Funded 2009

TEXt4Heath: Teens Eating and eXercising 4 Health
Emily Parker, Research Associate, HealthPartners Research Foundation
1/01/09—12/31/11 OPC
This study is designed to test the feasibility of a novel, technology-delivered, obesity prevention intervention in adolescent cancer survivors. The intervention involves the delivery of concise messages related to nutrition and physical activity via cell phone text messaging.

 Return to top

Funded 2008

The Effects of Information in the Media on Antecedents of Weight Control
Marco Yzer, Assistant Professor, UMN-Journalism
02/01/08—01/31/09 TREC
This research aims to examine how information in the media about eating and physical activity affects antecedents of obesity in an adolescent sample. Investigators will develop and test an innovative new measure of weight-relevant media information exposure and use this measure to reliably assess the relation between weight control information and people’s thoughts, feelings and behavior regarding weight control.

Perinatal Influences on Infant Adiposity: The Minnesota Infant Nutrition, Neurodevelopment, and Obesity (MINNOwS) Study
Ellen Demerath, Associate Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
09/01/08—08/31/09 TREC
The aims of this study are: 1) to test the effects of maternal body composition, gestational weight gain and weight history on the rate of infant growth and fat mass gains from 0-4 months of age; 2) to test the effects of reported infant appetite, feeding mode (breast/formula/complementary foods), style (feeding frequency, duration of feeds, on-demand, scheduled), and sleep patterns on the rate of infant growth and fat mass gains from 0-4 months of age; and 3) to examine the independent and interaction effects of maternal body composition and obesity and postnatal infant feeding behaviors on the rate of growth and fat mass gains from 0-4 months of age.

Obesity Prevention for Overweight Children by Targeting Parent Behaviors, the Home Environment, and Family Functioning
Simone French, Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
09/01/08—08/31/09 TREC
This study will test a family-based treatment plus family functioning intervention to examine its effects on body weight and weight-related behaviors among 3-5 year old overweight children.

Weight Loss Parameters in Obese Breast Cancer Survivors
Mindy Kurzer, Professor, UMN-Food Science & Nutrition
09/01/08—08/31/09 TREC
This pilot project is designed 1) to assess the feasibility of a weight-loss program combining calorie restriction and physical activity in obese breast cancer survivors, 2) to determine the effect of weight loss and maintenance on biomarkers associated with breast cancer risk and recurrence, and 3) to assess the impact of weight loss on quality of life of obese breast cancer survivors.

Informing Measurement Strategies to Address Relevant Food Environments
Melissa Nelson, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
09/01/08—08/31/09 TREC
This research will examine food purchasing patterns and locations, as well as home food environments, among young adults across various lifestyle characteristics.

Obesity, Elevated Blood Pressure and Insulin Resistance among American Indian School-Children: Identifying Family- and Environment-level Determinants
Melissa Nelson, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
09/01/08—08/31/09 OPC/TREC
The goal of this project is to study the family- and school-based influences on obesity, blood pressure, and risk of insulin resistance among 5,500 American Indian children attending schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Trajectories of Optimal Pregnancy Weight Gain for Overweight and Obese Women
Patricia Fontaine, Associate Professor, UMN-Family Medicine & Community Health Modeling
10/22/08—10/21/09 OPC
This project examines relationships between gestational weight gain trajectories and maternal and child health outcomes.

GLP-1 Therapy of Weight Loss and Improved Glucose Tolerance in Obese Children: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study
Aaron Kelly, Assistant Professor, UMN-Pediatrics
11/01/08—10/31/09 MNOC
11/01/09—10/31/10 MNOC
The primary aim of this pilot is to examine the effects of six months of exenatide treatment on body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body composition, and glucose tolerance in obese children with IGT.

Regional Free Fatty Acid Uptake Assessed by Positron Emission Tomography in Humans: A Pilot and Feasibility Study
Christina Koutsari, Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic, Internal Medicine 11/01/08—10/31/09 MNOC
11/01/09—10/31/10 MNOC
This study will test the use of [1-11C] palmitate and PET to study FFA uptake into adipose tissue beds, skeletal muscle and liver.

Role of Skeletal Hormones in Adipocyte Differentiation and Function
Laura Mauro, Associate Professor, UMN-Animal Science
11/01/08—10/31/09 MNOC
11/01/09—10/31/10 MNOC
The goal of this project is to determine the direct effects of a novel skeletal hormone, uncarboxylated osteocalcin (uOcn), on adipocytes.

Bone and Cardiovascular Health in Obese Adolescents Following Bariatric Surgery
Moira Petit, Associate Professor, UMN-Kinesiology
11/01/08—10/31/09 MNOC
11/01/09—10/31/10 MNOC
The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the effects of bariatric surgery on indices of bone health and cardiovascular function in morbidly obese adolescents.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Standard Behavioral Weight-Loss Intervention on Reproductive Parameters in Obese Men
Ruby Nguyen, Assistant Profession, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
12/01/08—11/30/09 OPC
12/01/09—11/30/10 OPC
This study examines whether a standard behavioral weight-loss intervention in obese men is associated with improvement of reproductive hormones and semen parameters to a level conducive to normal spermatogenesis.

Observational Ratings of Child Feeding Practices Among Preschoolers
Jayne Fulkerson, Associate Professor, UMN-Nursing
12/15/08—12/14/09 OPC
12/15/09—12/14/10 OPC
This study aims to comprehensively assess child feeding practices currently used by parents of at risk preschoolers and develop a methodology that can be used to eventually test which child feeding practices are most effective in preventing excess weight gain among children.

 Return to top

Funded 2007

Metabolic and Behavioral Effects of Breakfast Frequency and Quality in a Bi-ethnic Sample of Children
Mark Pereira, Associate Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
Timlin, Maureen, Postdoctoral Fellow, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
01/01/07—12/31/08 TREC
This study is a randomized cross-over trial of a breakfast intervention in a bi-ethnic group of overweight and obese children to assess whether the frequency of eating breakfast, and the type of breakfast eaten, may play an important role in energy balance, dietary quality, and obesity risk.

Pediatric Primary Care Obesity Prevention
Nancy Sherwood, Research Fellow, HealthPartners Research Foundation
01/01/07—12/31/07 TREC
This study tests the feasibility of a relatively low cost intervention targeting obesity prevention in a health care delivery setting of pediatric primary care.

Oxyntomodulin and the Regulation of Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis
Colleen Novak, Instructor, Mayo Clinic, Endocrine Research Unit
01/24/07—01/23/08 MNOC
01/24/08—01/23/09 MNOC
This study examines the actions of the intestinal hormone oxyntomodiulin on non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) in humans. It is hypothesized that OXM is one hormone that increases NEAT in response to positive energy balance.

Preventing Childhood Obesity through Improved Parental Perception of Child Weight Statuse
Harsohena Kaur, Assistant Professor, UMN-Pediatrics & Adolescent Health
03/26/07—03/25/08 OPC
The goal of this pilot study is to develop a process and materials to aid pediatricians in informing parents of preschoolers about their child's weight status and provide appropriate recommendations to promote behaviors for healthy weight management.

Changes in Inflammatory Markers of Young Women Following Exercise
Andrea Arikawa, Postdoctoral Fellow, UMN-Food Science & Nutrition
09/01/07—08/31/08 TREC
09/01/08—08/31/09 TREC
The purpose of this study is to identify changes in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors caused by a physical activity program.

Cross-site: The Interaction of Childhood Height and BMI on Adiposity and Insulin Resistance
Steven Stovitz, Assistant Professor, UMN-Family Medicine
09/01/07—08/31/08 TREC
The purpose of this study is to assess whether there is an interaction of childhood height and childhood BMI on the prediction of adiposity and insulin resistance.

The Neighborhood and Home Food Environment Study
Scott Shimotsu, PhD Candidate, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
09/01/07—08/31/08 TREC
This study examines the relationship between neighborhood food availability of restaurants and fast food locales and household-level food purchases. The neighborhood-level environment is assessed by a geographic information system.

 Return to top

Funded 2006

Validation of Internet-Based Dietary Assessment
Mark Pereira, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
01/12/06—01/11/07 TREC
01/12/07—01/11/08 TREC
The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a new method for assessing dietary intake for use in research relevant to obesity, cancer, and other diseases.

Biological Determinants of Obesity in Teens
Donald Dengel,Associate Professor, UMN-Kinesiology
02/01/06—01/31/07 TREC
02/01/07—01/31/08 TREC
02/01/08—01/31/09 TREC
This project examines a series of biological markers of glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammation and oxidative stress in youth between the ages of 15 and 18, who are from diverse economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds and are participating in the University of Minnesota TREC project titled "Etiology of Adolescent Obesity."

Physical Activity and Media in the Home Environment
John Sirard, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
02/01/06—01/31/07 TREC
The purpose of this study is to develop a self-report survey instrument that will comprehensively reflect the availability and accessibility of physical activity and media equipment in the home environment.

A Clinic-Based Intervention Targeting Primary and Secondary Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Martha Kubik, Associate Professor, UMN-Nursing
02/03/06—02/02/07 OPC
This pilot study will develop, implement and evaluate a clinic-based BMI measurement and behavioral counseling intervention to increase health provider assessment of annual BMI in children and delivery of targeted behavioral counseling to parents and children.

The Epidemiology and Etiology of Obesity among Youth in Urban India
Melissa Stigler, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
02/17/06—02/16/07 OPC
This study assesses the prevalence of overweight and obesity in urban Indian youth, and examines whether or not the prevalence covaries with socioeconomic status, gender, and/or grade. The study also examines what behavioral risk factors, as well as degree of "westernization," are associated with increased BMI.

Evaluation of Mini-Farmers' Markets to Improve Fruit and Vegetable Access and Consumption in Low-Income and Minority Communities
Mark Mueller, Senior Fellow, Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy
03/01/06—02/28/07 OPC
The purpose of this study is to assess the impact that two neighborhood farmers' markets (one on the Ebenezer campus and a second in Phillips or Near North) have on fruit and vegetable consumption in a cohort of 60 community members at each of the two inner city sites.

Compliance with Wearing Physical Activity Accelerometers
John Sirard, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
05/18/06—05/17/07 OPC
The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of hypothesized compliance strategies on subject compliance with wearing a physical activity accelerometer. Hypothesized compliance strategies include completing a journal to record times when the device was worn and removed, showing a participant a graphical sample of accelerometer data, and making participation compensation contingent on the number of days with complete data.

Social, Cultural and Contextual Dimensions of Young Women's Physical Activity
Maureen O'Dougherty, Research Associate, UMN-Food Science & Nutrition
06/01/06—05/31/07 TREC
06/01/07—05/31/08 TREC
The purpose of this research is to examine social, cultural and contextual factors that shape motivations for and barriers to physical activity among young women aged 18-30, during and after their participation in the University of Minnesota TREC project titled “Women in Steady Exercise Research (WISER).”

ZEB1 and the Development of Obesity
Michel Sanders, Professor, UMN-Biochemistry
11/1/06—10/31/07 MNOC
11/1/07—10/31/08 TREC
This project investigates whether ZEB1 plays a role in adipogenesis and whether individuals with early onset obesity have a mutation(s) in the TCF8 gene.

Parents as the Agent of Change for Childhood Obesity
Kerri Boutelle, Assistant Professor, UMN-Pediatrics
11/1/06—10/31/08 OPC
11/1/06—10/31/08 MNOC
The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a parent-only treatment for childhood obesity, and compare the parent-only treatment to the current gold standard treatment of parent plus child.

Identifying Novel Roles of Lipocalin 2 in Insulin Action and Glucose Metabolism
Xiaoli Chen, Assistant Professor, UMN-Food Science & Nutrition
11/1/06—10/31/07 TREC
11/1/07—10/31/08 TREC/MNOC
This study aims to discover the biological significance of lipocalin 2 and to define the role and mechanism of lipocalin 2 in the regulation of insulin resistance and inflammation. The outcomes will provide new insight into the role of lipocalin 2 as a novel player in adipose tissue inflammation and insulin resistance.

Hypothalamic Acyl-CoA Metabolism and Food Intake Regulation
Douglas Mashek, Assistant Professor, UMN-Food Science & Nutrition
11/1/06—10/31/07 TREC
11/1/07—10/31/08 MNOC
This study proposes to determine how the source and composition of acyl-CoAs affect intracellular metabolism and control of food intake, as well as to test the effects of overexpressing mtGPAT in the hypothalamus on altering fatty acid and acyl-CoA metabolism, and subsequently, neural signaling and food intake.

Behavioral Characteristics of Diet: Developing Survey Instruments for Ethnically Diverse Populations
Melissa Nelson, Assistant Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
11/1/06—9/30/07 TREC
The purpose of this research is to validate and refine new survey tools for assessing specific aspects of dietary intake and related characteristics among African American, Latino and Caucasian adolescents.

Comparing Childhood Weight-for-Age to Body Mass Index in the Prediction of Adolescent Obesity and Chronic Disease Risk Factors
Steven Stovitz, Assistant Professor, UMN-Family Medicine
11/1/06—10/31/07 TREC/OPC
This study investigates whether weight-for-age proves as accurate as body mass index in assessing a child’s risk for adolescent obesity and associated cardiovascular risk factors.

GIRK$:  A New Obesity Gene?
Kevin Wickman, Associate Professor, UMN-Pharmacy
11/1/06—10/31/07 TREC
11/1/07—10/31/08 MNOC
The premise of this project is that the identification of new genetic factors predisposing individuals to unhealthy weight gain may improve risk assessments and reveal novel targets for pharmacological interventions designed to treat obesity.

 Return to top

Funded 2005

Do Obesity Prevention Interventions Cause Eating Disorders? A Dialogue about What Has Been Learned in the Past Ten Years
Simone French, Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
02/17/05—02/16/06 OPC
This symposium was designed to provide an educational outreach to the academic, professional practice, and broader community on the issue of the promotion of healthful eating and physical activity behaviors in the broader population to prevent excess weight gain and obesity. The purpose was to promote a better understanding of the health benefits and potential risks of promoting behaviors related to energy balance, and to discuss their applicability to different population segments such as children, adolescents, and adults; normal weight and overweight individuals; and specific groups considered to be at higher risk for obesity development.

Weight Control Behaviors: Short-Term Effects on Body Weight, Eating and Physical Activity Behaviors, and Psychological Well-being
Simone French, Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
02/17/05—02/16/06 OPC
The purpose of the study is to examine whether engaging in recommended behaviors for weight control is associated with changes in eating behaviors, physical activity behaviors, body weight change, or change in psychological variables over a one-month period.

Barriers and Facilitators to Prolonged and Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mexican Immigrant Mothers
Margaret Kersey, Assistant Professor, UMN-Pediatrics
03/02/05—03/01/06 OPC
This study examines the barriers and facilitators to prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding, which are known to protect against later childhood obesity, among Mexican immigrant mothers in Minnesota.

The Family Mealtime Environment of Families with 8-10 Year Old Children
Jayne Fulkerson, Associate Professor, UMN-Nursing
08/24/05—08/23/06 OPC
The purpose of this study is to develop and administer a survey regarding family mealtime environments to parents and 8- to 10-year-old children. Results of this study will be used to gain more information regarding typical mealtime environments of families with 8- to 10-year-old children so as to inform an intervention to prevent obesity through the promotion of healthful meals at home.

An Observational Study of Physical Activity Along Phase II of the Minneapolis Greenway
Kevin Krizek, Assistant Professor, UMN-Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
08/18/05—08/17/06 OPC
The purpose of this study is to characterize the current population of Greenway bicycle and walking trail users with respect to demographics, and uses of the Greenway with respect to the flow of walking and cycling, peak times/days of use, and reasons for using the trail.

Impact of Nutrition Labels on Fast Food Choices
Lisa Harnack, Associate Professor, UMN-Epidemiology & Community Health
12/01/05—11/31/06 OPC
The aim of this study is to examine the effect of nutrition labeling and value size pricing on fast food menu choices.

Return to top