Taking the Bitter with the Sweet: Relationship of Supertasting and Sweet Preference with Metabolic Syndrome and Dietary Intake: Sweet preference and dietary intake …

Results examining the effects of tasting profile on dietary intake and health outcomes have varied. This study examined the interaction of sweet liker (SL) and supertasting (ST) (bitter taste test through phenylthiocarbamide (PTC)) status with incidence of metabolic syndrome

Pounds Off Digitally (POD): an examination of the use of podcasting to promote weight loss

The purpose of this research project was to assess if podcasting could be an effective way to deliver a weight loss intervention. This dissertation followed three aims. Aim 1 consisted of a content analysis of weight loss podcasts (N =13) and surveys with weight loss and physical activity podcast show hosts (N =13) and listeners (N = 22). Podcasts had an average accuracy score of 19.5 (range 15.5 - 22) out of 25. The majority (91%) of listeners reported making at least one healthy change as a result of listening to podcasts. The purpose of Aim 2 was to explore differences in how people process information on weight loss either through reading text on a Web site or listening to the information via podcast. Participants were randomly assigned to view a Healthy Weight Web site (N = 20) or listen to a Healthy Weight podcast (N = 20). Participants completed questionnaire items and had skin conductance (SCL) levels measured. There was no difference in SCL levels between the groups; however, the Web group reported greater ease of navigation and user control and found the intervention to be less novel than the podcast group. Aim 3 consisted of a randomized controlled trial comparing a control podcast to a weight loss podcast based on Social Cognitive Theory (enhanced podcast) for 12 weeks. Enhanced group participants (n=41) had a greater decrease in weight (-2.9 [plus or minus] 3.5 kg enhanced group vs. -0.3 [plus or minus] 2.1 control group; P < 0.001 between groups) and BMI (-1.0 [plus or minus] 1.2 kg/m2 enhanced group vs. -0.1 [plus or minus] 0.7 kg/m2 control group; P < 0.001 between groups) than the control group (n=37) and had greater weight loss-related knowledge (P < 0.05), elaboration (P < 0.001), and user control (P < 0.001) and less cognitive load (P < 0.001). The results of this dissertation project suggest that a well-designed, theory-based podcast may be an effective way to promote healthy weight loss. More research is needed to see if podcasting can be as effective at helping people with health behavior changes as other electronic media, such as the Web

Before the Lunch Line: Effectiveness of Behavioral Economic Interventions for Pre-Commitment on Elementary School Children’s Food Choices

In this study, we intervened in elementary schools on lunch entrée selection using some of the behavioral economic methods shown to be effective in earlier food choice studies. Unlike many earlier behavioral interventions, which were mostly done in controlled environments and smaller café type settings for one-off interactions, we conducted our interventions in a real-world environment in twelve elementary schools in one school district in South Carolina over nine school weeks. By increasing salience and prominence of the healthy entrée of the day through visual and verbal tools, we nudged students towards selecting healthier options in treatment schools. We estimated the treatment effects using a difference-in-differences setup, comparing changes in the share of students selecting nudged entrées during the treatment period relative to the shares before the treatment period in treatment and comparison schools. Our estimates show that the nudges are effective when present. They increase selection of the healthy option by thirteen to thirty-five percent on the days the entrée is treated. Effects disappear when the nudge is removed, however, and there is evidence for reduced effectiveness of nudges in repeat instances. There is no evidence of habit formation

Before the Lunch Line: Effectiveness of Behavioral Economic Interventions for Pre-Commitment on Elementary School Children’s Food Choices

In this study, we intervened in elementary schools on lunch entrée selection using some of the behavioral economic methods shown to be effective in earlier food choice studies. Unlike many earlier behavioral interventions, which were mostly done in controlled environments and smaller café type settings for one-off interactions, we conducted our interventions in a real-world environment in twelve elementary schools in one school district in South Carolina over nine school weeks. By increasing salience and prominence of the healthy entrée of the day through visual and verbal tools, we nudged students towards selecting healthier options in treatment schools. We estimated the treatment effects using a difference-in-differences setup, comparing changes in the share of students selecting nudged entrées during the treatment period relative to the shares before the treatment period in treatment and comparison schools. Our estimates show that the nudges are effective when present. They increase selection of the healthy option by thirteen to thirty-five percent on the days the entrée is treated. Effects disappear when the nudge is removed, however, and there is evidence for reduced effectiveness of nudges in repeat instances. There is no evidence of habit formation

Weight loss social support in 140 characters or less: use of an online social network in a remotely delivered weight loss intervention

Little is known about how online social networking can help enhance weight loss. To examine the types of online social support utilized in a behavioral weight loss intervention and relationship of posting and weight loss. A sub-analysis of the content and number of posts to Twitter among participants (n = 47) randomized to a mobile, social network arm as part of a 6-month trial among overweight adults, examining weight loss, use of Twitter, and type of social support (informational, tangible assistance, esteem, network, and emotional support). A number of Twitter posts were related to % weight loss at 6 months (p < 0.001). Initial reported weight loss predicted engagement with Twitter (p < 0.01) but prior Twitter use or initial Twitter engagement did not. Most Twitter posts (total posts n = 2,630) were Informational support (n = 1,981; 75 %), with the predominant subtype of Teaching (n = 1,632; 62 %), mainly in the form of a status update (n = 1,319). Engagement with Twitter was related to weight loss and participants mainly used Twitter to provide Information support to one another through status updates

Are we sure that Mobile Health is really mobile? An examination of mobile device use during two remotely-delivered weight loss interventions

The “m” in mHealth is often thought of as the ability to receive health information and monitor behaviors on the go. Little is known about how people actually use mobile vs. traditional access methods and if access method affects engagement and health outcomes

Delivering Health Information via Podcast or Web: Media Effects on Psychosocial and Physiological Responses

This study explored differences in psychosocial and physiological variables in response to being presented with information on weight loss through either reading text on a website or listening to the same information via podcast. Participants were randomized to receive a weight loss website (n = 20) or podcast (n = 20). Participants had skin conductance levels measured and completed questionnaire items assessing demographic characteristics, user control, novelty, and knowledge. Participants in the podcast group exhibited greater levels of physiological arousal and reported the intervention to be more novel than those in the Web group; however, the Web group reported greater user control. There was no difference in knowledge between the groups. This study presents the first step in examining the role that novelty and user control may play in two different weight-loss electronic media, as well as differences in knowledge acquisition. Future research should explore adding additional media features, such as video content, to the podcasts and websites in order to optimize fully the different mediums and to examine whether user control and novelty are potential mediators of weight loss outcomes

Associations Between Fasting Duration, Timing of First and Last Meal, and Cardiometabolic Endpoints in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Research indicates potential cardiometabolic benefits of energy consumption earlier in the day. This study examined the association between fasting duration, timing of first and last meals, and cardiometabolic endpoints using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: Cross-sectional data from NHANES (2005–2016) were utilized. Diet was obtained from one to two 24-h dietary recalls to characterize nighttime fasting duration and timing of first and last meal. Blood samples were obtained for characterization of C-reactive protein (CRP); glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c %); insulin; glucose; and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol. Survey design procedures for adjusted linear and logistic regression were performed. Results: Every one-hour increase in nighttime fasting duration was associated with a significantly higher insulin and CRP, and lower HDL. Every one-hour increase in timing of the last meal of the day was statistically significantly associated with higher HbA1c and lower LDL. Every one-hour increase in first mealtime was associated with higher CRP (β = 0.044, p = 0.0106), insulin (β = 0.429, p \u3c 0.01), and glucose (β = 0.662, p \u3c 0.01), and lower HDL (β = −0.377, p \u3c 0.01). Conclusion: In this large public health dataset, evidence for the beneficial effect of starting energy consumption earlier in the day on cardiometabolic endpoints was observed

Information Processing Versus Social Cognitive Mediators of Weight Loss in a Podcast-Delivered Health Intervention

Podcasting is an emerging technology, and previous interventions have shown promising results using theory-based podcast for weight loss among overweight and obese individuals. This study investigated whether constructs of social cognitive theory and information processing theories (IPTs) mediate the effect of a podcast intervention on weight loss among overweight individuals. Data are from Pounds off Digitally, a study testing the efficacy of two weight loss podcast interventions (control podcast and theory-based podcast). Path models were constructed (n = 66). The IPTs—elaboration likelihood model, information control theory, and cognitive load theory—mediated the effect of a theory-based podcast on weight loss. The intervention was significantly associated with all IPTs. Information control theory and cognitive load theory were related to elaboration, and elaboration was associated with weight loss. Social cognitive theory constructs did not mediate weight loss. Future podcast interventions grounded in theory may be effective in promoting weight loss