THE EFFECTS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE

Author

Cassidy Maria Scoggins, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2010

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Food and Nutrition

First Advisor

Peterson, Sharon

Abstract

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Cassidy Scoggins, for the Masters of Science degree in Food and Nutrition, presented on November 19, 2009, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: THE EFFECTS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION ON SNACKING PATTERNS, SCREEN TIME PATTERNS, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AMONG ADOLESCENTS WHO ARE AT-RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Sharon Peterson Previous research has shown that overweight and obesity in adolescents is one of the leading risk factors for developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). There are several risk factors for obesity that are modifiable in adolescents. Of these, snacking patterns, screen time, and lack of physical activity have an impact on the body weight and overall health of adolescents. The design of this "R.U.A. Healthy Kid?" study was a prospective cohort of 16 free-living adolescents at-risk for T2DM. Each participant was previously screened and found to have two or more risk factors for T2DM. The intervention targeted several components, however snacking patterns, physical activity levels and screen time levels mold the foundation for the current study. An overall "snacking score" was developed to measure the frequency and quality of snacking patterns of participants. After three months of intervention, participants' overall snacking score increased. Many significant relationships were found between the overall snack score, physical activity, and screen time questions, such as negative relationships between: "time on TV" and total snacking score and "time spent walking, biking, or jogging" and "unhealthy" snacking score. These results show how community-based lifestyle interventions that address adolescents' snacking patterns, screen time levels, and physical activity levels are crucial in the fight to overcome the T2DM epidemic now prevalent in adolescents.