Hüsna Kaya Kaçar, Amanda Avery, Sarah Bennett and Fiona McCullough
This paper aims to understand the association of dietary patterns with perceived fatigue and identify predictors for presence of fatigue in women who are obese and trying to lose…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand the association of dietary patterns with perceived fatigue and identify predictors for presence of fatigue in women who are obese and trying to lose weight.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey, hosted by slimming world (SW), comprised of a questionnaire regarding weight, level of fatigue and food frequency questionnaire before joining the weight management programme (T0) and current data (T1) was conducted. In total, 543 non-pregnant women with obesity of child-bearing age (19-49 years) completed the survey (T0-T1). The principal components analysis was used to determine dietary patterns and multinomial logistic regression was used to analyse predictors for presence of fatigue.
Findings
The participants who have a “simple carbohydrate and high fat” dietary pattern were more likely to have fatigue at T0 (p ≤ 0.001) and those who followed a “vegetables” dietary pattern were less likely to have fatigue at T1 (p ≤ 0.05). The study findings indicate that while “simple carbohydrate and high fat” dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of fatigue, “vegetables” dietary pattern was associated with reduced risk of fatigue and a higher percentage of weight loss.
Originality/value
The present study appears to be the first study to examine associations between dietary patterns and fatigue. The strengths of the study included the in-depth analysis of this association in both before joining a weight management programme (SW) and currently as a member of SW with an adequate sample size.
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Fiona McCullough, Sian Jones and Daniella Vignali
Identifying the target audience for hot pot snacks and which factors influence their buyer behaviour is vital information for product developers and manufacturers. The reported…
Abstract
Identifying the target audience for hot pot snacks and which factors influence their buyer behaviour is vital information for product developers and manufacturers. The reported market research, undertaken at Manchester Metropolitan University, evaluated the effect of changing lifestyles on the growth of the pot snack market and investigated consumer opinion of pot snacks with particular regard to their nutritional status. A consumer questionnaire was used to measure the opinion of pot snacks and frequency of consumption and influences on the growth of the pot snack market. Existing data on snacking habits, household size, increase of working women and changes in society were reviewed. Conclusions from the work confirm that food choice is multi‐factorial and within the pot snack market there is a variety of reasons determining the demand, each influenced by a variety of extrinsic factors. The findings indicate that frequency of consumption is influenced by knowledge and opinion about the nutritional content of the pot snack product, suggesting that consumers now are demanding health as well as convenience.
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On a world‐wide basis more people drink goat’s milk than any other type. Cow’s milk products are increasingly excluded from the diet for personal and/or health reasons. Milk is…
Abstract
On a world‐wide basis more people drink goat’s milk than any other type. Cow’s milk products are increasingly excluded from the diet for personal and/or health reasons. Milk is one of the most common allergens from either the milk sugar lactose or the protein components. Goat’s and cow’s milk contain similar amounts of milk sugar and protein. There are structural and immunological protein differences, e.g. lactalbumin. The fat globule size in goat’s milk is smaller than cow’s milk. Goat’s milk contains shorter chain fatty acids such as caproic and caprylic acid. The energy derived from medium chain triglycerides in goat’s milk is negligible. The difference in cholesterol level between goat’s and cow’s milk is also negligible. Presently there is insufficient evidence to substantiate the claim that goat’s milk lowers cholesterol. This paper confirms that goat’s milk is as good as, and in some cases superior to, cow’s milk.
Elizabeth H. Gorman and Fiona M. Kay
In elite professional firms, minorities are actively recruited but struggle to move upward. The authors argue that initiatives aimed at general skill development can have…
Abstract
In elite professional firms, minorities are actively recruited but struggle to move upward. The authors argue that initiatives aimed at general skill development can have unintended consequences for firm diversity. Specifically, the authors contend that approaches that win partner support through motivational significance and interpretive clarity provide a more effective avenue to skill development for minorities, who have less access than White peers to informal developmental opportunities. The authors also argue that a longer “partnership track,” which imposes a time limit on skill development, will benefit minority professionals. Using data on 601 offices of large US law firms in 1996 and 2005, the authors investigate the effects of five developmental initiatives and partnership track length on the representation of African-Americans, Latinxs, and Asian-Americans among partners. Observed effects are consistent with expectations, but patterns vary across racial-ethnic groups.
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Viki Holton and Fiona Elsa Dent
The purpose of this paper is to explore the findings from empirical research conducted with women managers about their careers and to propose a template or blueprint for how…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the findings from empirical research conducted with women managers about their careers and to propose a template or blueprint for how individuals and organisations might create a better career environment for women.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on a research study that included interviews with 20 senior women managers from a range of sectors and countries and a self-completion survey questionnaire completed by 1,402 women.
Findings
The paper illustrates the difficulties that women continue to face in the workplace and how terms such as leadership, management and team leader may be gender biased. There is a need for employers and for individuals to consider a variety of different approaches to help create a more positive career environment for women.
Research limitations/implications
The findings have implications for career development structures and talent management processes within organisations. They also would be useful for professional associations.
Practical implications
The template proposed offers a useful guide to help organisations reflect on possible gender bias in career development structures.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the understanding of the issues that women managers face and highlight the practical changes employers could make to help address these issues.
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The purpose of this paper is to describe what it is like to be a midwife in the professionally isolated and marginalised arena of home birth in Ireland and to explore whether the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe what it is like to be a midwife in the professionally isolated and marginalised arena of home birth in Ireland and to explore whether the organisation of home birth services and professional discourse might be undermining the autonomy of home birth midwives.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is drawn from auto-ethnographic field work, with 18 of the 21 self-employed community midwives (SECMs) offering home birth support to women in Ireland from 2006 to 2009. The data presented are derived from field notes of participant observations and from interviews digitally recorded in the field.
Findings
Home birth midwives must navigate isolated professional practice and negotiate when and how to interface with mainstream hospital services. The midwives talk of the dilemma of competing discourses about birth. Decisions to transfer to hospital in labour is fraught with concerns about the woman's and the midwife's autonomy. Hospital transfers crystallise midwives’ sense of professional vulnerability.
Practical implications
Maternity services organisation in Ireland commits virtually no resources to community midwifery. Home birth is almost entirely dependent upon a small number of SECMs. Although there is a “national home birth service”, it is not universally and equitably available, even to those deemed eligible. Furthermore, restrictions to the professional indemnification of home birth midwives, effectively criminalises midwives who would attend certain women. Home birth, already a marginal practice, is at real risk of becoming regulated out of existence.
Originality/value
This paper brings new insight into the experiences of midwives practicing at the contested boundaries of contemporary maternity services. It reveals the inappropriateness of a narrowly professional paradigm for midwifery. Disciplinary control of individuals by professions may countermand claimed “service” ideologies.
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Shaun Powell, Stephanie Langlands and Chris Dodd
Extant research downplays the influence of children under the age of eight on food‐related decision making and consumption within families. This paper seeks to address this issue.
Abstract
Purpose
Extant research downplays the influence of children under the age of eight on food‐related decision making and consumption within families. This paper seeks to address this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Utilising novel techniques to elicit responses, the research employed focus group and interviews of a sample of children aged between three and eight years and a sample of their parents.
Findings
The exploratory findings of this study suggest that younger children apply effective if less sophisticated pestering techniques than older children, and play a significant role in determining family food consumption. They demonstrate a purposeful and directed pursuit of food brands and products, along with an awareness of the purpose of promotion and a desire to use a number of persuasive techniques in their dealings with parents. This contradicts some of the existing thinking that younger children in the 3‐8 year age group have little/less influence on purchasing food.
Originality/value
This research offers a number of contributions in that it presents the views of both children and parents, and uses novel techniques through visual representations of feelings and emotions to elicit findings.