In Search of 21st -Century High Quality Health Education Teachers

Purpose - Healthier students learn better which improves academic achievement and educational attainment. Teachers with subject area knowledge and certification in their teaching content areas positively contribute to student academic achievement. The purpose of this study is to identify trends from 2003 through 2016 in academic majors and subject-area certifications, licensures, or endorsements of K-12 public school staff in the United States who were teaching at least one health education class during this century

Dose Response Effect of Caffeine on Appetite Sensations and Mood

Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance in the world. The known mechanisms and effects of caffeine consumption and metabolism suggest oral caffeine administration may affect appetite sensations and mood. Potential confounding factors that alter caffeine’s effects on appetite sensations and mood include caffeine dose, gender, BMI, and withdrawal reversal. Early studies have shown moderate doses (~3 mg/kg) of caffeine have equivocal effects while high doses (\u3e3 mg/kg) have deleterious effects on appetite sensations and mood. No studies have evaluated the effect of acute oral caffeine administration at low (1 mg/kg) and moderate (3 mg/kg) doses on appetite sensations and mood. It is hypothesized appetite sensations, e.g. Hunger, will decrease, positive mood, e.g. Liveliness, will increase, and negative mood, e.g. Sadness, will decrease with low dose caffeine; however, these effects will be mediated by gender, BMI and/or withdrawal reversal. To test our hypothesis, we had 18-50 y old adults abstain from all forms of caffeine 24-h prior to each laboratory session. At that time, they were given a relative (0, 1, or 3 mg/kg) dose of caffeine in a 350-mL beverage. Appetite sensations and mood were assessed prior to beverage administration and again 30-min later. Low dose caffeine significantly decreased Nervousness (p=0.023) and increased Strong (p=0.021) compared to placebo and moderate dose. Males only significantly decreased Sadness at the low caffeine dose compared to placebo or moderate dose (p=0.0110). Findings suggest the amount of caffeine ingested significantly affects mood and emotions at a low caffeine dose, but this effect may be mediated by gender

The independent and combined effects of caffeine and exercise on eating behavior

The purpose of this dissertation is to define and describe eating behavior, describe the known mechanisms and effects of caffeine on exercise and examine the independent and combined effects of caffeine and short-term exercise on eating behavior. Study 1,between subjects design, randomized inactive adults to different frequencies (0, 1, 3, 5 days/week) of short-term (2 weeks) aerobic exercise and measured the reinforcing value and consumption of healthy versus unhealthy foods baseline to post-treatment. Study 2, within subjects design, randomized adults to three relative caffeine doses (0, l, and 3 mg/kg body weight) and measured the effects of acute caffeine exposure on appetite and intake at breakfast and throughout the day. Study 3, between subjects two-by-two design, randomized inactive adults to different conditions (short-term no exercise/exercise) and treatments (placebo/caffeine) and measured the reinforcing value and intake of LED versus HED foods, intake at breakfast and throughout the day, appetite, and exercise responses. Study 1 identified increased frequency (5 days/week x 2 weeks) of aerobic exercise increased the reinforcing value and intake of LED foods. Study 2 identified a decrease in intake at a 3 mg/kg caffeine dose. Study 3 identified independent effects of caffeine or exercise on eating behavior. Portions of LED food earned was greater after 2 weeks of caffeine exposure. Intake and rate of intake increased after 2 weeks of exercise. Caffeine impaired exercise performance for overweight/obese. Hunger was greater and increased after 2 weeks caffeine without exercise. There were no combined effects of caffeine and short-term exercise on intake in the laboratory or under free living conditions. These finding suggest signals from exercise and caffeine on eating behavior may compete with each other or the effects may be too transient or too weak to be consistently replicated. More studies are needed to further elucidate the expected acute and chronic effects of caffeine and exercise, independently and combined, on eating behavior

Identifying Academic Majors and Certifications of Health Teachers in the United States

Specific to the health education component, the WSCC model includes recommendations for K-12 comprehensive school health education that includes curricula and instruction to address a variety of health topics and the National Health Education Standards (CDC, 2018). As stated by the CDC (2018), health education, when provided by qualified, trained teachers, helps students attain the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to make healthful decisions, achieve health literacy, and advocate for the health of others. Qualified trained teachers, often synonymous with quality teachers, provide students with the necessary formal and structured health education instruction. Two widely used standards that describe quality teachers are demonstrated subject-matter competency (i.e. passing a subject knowledge test or having a baccalaureate degree or better in the subject) and full state teacher certification or licensure in the area they teach. Current research supports the relationship between teachers’ subject area knowledge and certification as they contribute to student academic achievement. This study identified trends in academic majors and subject-area certifications of K-12 public school staff in the United States who were teaching health education during this century (years 2003-04, 2007-08, 2011-12, & 2015-16). Data were extracted from a comprehensive nationally representative survey of school employees conducted regularly by the National Center for Educational Statistics of the Unites States Department of Education. A poster presentation style was chosen in an effort to present current trends in teacher certification and academic major among staff teaching health education and to allow participants to discuss why these trends are occurring and to make recommendations for professional preparation.https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/fsrcf_nss/1003/thumbnail.jp