Vegetarian diets can provide an abundance of nutrients when planned with care. However, research suggests that vegetarian diets may have lower protein quality than omnivore diets. Current protein recommendations assume that vegetarians obtain a majority of their protein from animal products, like dairy and eggs. Studies have shown that this assumption may not be valid. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) may not be adequate in vegetarian populations with high protein requirements. The purpose of this study is to analyze dietary protein quality using the DIAAS (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score) method in both vegetarian and omnivore endurance athletes. 38 omnivores and 22 vegetarians submitted 7-day food records which were assessed using nutrition analysis software (Food Processor, ESHA Research, Salem, OR, USA). Dietary intake data was used to calculate DIAAS and determine the amount of available dietary protein in subject diets. Dietary data was compared with the subjects’ lean body mass (obtained using DEXA scan technology), and strength (quantified using peak torque of leg extension and flexion using an isokinetic dynamometer). Statistical analyses revealed significantly higher available protein intake in the omnivore athletes (p<.001). There were significant correlations between available protein intake and strength (p=.016) and available protein intake and lean body mass (p<.001). Omnivore subjects had higher lean body mass than vegetarian subjects (p=.011). These results suggest that vegetarian athletes may benefit from higher overall protein intakes to make up for lower dietary protein quality.

Introduction: A mini-documentary consisting of 4 student interviews and 1 professional interview was created for the purpose of providing examples of how body image and eating behaviors affect overall wellness and starting more conversation of this topic. Literature Review: A review of some of the current literature involving body image and wellness interventions suggests that body image is a significant factor of health and wellbeing. Wellness interventions, mostly "non-diet" approaches, that omit weight loss as a primary goal could be a suitable solution for some people wanting to make sustainable healthy lifestyle changes. The social media site, YouTube, was chosen to share the documentary based on the ability of social media to reach more people, engage them, and spread messages and information quickly. Methods: Participants of the video were volunteers responding to an ad posted on the Barrett, the Honors College daily newsletter. Michelle May, M.D. was interviewed to provide a professional perspective on the subject. Questions asked of the student participants were meant to provide examples of how each of their relationships with their bodies and food affected their ideas of health and vice versa. Final Video: The final video, titled "Food & You" can be found on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ShmAzlx2GhM Discussion and Conclusion: Overall, weight and body size still seem to play a role in the ideas the students interviewed have of health. As more research into improving body image is done, knowing how to add this to personal and health professional practice should be encouraged. Moving away from the weight-focused idea of health could improve body image and overall wellness.

This research topic surrounds eating disorders and their growing prevalence in college and college-age students. It focuses on the online resources made available by universities to aid in the treatment of these disorders. College students go to the internet first when looking up health information, and this makes it crucial that universities are up to date with their online health and counseling information. The purpose of this research was to analyze the online presence for eating disorder treatment presented by universities within the Pac-12. Analysis was based on three criteria: content presentation, navigation and information. Of the 12 universities, no university supplied all the information subcategories listed in Table 1. However, six of the 12 universities had at least 50.00% of the information subcategories listed on their websites. Also, 58.33% of the universities identified eating disorders as a reason to seek counseling services. However, with only 33.33% having an eating disorder resource page, more needs to be offered on the universities' websites. Keywords: bulimia, anorexia, treatment, EDNOS, BED, college students, health information, university resources

Usually a medical website has a description, or overview, of the condition. Then there are different sections informing the viewer about the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options. There are some resource links for families to explore, but there it provides more information rather than narration. What is lacking is a patient account or perspective on the given topic. This project suggests an added resource for parents and patients with its storytelling element that is irreplaceable. An example is also available using my own story growing up with hemifacial microsomia.

The intention of this thesis is to create a cookbook to best serve the needs of all who attend Lions Camp Tatiyee. The cookbook was used as a resource in providing the Lions Camp Tatiyee Kitchen staff with simple, healthy recipes to use in the implementation of their summer menu. This thesis discusses the culmination of the idea, the process of execution, current research concerning the relationship between nutrition and health concerns related to special needs, and achievements and further advancements of my creative project.

Banking on a Diet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jamp5HYDDqg My documentary is about people with diet-related diseases and restrictions who receive food from a food bank. There has historically been very little research on this clientele, but that is changing. In 2014, the hunger research organization Feeding America asked Americans seeking food assistance if they had a diet-related disease. According to Feeding America's Hunger in America report, the survey found that 58 percent of national households have a member with high blood pressure. In Arizona, that's 54 percent. The survey also found that 33 percent of national households have a member with diabetes. In Arizona, that's 42 percent. Dietary restrictions such as food allergies or religious guidelines, on the other hand, are still not reported. I interviewed several food bank clients who, aside from having a diet-related disease, can't eat certain foods because of an allergy, adverse reaction with their medications, or religious guidelines. No matter the individual case, food banks are beginning to realize there's a growing population of clients who can't get the food they need. Food banks nationally, and in Arizona, are taking steps to accommodate the clients they serve who have diet-related diseases and/or dietary restrictions. My documentary focuses on those food bank clients, as well as what the food banks are doing to accommodate them. The biggest issue is that food banks can only work with the food they receive, or use the money that's donated to them to purchase food. The food banks do their best with what they're given and the clients do the same. According to Association of Arizona Food Banks, two of the food bank leaders in diet-conscious services are Desert Mission, a member of AAFB and the HonorHealth system, and Cultural Cup, an independent food bank separate from AAFB. I focused on these two food banks and their clients for my documentary.

There are multivariate factors that not only play a role in an individual's ability to lose weight, but may create barriers to his or her success. One such factor is internalized weight bias (IWB), which is inversely associated with weight loss outcomes and body satisfaction, and directly associated with psychosocial maladjustments such as depression and binge eating. This study examined the relationship between internalized weight bias and weight loss outcomes using a coding scheme developed for an online weight loss forum to see whether results would be consistent with self-administered surveys that measure IWB. The coding scheme was developed using an exploratory factor analysis of a survey composed of existing measures of IWB. Participants' posts within an online weight loss forum were coded and participants given a weekly IWB score that was compared to weekly weight loss using mixed model analysis. No significance was found between IWB and weight loss outcomes in this study, however, the coding scheme developed is a novel approach to measuring IWB, and the categories identified from latent constructs of IWB may be used in the future to determine the dimensions that exist within it. Ultimately, a better understanding of IWB could lead to the development of targeted weight loss interventions that address the beliefs and attitudes held by individuals who experience it.

Objective: Vinegar consumption studies have demonstrated possible therapeutic effects in reducing HbA1c and postprandial glycemia. The purpose of the study was to closely examine the effects of a commercial vinegar drink on daily fluctuations in fasting glucose concentrations and postprandial glycemia, and on HbA1c, in individuals at risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D). Design: Thirteen women and one man (21-62 y; mean, 46.0±3.9 y) participated in this 12-week parallel-arm trial. Participants were recruited from a campus community and were healthy and not diabetic by self-report. Participants were not prescribed oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin; other medications were allowed if use was stable for > 3 months. Subjects were randomized to one of two groups: VIN (8 ounces vinegar drink providing 1.5 g acetic acid) or CON (1 vinegar pill providing 0.04 g acetic acid). Treatments were taken twice daily immediately prior to the lunch and dinner meals. Venous blood samples were drawn at trial weeks 0 and 12 to measure insulin, fasting glucose, and HbA1c. Subjects recorded fasting glucose and 2-h postprandial glycemia concentrations daily using a glucometer. Results: The VIN group showed significant reductions in fasting capillary blood glucose concentrations (p=0.05) that were immediate and sustained throughout the duration of the study. The VIN group had reductions in 2-h postprandial glucose (mean change of −7.6±6.8 mg/dL over the 12-week trial), but this value was not significantly different than that for the CON group (mean change of 3.3±5.3 mg/dL over the 12-week trial, p=0.232). HbA1c did not significantly change (p=0.702), but the reduction in HbA1c in the VIN group, −0.14±0.1%, may have physiological relevance. Conclusions: Significant reductions in HbA1c were not observed after daily consumption of a vinegar drink containing 1.5 g acetic acid in non-diabetic individuals. However, the vinegar drink did significantly reduce fasting capillary blood glucose concentrations in these individuals as compared to a vinegar pill containing 0.04 g acetic acid. These results support a therapeutic effect for vinegar in T2D prevention and progression, specifically in high-risk populations.

This study examined the effect of consuming pinto, black, and dark red kidney beans with white rice in comparison to a white rice only control meal on the glycemic response of adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). These bean and rice combinations are part of many traditional diets. Seventeen subjects with T2D treated by diet and/or metformin were randomly assigned to 4 treatments: white rice (control), pinto beans/rice, black beans/rice, and dark red kidney beans/rice. All treatments were portioned by weight and matched for available carbohydrate content of ∼ 50 grams. Capillary whole blood samples were collected at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 minutes posttreatment and assessed for glucose concentration using the YSI Stat Plus Analyzer. Net change glucose responses were significantly lower for the pinto, black, and dark red kidney bean and rice meals than control at 90, 120 and 150 minutes posttreatment (P < 0.05). Incremental area under the curve (iAUC) values were also significantly reduced for the bean/rice meals containing pinto (P < 0.01) and black beans (P < 0.05) in contrast to the rice control. Results suggest that the combination of whole beans and rice may be beneficial to those with T2D to assist with blood glucose management.