Abstract Background The US Department of Agriculture launched ChooseMyPlate.gov nutrition recommendations designed to encourage increased fruit and vegetable intake, in part, as a strategy for ...improving weight control through the consumption of high-satiation foods. Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between adults’ reported daily intake of fruits and nonstarchy vegetables (ie, those thought to have the lowest energy density) expressed as a proportion of their total daily food intake and objectively measured cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk factors using data from the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Physical activity was included as a moderator variable. Design This study employed a cross-sectional examination of 2009-2010 NHANES data to assess how daily fruit and nonstarchy vegetable intake was associated with anthropometric measures and cardiometabolic blood chemistry markers. Participants/setting Adults free of cardiac or metabolic disease (n=1,197) participated in 24-hour dietary recalls; a variety of cardiometabolic biomarkers and anthropometric measures were also collected from participants. Main outcome measures Among participants with complete data on all variables, the ratio of the combined cup-equivalents of fruit and nonstarchy vegetable intake to the total gram weight of all foods consumed daily (F/V ratio) served as the primary independent variable. Main dependent measures included fasting glucose, insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, waist circumference, and body mass index. Statistical analyses performed Demographic and behavioral predictors of the F/V ratio and the association between the F/V ratio and cardiometabolic disease risk factors were examined using multivariate regression. Results Body mass index (β=−2.58; 95% CI −3.88 to −1.28), waist circumference (β=−6.33; 95% CI −9.81 to −2.84), and insulin (β=−0.21; 95% CI −0.37 to −0.05) were inversely associated with the F/V ratio. These associations were weakened for the subset that adhered to federal physical activity recommendations. No other statistically significant associations were found between F/V ratio and main dependent measures. Conclusions In this nationally representative sample, predicted inverse associations between the proportion of daily fruit and nonstarchy vegetable intake relative to total intake and measures reflective of body fat composition and fasting insulin were confirmed. Future research should examine whether a similar association is observed for other sources of resistant starch, such as whole grains, which are arguably more strongly linked with satiety and host insulin levels.
Social media are now used by a majority of American internet users. Social media platforms encourage participants to share information with their online social connections and exchange user-generated ...content. Significant numbers of people are already using social media to share health-related information. As such, social media provide an opportunity for "user-generated" cancer control and prevention interventions that employ users' behavior, knowledge, and existing social networks for the creation and dissemination of interventions. These interventions also enable novel data collection techniques and research designs that will allow investigators to examine real-time behavioral responses to interventions. Emerging social media-based interventions for modifying cancer-related behaviors have been applied to such domains as tobacco use, diet, physical activity, and sexual practices, and several examples are discussed for illustration purposes. Despite some promising early findings, challenges including inadequate user engagement, privacy concerns, and lack of internet access among some groups need to be addressed in future research. Recommendations for advancing the field include stronger partnerships with commercial technology companies, utilization of rapid and adaptive designs to identify successful strategies for user engagement, rigorous and iterative efficacy testing of these strategies, and inclusive methods for intervention dissemination.
The primary objective of the current study was to examine the relationship between social support and physical activity within the theory of planned behavior (TPB) theoretical framework. This study ...used data from the Internet Support for Healthy Associations Promoting Exercise randomized controlled trial. A total of 134 female undergraduate students participated in the study, which included baseline and post measures of perceived social support for physical activity (esteem, informational, and companionship), TPB variables related to physical activity (perceived behavioral control, intention, and attitude), and physical activity behavior. Path analysis revealed a significant indirect relationship between change in companionship support and physical activity mediated by change in intention (.13,
p
< .01) and a significant direct relationship between change in esteem support and change in physical activity (.26,
p
= .03). The model explained 27 % of the variance in physical activity and 59 % of the variance in intention. Overall, change in social support exerted a small to medium amount of influence on change in physical activity in this modified TPB model when controlling for traditional model constructs. Encouraging companionship and esteem support should be considered as a strategy for increasing physical activity in this population.
Online social networks, such as Facebook™, have extensive reach, and they use technology that could enhance social support, an established determinant of physical activity. This combination of reach ...and functionality makes online social networks a promising intervention platform for increasing physical activity.
To test the efficacy of a physical activity intervention that combined education, physical activity monitoring, and online social networking to increase social support for physical activity compared to an education-only control.
RCT. Students (n=134) were randomized to two groups: education-only controls receiving access to a physical activity-focused website (n=67) and intervention participants receiving access to the same website with physical activity self-monitoring and enrollment in a Facebook group (n=67). Recruitment and data collection occurred in 2010 and 2011; data analyses were performed in 2011.
Female undergraduate students at a large southeastern public university.
Intervention participants were encouraged through e-mails, website instructions, and moderator communications to solicit and provide social support related to increasing physical activity through a physical activity-themed Facebook group. Participants received access to a dedicated website with educational materials and a physical activity self-monitoring tool.
The primary outcome was perceived social support for physical activity; secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity.
Participants experienced increases in social support and physical activity over time but there were no differences in perceived social support or physical activity between groups over time. Facebook participants posted 259 times to the group. Two thirds (66%) of intervention participants completing a post-study survey indicated that they would recommend the program to friends.
Use of an online social networking group plus self-monitoring did not produce greater perceptions of social support or physical activity as compared to education-only controls. Given their promising features and potential reach, efforts to further understand how online social networks can be used in health promotion should be pursued.
This study is registered at clinicaltrials.govNCT01421758.
Abstract
Low-socioeconomic status (SES) individuals have higher rates of obesity. Social media platforms are used frequently by low-SES individuals and facilitate important weight loss program ...components including social support. Very few social media-based weight loss interventions, however, have enrolled or been tailored to low-SES participants. The purpose of this article is to examine the feasibility of a social media-based weight loss intervention among low-SES adults. We conducted a one-group pretest post-test pilot intervention study with two groups (group 1, n = 39, group 2, n = 16) of low-SES overweight/obese adults who were enrolled in a 12-week social media-based weight loss intervention including self-monitoring via Fitbits and participation in a private Facebook group. A moderator provided educational content and encouraged social support via Facebook. Descriptive statistics were used to assess intervention acceptability and engagement. Exploratory analyses were conducted to examine changes in study outcomes and engagement patterns. The study had good retention (86%). Among 55 total participants enrolled, there were 9,175 participant interactions within the Facebook group. Among completers (n = 47), 96% indicated they would recommend the intervention to a friend. Mean weight loss was 1.07 kg (SD = 3.96, p = .0498), and participants reported increases in positive dietary social support (mean = 2.47, SD = 5.09, p = .0007). Engagement in this social media-based pilot intervention was high and exceeded results from previous studies using similar formats. Participants evaluated the intervention favorably. Changes in weight loss and several theoretical mediators were in the desired direction. Overall, our results indicate social media groups as a platform for weight loss intervention delivery among low-SES adults are feasible and should be studied in larger randomized trials.
Adults with low income found a weight loss program that used Facebook valuable, contributed a large amount of content to the Facebook weight loss group, and reported increased social support.
A Social Media–Based Physical Activity Intervention Cavallo, David N., PhD; Tate, Deborah F., PhD; Ries, Amy V., PhD ...
American journal of preventive medicine,
11/2012, Letnik:
43, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background Online social networks, such as Facebook™, have extensive reach, and they use technology that could enhance social support, an established determinant of physical activity. This ...combination of reach and functionality makes online social networks a promising intervention platform for increasing physical activity. Purpose To test the efficacy of a physical activity intervention that combined education, physical activity monitoring, and online social networking to increase social support for physical activity compared to an education-only control. Design RCT. Students ( n =134) were randomized to two groups: education-only controls receiving access to a physical activity–focused website ( n =67) and intervention participants receiving access to the same website with physical activity self-monitoring and enrollment in a Facebook group ( n =67). Recruitment and data collection occurred in 2010 and 2011; data analyses were performed in 2011. Setting/participants Female undergraduate students at a large southeastern public university. Intervention Intervention participants were encouraged through e-mails, website instructions, and moderator communications to solicit and provide social support related to increasing physical activity through a physical activity–themed Facebook group. Participants received access to a dedicated website with educational materials and a physical activity self-monitoring tool. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was perceived social support for physical activity; secondary outcomes included self-reported physical activity. Results Participants experienced increases in social support and physical activity over time but there were no differences in perceived social support or physical activity between groups over time. Facebook participants posted 259 times to the group. Two thirds (66%) of intervention participants completing a post-study survey indicated that they would recommend the program to friends. Conclusions Use of an online social networking group plus self-monitoring did not produce greater perceptions of social support or physical activity as compared to education-only controls. Given their promising features and potential reach, efforts to further understand how online social networks can be used in health promotion should be pursued. Trial registration This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT01421758.
While prior research has informed how cigarette smokers understand and apply the term addiction, little is known about how this term is used by cigarillo smokers. This is an important area of study ...given the decline in cigarette use and increase in cigar product consumption. Purpose/Objectives: This paper examines how cigarillo smokers self-identify in terms of addiction and the association of this identification with tobacco use, quitting experiences, and level of nicotine dependence. Methods: Transcripts from semi-structured interviews conducted in 2015–2016 with 57 participants (aged 14–28) about cigarillo use and beliefs were analyzed using a phenomenological approach to examine themes around addiction and cessation experiences. Analyses were limited to participants endorsing having a habit. Quantitative analyses were conducted to assess associations with demographics, tobacco use, addiction, cessation, and nicotine dependence for two groups: participants endorsing having an addiction to cigarillos and those who did not. Results: All participants described the term addiction similarly. Participants with an addiction had significantly higher nicotine dependence and self-rating of addiction than those without an addiction. Although most quitting experiences did not differ between the two groups, participants who did not identify as addicted felt that they could quit smoking cigarillos at any time. Conclusions: Variations in identification with addiction are not associated with differences in definitions, use and quit experiences. Understanding self-perceptions of addiction can inform targeted communication to encourage cessation and the use of cessation resources.
•Cigarillo smokers can self-identify their level of addiction to cigarillos.•Addicted and Not Addicted participants both want to quit cigarillos.•Not Addicted participants think they can quit at any time.•Addicted and Not Addicted smokers had similar quit experiences.•Self-perception of addiction can inform approaches to encourage cessation.
Health Economics in Public Health Ammerman, Alice S., DrPH, RD; Farrelly, Matthew A., PhD; Cavallo, David N., MPH ...
American journal of preventive medicine,
03/2009, Letnik:
36, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Background Economic analysis is an important tool in deciding how to allocate scarce public health resources; however, there is currently a dearth of such analysis by public health researchers. ...Methods Public health researchers and practitioners were surveyed to determine their current use of health economics and to identify barriers to use as well as potential strategies to decrease those barriers in order to allow them to more effectively incorporate economic analyses into their work. Data collected from five focus groups informed survey development. The survey included a demographic section and 14 multi-part questions. Participants were recruited in 2006 from three national public health organizations through e-mail; 294 academicians, practitioners, and community representatives answered the survey. Results Survey data were analyzed in 2007. Despite an expressed belief in the importance of health economics, more than half of the respondents reported very little or no current use of health economics in their work. Of those using health economics, cost–benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis and determination of public health costs were cited as the measures used most frequently. The most important barriers were lack of expertise, funding, time, tools, and data, as well as discomfort with economic theory. The resource deemed most important to using health economics was collaboration with economists or those with economic training. Respondents indicated a desire to learn more about health economics and tools for performing economic analysis. Conclusions Given the importance of incorporating economic analysis into public health interventions, and the desire of survey respondents for more collaboration with health economists, opportunities for such collaborations should be increased.
The CMS Barrel resistive plate chambers quality tests are performed at three different sites (Bari, Pavia and Sofia), where equivalent software and hardware tools are used. Data from the first 210 ...detectors are available for a comprehensive analysis. The paper describes the general experimental set-up, the test procedure and the cosmic muon test results. The muon trajectory reconstruction algorithm, used for precise studies, is presented. The criteria to accept or reject a detector are also given. The CMS final-design chambers show an average efficiency greater than 95%.
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