School of Public Health
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/1633
The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.
Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item "That Chart Ain't For Us": An Examination of Black Women's Understandings of BMI, Health, and Physical Activity(2019) Thompson, Tori; Jette, Shannon; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Significantly, black women have the highest rates of being overweight or obese compared to other groups in the United States, with 60% being classified as obese per the BMI (CDC, 2017). However, there is currently a lack of scholarship which examines black women’s perceptions of the BMI, and how/if those perceptions influence their attitudes toward health and physical activity. In this project, I take a Foucauldian approach to analyze data collected from eight semi-structured interviews with black women who self- identify as obese and who are physically active. Findings suggest that black women find the BMI to be irrelevant to their health and well-being, and do not attribute their engagement in physical activity to their BMI. Instead, their reasons for partaking in physical activity are due to their individual experiences understandings of health and black female identity. These results have the potential to inform healthcare policies, physician practice, and public health interventions that target communities of color.Item The relationship of early social, mental, and behavioral experiences with adult obesity and Alcohol Use Disorder(2016) O'Neill, Allison Hunt; Lee, Sunmin; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Stressful life events early in life, including symptoms of mental disorders or childhood maltreatment, may increase risk for worse mental and physical health outcomes in adulthood. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the effects of childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms and maltreatment experience on two adult outcomes: obesity and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Mediational effects of adolescent characteristics were explored. This dissertation used Waves I, III, and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. In Paper 1 (Chapter 3), we investigated the association between multiple types of child maltreatment and adult objective (body mass index; BMI) and subjective (self-rated) obesity, as well as mediating effects by adolescent characteristics including depressive symptoms and BMI. Results showed that after adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, and maternal education, physical maltreatment was moderately associated with adulthood obesity as measured by BMI and self-reported obesity, while sexual maltreatment was more strongly associated with the objective measure but not the subjective measure. The indirect effects of mediation of adolescent BMI and depressive symptoms were statistically significant. In Paper 2 (Chapter 4), the objective was to examine mediation by adolescent depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, peer alcohol consumption, and delinquency in the relationship between ADHD symptoms and adult AUD. The indirect effects of mediation of adolescent delinquency, alcohol consumption, and peer alcohol consumption were statistically significant in single and multiple mediator models. In Paper 3 (Chapter 5), the objective was to assess the joint effects of maltreatment/neglect on adult AUD. After adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, child maltreatment, and parental AUD, ADHD symptoms were significantly associated with increased odds of AUD. There was no strong evidence of multiplicative interaction by maltreatment. This association was stronger for males than females, although the interaction term was not statistically significant. This dissertation adds to the literature by examining relationships between several major public health problems: ADHD symptoms, childhood maltreatment, AUD, depressive symptoms, and obesity. This project has implications for understanding how early life stress increases risk for later physical and mental health problems, and identifying potential intervention targets for adolescents.Item Sleep Duration in Adolescent Girls: Correlates and Association with Obesity Risk(2013) Moshkovich, Olga; Saksvig, Brit I; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The present study aimed to identify demographic, behavioral, and school-related factors associated with week night sleep duration among an ethnically diverse sample of 582 adolescent girls from the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG) 2. The distribution of sleep duration categories (<7 hours, 7-9 hours, and >9 hours) differed significantly among ethnic groups in bivariate analyses, but not in the final multivariate model. Additionally, sleep duration was negatively associated with distance to school from home, typical time spent on the computer, and school start time. In contrast to previous findings, shortened sleep duration was not associated with increased body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, or quantity of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Findings show support for delayed school start times. In addition, future research should examine whether interventions to reduce screen time activities among adolescents is effective in increasing their sleep duration.Item Acculturation and BMI among Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese Adults in Maryland(2011) Chen, Lu; Lee, Sunmin; Carter-Pokras, Olivia D; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Objective: To examine the relationship between acculturation and BMI among Asian Americans. Methods: Data of 847 Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese recruited for a health education program in Maryland were included. Acculturation was measured by the short version of Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale (SL-ASIA) and its individual components. Height and weight were measured by trained staff. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate the parameters of acculturation variables. Results: After adjusting for confounders, SL-ASIA (β=0.71, 95% CI: 0.15, 1.26), having education in the U.S (β=0.56, 95% CI: 0.01, 1.11), younger age of arrival (0-5 years: β=3.32, 95% CI: 1.84, 4.80, 6-10 years: β=1.55, 95% CI: 0.02, 3.07) and equal preference of Asian/American food in restaurants (β=0.92, 95% CI 0.38, 1.46) were associated with BMI. The association between acculturation and BMI was stronger among men than women, and weakest among Vietnamese. Conclusion: Acculturation is moderately associated with BMI among Asian Americans.Item THE EFFECTS OF LOW-VOLUME/MODERATE-INTENSITY AEROBIC TRAINING ON METABOLIC SYNDROME COMPONENTS IN MORBIDLY OBESE MINORITY ADOLESCENTS(2010) Many, Gina Marie; Hagberg, James M.; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Despite the increased prevalence of obesity and associated diseases among pediatric minorities, the intensity-specific effects of aerobic training have not been examined extensively in adolescent minorities. Fifteen morbidly obese, sedentary and insulin-resistant Black and Latino adolescents completed two-months of low-volume/moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training to examine the effects of training on three phenotypes dysregulated in obese and physically inactive states: insulin sensitivity (SI); fibrinolytic potential, as indicated by plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen levels; and chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, as indicated by C-reactive protein (CRP). In response to training, SI increased ~37% (1.00 ± 0.15 to 1.37 ± 0.26 mU.L^-1min^-1, p<0.05) and t-PA antigen levels increased ~15% (6.34 ± 0.51 to 7.32 ± 0.85 ng/mL, p<0.05). No significant changes in CRP or PAI-1 antigen were observed. Our findings demonstrate that aerobic training improves insulin sensitivity and fibrinolytic potential in morbidly obese minority adolescents.Item Environmental influences on physical activity and obesity in African American adolescents-a multilevel perspective(2009) Yan, Fang Alice; Beck, Kenneth; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Background: Prevalence of obesity among adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate. Currently, 34% of all 12-19 year olds are either at risk for overweight or are overweight. Without a comprehensive understanding of the myriad of environmental factors that influence physical activity, we cannot effectively curb the rising rates. Methods: The objective of this study is to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of individual, built, and psychosocial environmental factors on the body mass index (BMI) of African American adolescents, and to assess how the relationships may be mediated by physical activity (PA) levels in an urban setting. A cross-sectional sample of 350 Students (grades 9-12) was drawn from two urban magnet high schools in Baltimore City. The outcome measurements cover a broad array of variables, including BMI, walking behavior, and overall PA. The independent variables are measures of three environments and individual socio-demographic status. The hierarchical linear model analysis was employed. In addition, the mediation analysis was conducted to examine the mediating effect of PA levels. Results: The majority of the sample was African American (69%) and female (58%) with 40% at risk of overweight or overweight. After adjustment for individual socio-demographic factors, living in more hazardous neighborhoods was positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and walking for transportation but not with BMI. Densities and proximities of destinations were not associated with BMI. Access to school and museums within 0.25 mile, and grocery stores, retail and shopping, post offices and mix of destinations within 0.5 mile and beyond was positively associated with participation in walking. In addition, densities of fast food restaurants, parks and recreation within 1 mile and 1.5 mile were associated with increased walking. Closer proximity to schools and museums increased both student's MVPA level and their walking trips. Green space coverage within 0.25 mile distance was associated with decreased BMI. In addition, the percentage of green space coverage around homes was not associated with physical activity. Physical activity did not mediate either the destination densities and proximity or the greenness on BMI. Conclusion: The findings support the importance of focusing on places rather than the individuals who live in those places. Increasing the diversity of walkable destinations may contribute to adolescents doing more transport-related walking and achieving recommended levels of physical activity. In general, ecologic approaches to obesity prevention need to focus on urban design and food availability.