Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2009
Socioeconomic status and risk factors for obesity and metabolic disorders in a population-based sample of adult females.
The association between lower socioeconomic status (SES), obesity, lifestyle choices and adverse health consequences are well documented, however to date the relationship between these variables and area-based SES (equivalised for advantage and disadvantage) has not been examined simultaneously in one population or with more than tertiary divisions of SES. We set out to examine the risk factors for obesity and metabolic disorders in the same population across quintiles of area-based SES. ⋯ Greater measures of adiposity and less healthy lifestyle choices were observed in individuals from lower SES. Significant differences in body composition were identified between quintiles 1 and 5, whereas subjects in the mid quintiles had relatively similar measures. The inverse relationship between SES, obesity and less healthy lifestyle underscores the possibility that these associations may be causal and should be investigated further.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2009
Comparative StudyMeasurement error and ethnic comparisons of measures of abdominal obesity.
Methods of estimating central obesity are important because of the increasing frequency of obesity related diseases worldwide. Here we evaluate the precision of measuring waist circumference and the waist to hip ratio with comparisons across ethnic groups. ⋯ Waist to hip ratio provides a superior measure of central obesity with low measurement error, high precision, and no bias over a wide range of ethnic groups. We believe that it is essential to standardize methods in the assessment of central obesity. Assessment criteria should be based on waist to hip ratio rather than waist circumference.
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Preventive medicine · Aug 2009
Temporal changes in trying to lose weight and recommended weight-loss strategies among overweight and obese Americans, 1996-2003.
We examined whether the reported prevalence of trying to lose weight among overweight and obese individuals has changed over time, and whether those trying to lose weight report using recommended weight-loss strategies. ⋯ Despite a rise in the number of overweight and obese people, there was little change among overweight adults in trying to lose weight over time, and a modest-but significant-change among obese adults in trying to lose weight over time. Among those who reported trying to lose weight, there were significant increases in their efforts to use recommended strategies.
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Few studies have addressed the feasibility of promoting smokeless tobacco as an alternative for smokers. This study was intended to assess the characteristics and degree to which smokers from California are receptive to using the substitute for harm reduction. ⋯ Smokeless tobacco is an unacceptable alternative for most California smokers. But, the expected correlates, notably gender, accounted for minimal variability in SLT receptiveness, an observation that challenges concerns about the product's limited appeal to any one group.
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To estimate the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence estimates for subgroups of US Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women by using data from 2005 and 2006 birth certificates. ⋯ Overall, US API women have the highest risk for GDM among all US racial/ethnic groups. However, APIs are a heterogeneous group by genetic background, culture, and diet and other lifestyle behaviors. Our findings imply that, whenever possible, API subgroups should be evaluated separately in health research.