Publications by authors named "Jennifer Graef"

Objective: To examine the differences in family eating behaviors and child eating patterns in children with siblings (nonsingletons) and without siblings (singletons).

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of mother-child dyads of 5-7-year-old children, (nonsingletons with a 2-to-4-year-old sibling) was conducted. Anthropometrics were measured.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Children without siblings (singletons) tend to have higher obesity rates compared to children with siblings (nonsingletons), possibly due to differences in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB).
  • A study involving mothers and their children (ages 5 to 7.9) found that singletons were more likely to be classified as overweight or obese and engaged in less light PA while exhibiting more SB than nonsingletons.
  • The findings suggest that understanding family dynamics and health behaviors in singleton and nonsingleton families could shed light on the influence of siblings on early childhood behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Age-related bone loss is a consequence of endocrine and immune changes that disrupt bone remodeling. Functional foods (e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dried plum has unique anabolic effects on bone, but the responsible bioactive components have remained unclear. This study investigated components of dried plum with potential osteoprotective activity utilizing aged, osteopenic Sprague Dawley rats fed diets supplemented with a crude polyphenol extract, potassium, vitamin K or their combination. Whole body and femoral bone mineral density were restored with the polyphenol and combination treatments to a similar extent as the dried fruit.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that dietary supplementation with dried plum improves bone health. These osteoprotective effects are a result, in part, of the antiresorptive properties of the fruit, which appear to be mediated by its polyphenolic compounds. This study was designed to determine if certain fractions of the polyphenolic compounds in dried plums are responsible for the antiresorptive effects and whether they alter mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and calcium signaling, which are essential to osteoclast differentiation and activity, under normal and inflammatory conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Dried plum supplementation has been shown to enhance bone formation while suppressing bone resorption. Evidence from previous studies has demonstrated that these responses can be attributed in part to the fruit's polyphenolic compounds. The purpose of this study was to identify the most bioactive polyphenolic fractions of dried plum with a focus on their osteogenic activity and to investigate their mechanisms of action under normal and inflammatory conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Skeletal fractures are considered a chronic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the etiology of compromised bone quality that develops over time remains uncertain. This study investigated the concurrent alterations in metabolic and skeletal changes in two mouse strains, a responsive (C57BL/6) and a relatively resistant (C3H/HeJ) strain, to high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance. Four-week-old male C57BL/6 and C3H/HeJ mice were randomized to a control (Con = 10 % kcal fat) or high-fat (HF = 60 % kcal fat) diet for 2, 8, or 16 weeks.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Both load cell and mechanical scale-based hydrostatic weighing (HW) systems are used for the measurement of underwater weight. However, there has been no direct comparison of the 2 methods. The purpose of the current investigation was to simultaneously compare a load cell and mechanical scale for use in HW.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) has been used to track changes in total body water (TBW). Accurate TBW estimations can be influenced by both methodological and biological factors. One methodological variation that contributes to BIS TBW errors is the electrode placement.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: High-intensity interval training has been shown to be a time-efficient way to induce physiological adaptations similar to those of traditional endurance training. Creatine supplementation may enhance high-intensity interval training, leading to even greater physiological adaptations. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and creatine supplementation on cardiorespiratory fitness and endurance performance (maximal oxygen consumption (VO2PEAK), time-to-exhaustion (VO2PEAKTTE), ventilatory threshold (VT), and total work done (TWD)) in college-aged men.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Energy drink use has grown despite limited research to support efficacy or safety and amid concerns when combined with exercise. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of 10 weeks of once-daily energy drink consumption or energy drink consumption with exercise on measures of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, strength, mood, and safety in previously sedentary males. Thirty-eight males were randomly assigned to energy drink + exercise (EX-A), energy drink (NEX-A), placebo + exercise (EX-B), or placebo (NEX-B).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The submaximal electromyographic fatigue threshold test (EMG(FT)) has been shown to be highly correlated to ventilatory threshold (VT) as determined from maximal graded exercise tests (GXTs). Recently, a prediction equation was developed using the EMG(FT) value to predict VT. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine if this new equation could accurately track changes in VT after high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The critical power test provides 2 measures, critical power (CP) and anaerobic working capacity (AWC). In theory, the CP measurement represents the maximal power output that can be maintained without fatigue, and AWC is an estimate of work capacity associated with muscle energy reserves. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to be an effective training method for improving endurance performance, including VO2PEAK.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background & Aims: Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) for the estimation of total body water (TBW) has advantages over isotope dilution techniques, including cost, portability, and ease of use. The aim of the current study was to determine the validity of a BIS device (Imp SFB7) for tracking changes in overfat and obese individuals.

Methods: Sixty overfat and obese men and women (27+/-8 yr, 33.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Intermittent bouts of high-intensity exercise result in diminished stores of energy substrates, followed by an accumulation of metabolites, promoting chronic physiological adaptations. In addition, beta-alanine has been accepted has an effective physiological hydrogen ion (H+) buffer. Concurrent high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and beta-alanine supplementation may result in greater adaptations than HIIT alone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of beta-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMG(FT)) and efficiency of electrical activity (EEA). A total of 46 men completed four, 2-min work bouts on a cycle ergometer. Using bipolar surface electrodes, the EMG amplitude was averaged and plotted over the 2-min.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The use of surface electromyography has been accepted as a valid, non-invasive measure of neuromuscular fatigue. In particular, the electromyographic fatigue threshold test (EMG(FT)) is a reliable submaximal tool to identify the onset of fatigue. This study examined the metabolic relationship between VO(2PEAK), ventilatory threshold (VT), and the EMGFT, as well as compared the power output at VO(2PEAK), VT, and EMG(FT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF