Assessing the Social and Ecological Factors that Influence Childhood Overweight and Obesity

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. Currently more than 1 in 3 children aged 2-19 are overweight or obese. This is of major concern because childhood overweight and obesity leads to chronic conditions such as type II diabetes and tracks into adulthood, where more severe adverse health outcomes arise. In this study I used the premise of the social ecological model (SEM) to analyze the common levels that a child is exposed to daily; the intrapersonal level, the interpersonal level, the school level, and the community level to better understand what risk factors are significantly associated with child weight status. Data came from the 2012 National Survey of Children\u27s Health (NSCH) (n=41,361). Frequencies and confidence intervals were used to describe risk factors at each level. Bivariate analyses were conducted between each risk factor and the outcome variable. Using all risk factors that were significantly associated with overweight and obesity in the bivariate analyses, multinomial logistic regressions were performed for each SEM level. The 4 SEM levels were then analyzed together using stagewise multinomial logistic regression. A significance level cutoff of 0.05 was applied to all analyses. Thirty-three percent of participants were overweight or obese. Child sex, race, age, child physical activity participation, mother’s education and health, the child’s family structure, the child’s participation in extracurricular activities, frequency of family meals at home, safety and engagement in school, the number of amenities and the safety and support within their communities were found to be significantly associated with child weight status. The odds ratios of the covariates in the final stagewise model were similar to those in each individual model. Understanding both the risk factors associated with child overweight and obesity in each individual level and in the complete socio-ecological perspective is important when working toward more effective policy and program creation and the reduction of childhood obesity. Recognizing that all levels of a child\u27s SEM influence his or her likelihood of being overweight or obese can lead to more effective strategies that tackle multiple SEM levels collectively instead of each level independently

American History I & II (GHC)

This Grants Collection for American History I & II was created under a Round Eight ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/history-collections/1005/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 3, 2010

Students Enjoy Summer Vacation Abroad • Campus Activities Board Brings Fresh Ideas for Fall \u2710 • A Freshman\u27s Take on the First-Year Orientation Experience • Ursinus Enrollment Finally Under Control, Freshmen Move in with Ease • Greek Life Rushes into Fall Season with New Regulations • Speed Dating with New UC Professors • Summer Fellows: Taking Undergrad Research One Step Further • Ursinus College Alphabet • Opinions: Allow Citizens to Build Mosque in New York City; Build the Ground Zero Mosque Somewhere Else • Book Review: A Student\u27s Brief Take on Oscar Wao • McNamara Enjoys Unique Wrestling Trip to Siberia, Russia • Ursinus Trio Teams up for New Jersey Triathlonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1815/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 18, 2010

Every Ending Starts with a Beginning • Record-Breaking Blizzard Evokes Varied Reactions • Could Watching the Super Bowl Damage Your Heart? • Snow Storm Photos • Senior Class Gift Drive • SPINTfest \u2710 Brings New Themes for Houses • UC Goes Red to Raise Awareness About the Risks of Heart Disease • Opinion: Teenage Pregnancy TV Shows are a Big Hit, But What\u27s the Effect? • Tragedy Strikes in Early Hours of Winter Olympics • Men\u27s Basketball Shuts Down McDanielhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1806/thumbnail.jp

Residential Stormwater Pond Maintenance and Outreach in the Lowcountry

2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Managemen

The Association of Calcium Intake and Other Risk Factors with Cardiovascular Disease among Obese Adults in USA

In this study, we used a cross-sectional study design to examine the relationship between the calcium intake and risk factors for CVD among obese adults by using continuous waves of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data 1999-2010. The association between calcium intake and risk factors of CVD (hypertension, total cholesterol, HDL, glycohemoglobin), CRP, albuminuria) is assessed among obese adults in USA. The incidence of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is high among obese people. The potential effects of inadequate calcium intake on CVD are receiving increased epidemiologic attention. Understanding the association between risk factors for CVD and calcium intake among obese adults is important for the advancement of CVD, nutrition and obesity research. Data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999-2010 were examined, utilizing a subset of 14,856 obese subjects. Analysis of Variance statistical tests were conducted to determine associations between calcium intake and CVD risk. Simple and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the predicted value of calcium intake with CVD. After adjusting for energy intake and other potential risk factors, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, glycosylated hemoglobin and albuminuria were negatively associated with calcium intake at &alpha = 0.05 level in both linear and logistic regression analyses. In a comparison of calcium intake by quartiles, results reveal that total cholesterol had a weak negative association with calcium intake at &alpha = 0.1 level. The implications of these study results are important as the importance of adequate calcium intake and its potential to decrease CVD among obese adults has incredible preventive value for populations. Additional research that focuses on dietary intake, calcium thresholds and impacts on total cholesterol levels in the body is warranted

Vitamin D Status and Demographic and Lifestyle Determinants Among Adults in the United States (NHANES 2001-2006)

This study looked at risk factors associated with vitamin D levels in the body among a representative sample of adults in the U.S., NHANES III (2001-2006) data were used to assess the relationship between several demographic and health risk factors and vitamin D levels in the body. The Baseline-Category Logit Model was used to test the association between vitamin D level and the potential risk factors age, education, ethnicity, poverty status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, obesity, diabetes and total cholesterol with both genders. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with age, race, education, physical activity, obesity, diabetes and total cholesterol level for both genders. Almost half of the adults sampled in these data had vitamin D levels lower than the recommended limits, with the highest frequency among the younger groups. Determining an individual’s vitamin D level is very difficult without proper clinical testing. Many of those who have low vitamin D levels are unaware. With such a high prevalence of individuals with low vitamin D levels in the U.S. and a better understanding of characteristics associated with these lower levels, increased education and prevention efforts should be focused toward those with higher risk characteristics

Introduction to Human Development (GHC)

This Grants Collection for Introduction to Human Development was created under a Round Nine ALG Textbook Transformation Grant. Affordable Learning Georgia Grants Collections are intended to provide faculty with the frameworks to quickly implement or revise the same materials as a Textbook Transformation Grants team, along with the aims and lessons learned from project teams during the implementation process. Documents are in .pdf format, with a separate .docx (Word) version available for download. Each collection contains the following materials: Linked Syllabus Initial Proposal Final Reporthttps://oer.galileo.usg.edu/psychology-collections/1023/thumbnail.jp

2010 Ruby Yearbook

A digitized copy of the 2010 Ruby, the Ursinus College yearbook.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ruby/1113/thumbnail.jp

Cane Creek and Little Cane Creek Watershed management plan to address e. coli impairment, Oconee County, SC

This Watershed Management Plan intends to address the seemingly consistent water use impairments of bacteria loading to the Cane and Little Cane Creek Watershed. This watershed is the largest and most urban of the drainage basins to Lake Keowee, and a priority in addressing the sustained quality of that reservoir’s use for supplying drinking water and recreation. This plan may be considered unique in that it proposes short-term solutions and long-term strategies for the protection of environmental quality and its influence on quality of life in Oconee County