International journal of public health
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Int J Public Health · Jan 2008
Comparative StudyAssociations of behavioural, psychosocial and socioeconomic factors with over- and underweight among German adolescents.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity has dramatically increased in western societies. This paper examines behavioural, psychosocial and socioeconomic factors associated with overweight and underweight among adolescents in Germany. ⋯ Despite several variables being associated with overweight and underweight in bivariate models, only three factors remained associated with overweight in multivariable analysis. Other considered variables did not have independent associations with the outcome, but still could be included in respective causal pathways. Our results suggest that preventive strategies focussing on students of low socio-economic status and the avoidance of sedentary behaviours could help to address issues of overweight and obesity.
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Int J Public Health · Jan 2008
Does perceived safety of light cigarette encourage smokers to smoke more or to inhale more deeply?
This study investigated the effect of smoking light cigarettes and believing that light cigarettes are less of a health threat on the decision to smoke more light cigarettes or inhale more deeply in Taiwan. ⋯ Government should attempt to reverse the tendency for light smokers to smoke more under the misconception that light cigarettes are relatively safe, and correct the erroneous belief among smokers who wish to quit that smoking light cigarettes is an intermediate stage on the path to quitting.
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Int J Public Health · Jan 2008
Social epidemiology after the German reunification: East vs. West or poor vs. rich?
Social epidemiology has consistently demonstrated an association between socio-economic disadvantage and ill health. Seventeen years after reunification, economic disparities persist between former "East" and "West" Germany. We examine whether there are according health disparities and how they developed over time. ⋯ Small-area analyses are required to disentangle the association between socio-economic inequalities and health in Germany. In such analyses, not only individual but also contextual (e.g. area level) characteristics need to be included. Contextual variables can be used to group smaller areas such as counties into clusters with similar properties. Thus, individual survey data can be linked with contextual characteristics while maintaining data protection and at the same time achieving sufficiently large case numbers. Concurrently, theoretical models explaining health inequalities need to be further developed so that they embrace contextual characteristics.
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Int J Public Health · Jan 2008
Editorial Comparative StudyClosing the global health gaps in a generation - how is it possible?