Alysa Pomer
Biographic Data
| ID | 4287172 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Alysa Pomer |
| GIVEN NAMES | Alysa |
| FAMILY NAME | Pomer |
| SIGNATURE | POMER A |
| AFFILIATIONS | Yale University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1267-1189 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 13 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Association between age at menarche and cardiometabolic risk among Samoan adults
OBJECTIVES: Recent studies suggest that early menarche may increase cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. Yet few studies have examined this association in the Pacific Islands, where obesity prevalence is among the highest globally. We sought to examine associations between age at menarche and cardiometabolic risk in Samoa. METHODS: Participants were from the Soifua Manuia study (n = 285, age 32-72 years) conducted in Samoa from 2017 to 2019. …
Validity of anthropometric equation‐based estimators of fat mass in S amoan adults
Introduction In 1999, a set of highly accurate Polynesian‐specific equations to estimate adult body fat from non‐invasive field measures of age, sex, height, and weight (Equation 1), age, sex, height, weight, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) resistance (Equation 2), and age, sex, height, weight, and the sum of two skinfold thicknesses (Equation 3) were published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the equation‐…
Relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a lower‐middle income country: “Healthy mothers, healthy communities” study in Vanuatu
Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including lower birthweight and gestational age. However, few studies assess both mental health and diet, which might have interactive effects. Furthermore, most studies are in high-income countries, though patterns might differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: To analyze relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy wit…
C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates
These data are among the first to demonstrate CRP correlates in a sample of adult Samoans. CRP differed by sex and was associated with BMI, adiposity, and some cardiometabolic risk markers. These data align with findings in other populations
Changing body norms in the context of increasing body size: Samoa in 1995 and 2018
OBJECTIVE: To understand how body size preferences changed in Samoa between 1995 and 2017 to 2019. METHODS: Data were from adults aged from 31 to 59 years, who participated in two separate cross-sectional studies of obesity and cardiometabolic risk conducted in Samoa in 1995 and 2017 to 2019. Participants nominated line drawings representing their current size, ideal size, the most attractive and healthiest size, and the lower/upper limits of "no…
Relationships between Prenatal Distress and Infant Body Mass Index in the First Year of Life in a Lower-Middle Income Country
Prenatal stress affects body composition in childhood and later in life. However, few studies assess body composition in infancy. Furthermore, most are in high-income countries and do not consider interactive or curvilinear relationships. We assessed distress and diet during pregnancy via questionnaires among 310 women in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country. We measured body mass index (BMI) among 54 infants at 4-12 months of age. We analyzed …
Assessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010–2019
The Samoan population has experienced rapid increases in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors over the last 30 years. However, understanding how increased awareness and treatment of these conditions in reducing disease burden remains understudied. Using data from a longitudinal study (2010-2019) of cardiometabolic health among Samoan adults, we assess the impact of a referral for elevated blood pressure (BP) on …
Using multiple correspondence analysis to identify behaviour patterns associated with overweight and obesity in Vanuatu adults
Objective The present study evaluates the use of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a type of exploratory factor analysis designed to reduce the dimensionality of large categorical data sets, in identifying behaviours associated with measures of overweight/obesity in Vanuatu, a rapidly modernizing Pacific Island country. Design Starting with seventy-three true/false questions regarding a variety of behaviours, MCA identified twelve most sign…
Relationships between psychosocial distress and diet during pregnancy and infant birthweight in a lower-middle income country: ‘Healthy mothers, healthy communities’ study in Vanuatu
Maternal distress following a natural disaster has important implications for maternal and child health. In LMICs, low birthweight remains a pressing public health concern. Distress during pregnancy might represent one underlying risk factor
Coming to grips with economic development: Variation in adult hand grip strength during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, like many developing nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition. Our previous study identified several behavioral risk factors for the rising prevalence of obesity. Unexpectedly, daily time spent using television and radio was revealed as a protective factor for obesity in 2007. In this study, we sought to explore associations between ownership of consumer electronics (CE) and measures of adiposity in Van…
Secular change in adult stature associated with modernization in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether: (1) there is a secular increase in adult stature in Vanuatu, and (2) whether adult stature is positively associated with modernization in Vanuatu. METHODS: This study reports on stature measurements collected on 650 adult (age > 17 years) men and women from four islands of varying economic development in Vanuatu. Measurements were collected as part of the Vanuatu Health Transitions Research Project in 2007 and 201…
Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, similar to other South Pacific island nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition as a consequence of modernization. The pace of modernization is uneven across Vanuatu's 63 inhabited islands, resulting in differential impacts on overall body composition and prevalence of obesity among islands, and between men and women. In this study, we investigated (1) how modernization impacts body composition between a…
Coming to grips with economic development: Variation in adult hand grip strength during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Impact of modernization on adult body composition on five islands of varying economic development in vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, similar to other South Pacific island nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition as a consequence of modernization. The pace of modernization is uneven across Vanuatu's 63 inhabited islands, resulting in differential impacts on overall body composition and prevalence of obesity among islands, and between men and women. In this study, we investigated (1) how modernization impacts body composition between a…
Ownership of consumer electronics is associated with measures of adiposity during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: The Republic of Vanuatu, like many developing nations, is undergoing a rapid health transition. Our previous study identified several behavioral risk factors for the rising prevalence of obesity. Unexpectedly, daily time spent using television and radio was revealed as a protective factor for obesity in 2007. In this study, we sought to explore associations between ownership of consumer electronics (CE) and measures of adiposity in Van…
Secular change in adult stature associated with modernization in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether: (1) there is a secular increase in adult stature in Vanuatu, and (2) whether adult stature is positively associated with modernization in Vanuatu. METHODS: This study reports on stature measurements collected on 650 adult (age > 17 years) men and women from four islands of varying economic development in Vanuatu. Measurements were collected as part of the Vanuatu Health Transitions Research Project in 2007 and 201…
Relationships between psychosocial distress and diet during pregnancy and infant birthweight in a lower-middle income country: ‘Healthy mothers, healthy communities’ study in Vanuatu
Maternal distress following a natural disaster has important implications for maternal and child health. In LMICs, low birthweight remains a pressing public health concern. Distress during pregnancy might represent one underlying risk factor
Coming to grips with economic development: Variation in adult hand grip strength during health transition in Vanuatu
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether (1) maximal handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with inter-island level of economic development in Vanuatu, (2) how associations between island of residence and HGS are mediated by age, sex, body size/composition, and individual sociodeomographic variation, and (3) whether HGS is predictive of hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HGS was collected from 833 adult (aged 18 and older) men and women on five islands r…
Using multiple correspondence analysis to identify behaviour patterns associated with overweight and obesity in Vanuatu adults
Objective The present study evaluates the use of multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a type of exploratory factor analysis designed to reduce the dimensionality of large categorical data sets, in identifying behaviours associated with measures of overweight/obesity in Vanuatu, a rapidly modernizing Pacific Island country. Design Starting with seventy-three true/false questions regarding a variety of behaviours, MCA identified twelve most sign…
Changing body norms in the context of increasing body size: Samoa in 1995 and 2018
OBJECTIVE: To understand how body size preferences changed in Samoa between 1995 and 2017 to 2019. METHODS: Data were from adults aged from 31 to 59 years, who participated in two separate cross-sectional studies of obesity and cardiometabolic risk conducted in Samoa in 1995 and 2017 to 2019. Participants nominated line drawings representing their current size, ideal size, the most attractive and healthiest size, and the lower/upper limits of "no…
Relationships between Prenatal Distress and Infant Body Mass Index in the First Year of Life in a Lower-Middle Income Country
Prenatal stress affects body composition in childhood and later in life. However, few studies assess body composition in infancy. Furthermore, most are in high-income countries and do not consider interactive or curvilinear relationships. We assessed distress and diet during pregnancy via questionnaires among 310 women in Vanuatu, a lower-middle income country. We measured body mass index (BMI) among 54 infants at 4-12 months of age. We analyzed …
Assessing the impact of high blood pressure referrals on hypertension awareness and management, BMI, and blood pressure values in adult Samoans 2010–2019
The Samoan population has experienced rapid increases in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and NCD risk factors over the last 30 years. However, understanding how increased awareness and treatment of these conditions in reducing disease burden remains understudied. Using data from a longitudinal study (2010-2019) of cardiometabolic health among Samoan adults, we assess the impact of a referral for elevated blood pressure (BP) on …
Relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy and birth outcomes in a lower‐middle income country: “Healthy mothers, healthy communities” study in Vanuatu
Poor maternal mental health during pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including lower birthweight and gestational age. However, few studies assess both mental health and diet, which might have interactive effects. Furthermore, most studies are in high-income countries, though patterns might differ in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: To analyze relationships between mental health and diet during pregnancy wit…
C‐reactive protein in adult Samoans: Population variation and physiological correlates
These data are among the first to demonstrate CRP correlates in a sample of adult Samoans. CRP differed by sex and was associated with BMI, adiposity, and some cardiometabolic risk markers. These data align with findings in other populations
Validity of anthropometric equation‐based estimators of fat mass in S amoan adults
Introduction In 1999, a set of highly accurate Polynesian‐specific equations to estimate adult body fat from non‐invasive field measures of age, sex, height, and weight (Equation 1), age, sex, height, weight, and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) resistance (Equation 2), and age, sex, height, weight, and the sum of two skinfold thicknesses (Equation 3) were published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the equation‐…
Association between age at menarche and cardiometabolic risk among Samoan adults
OBJECTIVES: Recent studies suggest that early menarche may increase cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. Yet few studies have examined this association in the Pacific Islands, where obesity prevalence is among the highest globally. We sought to examine associations between age at menarche and cardiometabolic risk in Samoa. METHODS: Participants were from the Soifua Manuia study (n = 285, age 32-72 years) conducted in Samoa from 2017 to 2019. …
Medicine (13 works) · Demography (12 works) · Environmental health (7 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Body mass index (5 works) · Geography (5 works) · Obesity (5 works) · Population (5 works) · Endocrinology (4 works) · Gerontology (4 works)