Aubrey Isaak
Research Mentor: Zora Djuric
Mentor Department: Family Medicine, Medicine
Author(s): Aubrey Isaak, Zora Djuric, MyBestGI Study Team
Session: Session 3 (11:00 AM – 11:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 47
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the cancers most highly affected by obesity. In order
to reduce risk, dietary interventions hold great promise as a non-toxic prevention strategy.
However, maintenance of a healthy diet can be difficult. In this study, overweight and
obese persons who also have either personal or familial risk factors for colorectal cancer
were recruited to test an app-based approach for improving diet over 12 months. The trial is
ongoing, but baseline data on 240 individuals enrolled in the MyBestGI study is completed.
This baseline data provided the opportunity to evaluate how psychosocial factors impact
on the extent of obesity and the dietary intakes of protective nutrients. Psychosocial factors
are known to shape dietary behaviors. Validated questionnaires were used to quantify
perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), health (SF12), sleep (PROMIS Sleep
Disturbance), and ability to reach healthy eating goals (Goal Self Assessment Behavior
Scale). Dietary intake was assessed using measures of skin carotenoids with the Veggie
Meter. The associations of psychosocial factors with BMI were stronger than with skin
carotenoids; however, skin carotenoids and BMI were inversely correlated (r=-0.20).
Persons with overweight had significantly more favorable scores for perceived stress,
ability to perform activities of daily living, and self-criticism of dietary behaviors than
persons with obesity. These results indicate that psychosocial factors may impact on the
success of the MyBestGI intervention. In addition, the data shows that addressing
psychosocial factors may be important for helping individuals maintain a preventive style
of eating.
