Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2015
Lack of private health insurance is associated with higher mortality from cancer and other chronic diseases, poor diet quality, and inflammatory biomarkers in the United States.
The lack of health insurance reduces access to care and often results in poorer health outcomes. The present study simultaneously assessed the effects of health insurance on cancer and chronic disease mortality, as well as the inter-relationships with diet, obesity, smoking, and inflammatory biomarkers. We hypothesized that public/no insurance versus private insurance would result in increased cancer/chronic disease mortality due to the increased prevalence of inflammation-related lifestyle factors in the underinsured population. ⋯ Insurance status was strongly associated with cancer/chronic disease mortality after adjusting for lifestyle factors. The results suggest that inadequate health insurance coverage results in a substantially greater need for preventive strategies that focus on tobacco control, obesity, and improved dietary quality. These efforts should be incorporated into comprehensive insurance coverage programs for all Americans.
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Youth smoking is complex with multilevel influences. While much is known about certain levels of influence on youth smoking, the lack of focus on institutional influences is notable. This study evaluated the effects of ambient smoking attitudes and behaviors in schools on individual youth smoking. ⋯ These findings suggest the importance of ambient smoking attitudes and behaviors on youth smoking. Prevention efforts affecting ambient smoking attitudes may be beneficial.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2015
Comparative StudySupermarkets and unhealthy food marketing: An international comparison of the content of supermarket catalogues/circulars.
Supermarket marketing activities have a major influence on consumer food purchases. This study aimed to assess and compare the contents of supermarket marketing circulars from a range of countries worldwide from an obesity prevention perspective. ⋯ Supermarket circulars in most of the countries examined include a high percentage of discretionary foods, and therefore promote unhealthy eating behaviours that contribute to the global obesity epidemic. A clear opportunity exists for supermarket circulars to promote rather than undermine healthy eating behaviours of populations. Governments need to ensure that supermarket marketing is included as part of broader efforts to restrict unhealthy food marketing.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2015
Participation in muscle-strengthening activities as an alternative method for the prevention of multimorbidity.
Participating in muscle-strengthening activities (MSA) has been shown to reduce the risks associated with many individual chronic diseases; however, the impact of MSA on multimorbidity remains unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between MSA and multimorbidity. ⋯ Independent of accelerometry-assessed physical activity, the participation in MSA may reduce the odds of being multimorbid, with evidence of a dose-response relationship.
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Preventive medicine · Dec 2015
Consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity in Brazilian adolescents and adults.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity indicators among Brazilian adults and adolescents. ⋯ Our findings support the role of ultra-processed foods in the obesity epidemic in Brazil.