRIPTION OF PERSONAL HEALTH PLANNING MODEL --- p.30 / Personal Health Planning Model flow --- p.32 / Data Input --- p.33 / Database --- p.34 / Calculation --- p.34 / Optimization --- p.35 / Constraints --- p.35 / Report --- p.35 / Chapter CHAPTER XII --- LIMITATIONS OF OUR MODEL --- p.35 / Chapter CHAPTER XIII --- CONCLUSION --- p.35 / APPENDIX 1 --- p.35 / APPENDIX II --- p.35 / APPENDIX III --- p.35 / APPENDIX IV --- p.35 / APPENDIX V --- p.35 / REFERENCES --- p.35

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1987.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1987.

Thesis advisor: Sam V. Cochran, Elizabeth M. Altmaier. Includes bibliographic references (p. 117-130).

Introdução: A verificação periódica do peso corporal (PC), e as mudanças ocorridas ao longo do tempo, embora pouco realizada, é essencial no cuidado em saúde de idosos. A promoção do PC estável dependerá, pois, do conhecimento de fatores que levam tanto ao ganho como a perda de PC na velhice. Objetivos: avaliar as trajetórias de mudança de PC e os fatores relacionados à diminuição ou aumento do PC em idosos, no período de seguimento de 10 anos. Métodos: Essa pesquisa é parte do Estudo SABE (Saúde, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento), longitudinal de múltiplas coortes, com inclusão de dados da primeira onda iniciada em 2000 e reavaliada em 2006 e 2010: composta por uma amostra probabilística de indivíduos com idade >=60anos (n=571). Mudanças no índice de massa corporal (IMC) <-5% foram consideradas como diminuição no PC e >5% como aumento do PC. Realizou-se modelo de regressão logística múltipla e modelo de regressão linear de efeitos mistos para avaliar longitudinalmente os fatores associados à mudança de PC, e a relação da perda ou ganho com a mortalidade. Resultados: em média o IMC aumentou até os 65 anos e diminuiu após os 75 anos. Na segunda avaliação, em 2006, 34,00% dos participantes diminuíram o PC, e 18,22% aumentaram. Já em 2010 apenas 12,49% dos participantes diminuíram (PC) enquanto quase 40% ganharam. Ao longo dos dez anos, foram associados ao aumento do PC a idade (p<0,001), o consumo de álcool (p<0,05), ter duas ou mais doenças crônicas (p<0,001) e a inatividade física (p<0,001); a diminuição de PC associou-se ao tabagismo (p<0,05), sexo masculino (p<0,001) e relato de diminuição de ingestão no último mês (p<0,001); a mortalidade foi associada a diminuição de PC (p<0,001). Especificamente em 2006, o relato de perda, não intencional, de >3kg (RR: 3,67; p<0,001) foi um fator de risco para diminuição de PC. E em 2010 foram fatores de risco à diminuição de PC, duas ou mais doenças crônicas (RR: 2,28; p<0,05), internação (RR: 3,82; p<0,001), saúde auto avaliada como má (RR: 4,30; p<0,01), diabetes (RR: 1,94; p<0,05), dificuldade de fazer compras (RR: 3,09; p<0,001), relato de diminuição de ingestão ((RR: 3,66; p<0,05), relato de perda, >3kg (RR: 3,37; p<0,001) e dificuldade de mastigar comidas duras (RR: 2,09; p<0,05); o consumo de álcool (RR:0,42; p<0,05) foi um fator protetor à diminuição do PC; e o relato de perda de peso (>3kg) não intencional (RR:0,46; p<0,05) e a dificuldade de engolir bem (RR: 0,44; p<0,05) foram fatores de proteção para o ganho de PC ao longo dos anos avaliados. Conclusão: a diminuição de PC, associada à mortalidade, ocorreu principalmente em idosos mais longevos. Por outro lado, o ganho de PC aumentou entre os anos avaliados. Fatores clínicos, funcionais e de estilo de vida estiveram relacionados a mudança de peso corporal. O monitoramento e prevenção de mudanças do peso corporal de idosos deve fazer parte da rotina de cuidados em saúde. A investigação das consequências da obesidade no envelhecimento é um dos desafios de estudos adicionais. / Introduction. Checking body weight periodically as well as changes occurred through time, although not performed often enough, is essential to take care of the elderly health. The promotion of a stable body weight will depends on factors that leads to body weight increase and its decrease as well. Objectives: To evaluate body weight trajectories of change and the factors that lead to body weight increase or decrease in a ten years period. Methods: This research is part of the SABE (Health, Welfare, and Aging) study, which is longitudinal with several cohorts, and included data of the first wave that began in 2000 and was re-evaluated in 2006 and 2010: Composed of a probabilistic sample of individuals who were 60 years old or older. (n=571). Changes in body mass index: <5% was considered body weight decrease and >5% was considered body weight increase. A multiple logistic regression model and mixed effect linear regression model were used to evaluate longitudinally the factors related to body weight change and its relationship with mortality. Results: In average, the body mass index increased until 65 years and diminished after 75 years. In the second evaluation, in 2006, 34% of the participants diminished their body weight and 18% increased it. However, in 2010 just 12, 5% of the participants decreased their body weight while 40% increased it. In ten years, many factors were associated with the body mass increase, such as age (p<0,001), alcohol consumption (p<0,05), having two or more chronic diseases (p<0,001) and physical activity (p<0,001); body mass decrease was associated with cigarette smoking (p<0,05), male sex (p<0,001) and reporting reduced ingestion in the previous month (p<0,001); mortality was associated with body weight decrease (p<0,001). Specifically in 2006, reporting more than >3kg (RR: 3,67; p<0,001) loss was a risk factor for decreasing body weight. And in 2010 the risk factors for body weight loss were two or more chronic diseases (RR: 2,28; p<0,05), being admitted to the hospital (RR: 3,82; p<0,001), health status being self-evaluated as bad (RR: 4,30; p<0,01), diabetes (RR: 1,94; p<0,05), difficulties to go shopping (RR: 3,09; p<0,001), reporting ingestion decrease ((RR: 3,66; p<0,05), reporting losing more than >3kg (RR: 3,37; p<0,001) and difficulties to chew food (RR: 2,09; p<0,05); alcohol consumption (RR:0,42; p<0,05) was a protective factor to body weight loss; and reporting unintentional weight loss (>3kg) (RR:0,46; p<0,05) and difficulties to swallow (RR: 0,44; p<0,05) were protective factors for body weigh increase along the years which were evaluated. Conclusion: body weight loss, linked with higher morality, was associated with older elderly subjects. On the other hand, body weight gain increased in the period that was analyzed. Clinical factors and lifestyle were related to body weight change. Monitoring and preventing body weight changes among elderly patients should be part of routine health care. The investigation of obesity consequences in the aging process is one of the challenges of academic studies.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

published_or_final_version / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy