Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are at an increased risk for developing obesity when compared to their typically developing peers. Given higher prevalence of obesity in youth with ASD, understanding factors relating to success in obesity treatment provides insight into implementing efficacious treatments for youth. The current study…

Body composition (BC) is a valuable indicator of health and performance. Air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) is a popular, efficient, and reliable method for assessing BC. A-mode ultrasonography (AUS) is another method, and its affordability, mobility, and practicality make it a plausible device for industry and health professionals. This study…

Objective: To examine the relationship between self-reported health, BMI, diet, and physical activity among students at three diverse institutions of higher learning (private university, HBCU, and community college), and investigate similarities and differences in behaviors and outcomes at these schools and how targeted interventions might support…

Background: Children living in poverty often are exposed to situations that negatively affect various aspects of their development. So, it is important to propose interventional programs that minimize the negative effects of living in poverty on these children. Objective: To verify the impact of a mastery climate cognitive-motor skills…

Accurate body composition assessment, which includes fat mass (adipose tissue mass, FM), fat-free mass (FFM), and percent fat mass (%FM) is needed to evaluate health and treatment efficacy. The current study compared body composition estimates obtained from the Norland Elite® DXA, BodPod®, and iDXA® before and after a 12-week exercise intervention…

The development of cognitive and motor skills early in life is essential for a child's global development and learning, which in turn influences later health and well-being. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the associations between sociodemographic factors and nutritional factors with cognitive and motor delays in infants aged 6-12…

Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) declines during adolescence, particularly among girls. In this randomized control trial, we examined MVPA in a physical activity intervention compared to physical education (PE) class as usual (TAU), stratified by sex and weight classification. Standardized BMI (zBMI) overtime was also…

Background: Physical exercise interacts with sleep quality, stress and life satisfaction. Purpose: The current study examined the effectiveness of regular aerobic walking on sleep quality, stress and life satisfaction and to explore the associations between lifestyle habits and sleep quality, stress and life satisfaction. Methods: A 12-week…

This study tested the Wellness Enhancing Physical Activity in Young Children (WE PLAY) program, a 4-week online preschool teacher training, on children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). In this cluster RCT, six Head Start preschools were randomized to an intervention and comparison group. Children's MVPA was measured using…

Recovery from exercise-induced fatigue is crucial for subsequent performance. Self-myofascial release (SMR) using a foam roller is an alternative to active recovery (AR). This study aims to compare the effects of passive recovery (PR), AR, and SMR on blood lactate [La[superscript -]] removal and total quality of recovery (TQR). Twenty-two well…

Background: Physical activity (PA) is one of the most important health behaviors that may be modified by each individual. To foster PA in adolescents, a school-based intervention was evaluated. Methods: A cluster-randomized controlled trial with preassessment in 2014 and follow-up assessment in 2015 included 29 schools with 1020 students (47.6%…

There is a growing body of evidence to support the benefits of physical activity on children's cognitions and behavior. Although children with ADHD are known to be at risk for deficits in cognitive processing, specifically executive functioning which controls the organization, regulation, and planning of behavior, little evidence exists about the…

This dissertation addresses several contemporary health challenges affecting the US population, drawing on methods and perspectives from health services research, social demography, and medical sociology. Paper 1 examines the pathways from educational attainment to difficulty with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of…

Nicaragua has a high rate of food insecurity determined by factors such as, poverty, employment, education, social capital and climate change. Home gardening and nutrition education can decrease food insecurity and improve community health. There is a need to evaluate garden-based nutrition education to determine its effectiveness in improving…

Background: The school environment has the potential to influence student body mass index (BMI) through programs and policies. Our objective was to examine the effect of modifying obesity-related school policies and programs on youths' BMI trajectories. Methods: Obesity-related school policies and programs related to physical activity and healthy…