Karla P Simmons

Auburn University | AU · Department of Consumer Affairs

Wearable technology garments have been displayed for aesthetic evaluation in museums. With the additional multisensory cues in wearable technology garments such as digital sounds and LED lights, this study examined 44 museum visitors’ electrodermal activity (EDA) sensory responses to a wearable technology garment in a museum. Results support that a...

This study forged an interdisciplinary design partnership between an apparel designer, biomechanical kinesiologist, and a professional female athlete to design and test a novel new upper body performance garment for improved fit, mobility, comfort, donning/doffing and throwing performance in female professional athletes. Researchers collaborated to...

Females athletes desire compression apparel with a feminine look but function for athletic performance. This study aimed to determine perceived feminine athletic identity and garment functionality of compression garments through an online questionnaire among female athletes. Female athletes felt neutral with their feminine athletic identity while w...

Researchers assessed climbers’ pants by investigating whether a pants’ style or brand preference exists among rock climbers, along with looking at fit, mobility, comfort, protection, and donning/doffing expectations for climbing pants using a mixed-methods design study. Active adult rock climbers, aged 19 or older, were conveniently sampled at two...

The interactive role of eating regulation and perceived stress on weight-related outcomes was examined among 319 sophomore year college students (110 males and 209 females). Moderated regressions were used to examine interactions between stress and eating regulation on study outcomes including body mass index (BMI) and body fat. Eating regulation m...

The purpose of this study was to identify important design factors for protective gardening gloves and consider possible design features for these gloves. A mixed methods procedure was used involving market research, an online survey, and a focus group. Ten design factors of protective gardening gloves were identified: skin cut and puncture protect...

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate potential users’ preferences and expectations for fabric-based wearable e-nose system designs in order to develop painless and non-invasive monitoring systems for diabetes. Design/methodology/approach After developing a fabric-based wearable sensor, this study used an online survey with a mixture...

This article inductively examines men’s fit preferences and practical fit issues in outdoor performance clothing to reveal how they are influenced by men’s Body Mass Index (BMI) and height. Four focus group interviews (FGIs) were conducted with 21 men and the qualitative data was analysed using the grounded theory approach. Men’s BMI influenced the...

This study investigated associations between eating regulation behaviors and body mass index (BMI), weight, and percent body fat in male and female students over the first two years of college. Subjects included 328 college students (215 females and 113 males). Height and weight (via standard techniques), body composition (via bioelectrical impedan...

This study examines the influence of specific physical factors (body size), demographic factors (age), and psychosocial factors (body satisfaction, social physique anxiety, and drive for muscularity) on apparel-specific (jeans, khakis, dress shirts, and polo shirts) fit preferences of male consumers. Data were collected through an online survey adm...

Over two-thirds of students gain weight and body fat during college, especially during the freshman year. This study examined whether participation in physical activity during the first 3 years of college was associated with favorable changes in body weight and percent body fat. Participants included 535 college students (345 females, 190 males). H...

The objectives of this study were to examine changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, and shape in a group of male and female students over the 4-year college period. Anthropometric assessments including height and weight (via standard techniques), body composition (via bioelectrical impedance analysis), and body shape (via...

Differences in weight, body mass index (BMI), percent and absolute body fat, fat-free mass, and waist circumference were investigated in a group of males and females during the first three years (from 2007 to 2010) of college. Significant three-year gains were observed for weight 2.1 ± 4.7 kg, BMI 0.7 ± 1.6 kg/m(2), percent body fat 2.7 ± 3.3%, and...

The objectives of this study were to examine changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition, and shape in a group of male and female students over the 4-year college period. Anthropometric assessments including height and weight (via standard techniques), body composition (via bioelectrical impedance analysis), and body shape (via...

This four‐year study followed a group of college freshmen from the beginning of the freshman year until spring semester, senior year. Body weight and height, measured using standard techniques, calculated body mass index (BMI), and body composition, measured using bioelectrical impendance analysis, were assessed at both times. Of the initial 240 fr...

Obesity and high body fat percentages are a major public health issue. The percentage of obese and overweight Americans has increased over the past 30 years. On average, overweight individuals with higher percent body fat than normal weight individuals are at increased risk for numerous negative outcomes both physically and mentally. A prime time t...

College students, especially females, gain weight their freshman year. Yet, what happens after this first year? This study's purposes were to compare changes and rates of change in weight, body mass index (BMI), body composition (percent body fat, fat mass, fat free mass) and waist circumference between the freshman academic year and the following...

Changes in body weight, composition, and shape were investigated in male and female college students between the freshman and sophomore years. Changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), percent and absolute body fat and fat-free mass (via bioelectrical impedance), and waist circumference (via body scans) were assessed over the freshman and sophomore...

OBJECTIVES AND PARTICIPANTS: Changes in body weight, composition, and size were examined in college freshmen at the beginning (initial, n = 240) and end of fall semester 2007 (n = 214) and the end of spring semester 2008 (n = 205). Height, weight, body composition, and waist and hip measurements were assessed. Mean weight, body mass index (BMI), ab...

The "freshman 15" phenomenon, referring to the popular belief that freshmen gain 15 lbs their first year of college, was examined in 240 college freshmen. Body weight (wt), percent (%) body fat, and lean body mass (lbm) were measured using standard anthropometric techniques thrice during the 2007‐08 academic year (acad yr) and at the beginning of f...

The “freshmen 15” weight gain is a commonly cited phenomenon in the popular press. Yet, surprisingly little solid scientific evidence supports this claim. This study examined changes in body weight and % body fat in 36 college freshmen. Subjects were measured using standard anthropometric techniques three times during the 2006–07 academic year. Mea...

Sizing standards used in the United States that identify the body measurements used in the design and development of clothing were established from identified "best practices" of the apparel industry. However, the industry as a whole has not adopted a single system of clothing sizing. We know that manufacturers and retailers use their own sizing sy...

Sizing standards used in the United States that identify the body measurements used in the design and development of clothing were established from identified "best practices" of the apparel industry. However, the industry as a whole has not adopted a single system of clothing sizing. We know that manufacturers and retailers use their own sizing sy...

With the use of 3D body scanners, body measurement techniques can be non-contact, instant, and accurate. However, how each scanner establishes landmarks and takes the measurements should be established so that standardization of the data capture can be realized. The purpose of this study was to compare body-scanning measurement extraction methods a...

For years, anthropometric data, collected by laborious manual measurements, has been used to appraise body sizes for certain populations, the data being processed and applied to the design of all kinds of apparel, equipment, and workstations. The development of non-contact three-dimensional whole body scanners speeds data collection and offers poss...

The threats to the Cambodian industry are listed - Vietnamese competition, limited quota growth and the US enacted Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act perhaps encouraging the industry to move elsewhere, and the 2002 expiry of the US/Cambodian bilateral textile agreement and its implications. Recent US/Cambodian trade relations are traced. Though...