Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science Doctoral Work

Permanent URI for this collectionhdl:10365/32476

Browse

Browsing Health, Nutrition & Exercise Science Doctoral Work by browse.metadata.program "Wellness"

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Effects of Nutrition Education and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption on Knowledge of Antioxidants and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Chronic Disease
    (North Dakota State University, 2012) Wagner, Meredith Grace
    Obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions contributing to the majority of Americans experiencing a state of chronic inflammation. Associations between inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased disease risk contribute to detrimental consequences of obesity. Regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress is possible via antioxidants consumed through a diet adequate in fruits and vegetables but consumption among adults is poor. Previous studies have assessed the impact of fruit, vegetable, and antioxidant consumption on oxidative stress and inflammation among healthy individuals. However, no studies have examined effects of education and fruit and vegetable consumption on markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and other chronic disease biomarkers in a single study of overweight and obese adults. The purposes of this study were to examine effects of nutrition education and fruit and vegetable consumption on: interest and knowledge related to antioxidants; consumption patterns; weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, blood lipids, and blood glucose; and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Fifty-four adults (19 men/35 women; age 44.7±12.1 y; BMI 33.2±7.7 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups. The control group received no intervention, the education group attended weekly nutrition lessons, and the fruit and vegetable group attended weekly nutrition lessons and received one serving of fruits and two servings of vegetables per day for 10 weeks. Fruit and vegetable-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors were assessed using questionnaires. Fruit, vegetable, and antioxidant consumption was assessed using semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires and three-day food records and anthropometric measurements and fasting blood draws were conducted. Results indicated improvements in fruit and vegetable-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and increased consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables following nutrition education. Associations existed between increased fruit and vegetable consumption and improvements in LDL cholesterol. However, minimal associations between changes in consumption of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress were indicated. In order to be effective, nutrition intervention programs need to thoroughly address participants' fruit and vegetable-related knowledge and attitudes, provide exposure to fruits and vegetables, and promote adequate consumption of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables while concurrently emphasizing management of overall energy intake.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    External Ankle Supports Alter Kinematics and Kinetics during Drop-Jump Landing and Forward-Jump Landing Tasks
    (North Dakota State University, 2014) Okamatsu, Hidefusa
    This research project was designed to understand the influence of excessively restricting ankle range of motion (ROM) on knee injuries, especially non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Participating in physical activity without injuries is important to maintain physically active life style and well-being. To prevent ankle injuries, external ankle supports (EAS) are widely used in sport settings by limiting frontal plane ankle ROM; however, the EAS also restricts sagittal plane ankle ROM that could increase the risk of non-contact ACL injury by intensifying the medial knee displacement (MKD) and ground reaction force (GRF). In this research, the effects of external ankle supports (EAS) on landing mechanics were investigated among 19 physically active college-aged females. Two research manuscripts report the results of this research project. The first manuscript investigated the effect of EAS on landing kinematics and kinetics during a drop-jump landing task. The results demonstrated the use of EAS altered the ankle displacement, total MKD, and vertical GRF; however, no relationship was observed between isokinetic plantar flexor strength and landing mechanics. The second manuscript compared the effect of EAS on landing kinematics and kinetics between drop-jump landing and forward-jump landing tasks. The result exhibited the use of EAS similarly affect ankle displacement, knee displacement, peak MKD in drop-jump landing and forward-jump landing tasks. However, the landing tasks affected the posterior GRF differently, and the EAS altered vertical GRF differently in the two landing tasks. Overall, excessively restricted ankle ROM changed the landing kinematics and kinetics, especially MKD and GRF during landing tasks. Our findings indicate that healthcare professionals should use EAS with care because the overly limited ankle ROM could increase the risk of non-contact knee injuries by increased MKD and GRF. Future research should include an examination of the effect of EAS on the magnitude of ACL strain, an assessment of the strength of the other muscles, an evaluation of the muscular activation during a landing task. These studies help understand the landing techniques and strength training to reduce the risk of non-contact ACL tear among physically active population.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    The Relationship Between Exercise and Mental Health in College Students
    (North Dakota State University, 2013) Demers, Nikki Richelle
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of an exercise program on aspects of wellness in college students. The study explored changes in physical fitness and on self-reports of anxiety and depression symptoms before and after participating in a six-week exercise program at a Midwestern university. The study participants consisted of 53 undergraduate students from activity courses, and 25 undergraduate students from a lecture course. The Burns' Anxiety Inventory, Burns' Depression Inventory, and the Attitudes Towards Exercise Inventory were used for assessment. Quantifiable measures of physical fitness were assessed using anthropometric measures for weight and body composition, and the Rockport walking test was used as a measure of cardiovascular fitness. Results indicated significant differences existed between pre- and post-scores for the treatment group that participated in the six-week exercise program in categories of anxiety, depression, attitudes/beliefs that exercise can improve mental health, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) scores which indicate cardiorespiratory fitness. Non-significant differences were found between pre and post data in the measures of attitudes in the stages of change, body composition and Body Mass Index for the treatment group. In the control group, a significant difference was noted in VO2 max, but no differences were found in all other categories of anxiety, depression, attitudes towards exercise, body fat, and Body Mass Index. Results from this study indicate that an exercise prescription may be used as a tool to alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety in college students. Additional studies may confirm significance in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms or seeing changes in body composition while adhering to a regular exercise program.