Preventive medicine
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2008
ReviewA review of mediators of behavior in interventions to promote physical activity among children and adolescents.
The effectiveness of interventions to promote physical activity in youths is still developing. To develop a better understanding "what works", researchers are now focusing on constructing an evidence base for mediators of behavior change. ⋯ Despite recognition of the importance of mediation studies, few interventions have assessed mediators of physical activity behavior in youth interventions. The small number of studies examining mediators of behavior and the variability in study design and quality prevent us from forming strong conclusions regarding the most effective mediators of behavior.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effectiveness of a school-based substance abuse prevention program: EU-Dap cluster randomised controlled trial.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the school-based drug abuse prevention program developed in the EU-Dap study (EUropean Drug Abuse Prevention trial) in preventing the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs at the post-test. ⋯ School curricula based on a comprehensive social-influence model may delay progression to daily smoking and episodes of drunkenness.
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Preventive medicine · Nov 2008
Comparative StudyEffectiveness of tobacco control among Chinese Americans: a comparative analysis of policy approaches versus community-based programs.
To estimate the effectiveness of a tailored multicomponent community-based smoking cessation intervention among Chinese immigrants living in New York City, implemented within the context of state and city-wide tobacco control policy initiatives for the general population. ⋯ City-wide tobacco control policies are effective among high-risk urban communities, such as Chinese immigrants. In addition, community-based tailored tobacco control interventions may increase the reduction in smoking prevalence rates beyond that achieved from public policies.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2008
Controlled Clinical TrialReliability of doctors' anthropometric measurements to detect obesity.
To evaluate the reliability of anthropometric measurements (weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences (WC; HC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)) performed by doctors to assess obesity. ⋯ BMI remains the most reliable measure to detect obesity in medical practice, whereas WC, HC and WHR are less reliable. These results challenge current recommendations on obesity-related cardio-vascular risk management based on WC and WHR and underline the need for further research to improve the reliability of anthropometric measurements by doctors.
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Preventive medicine · Oct 2008
Walking and inflammatory markers in individuals screened for type 2 diabetes.
To investigate the association of walking activity with inflammatory markers and fasting insulin in a bi-ethnic population screened for type 2 diabetes in Leicester, United Kingdom, between 2005 and 2006. ⋯ Walking activity, independent of other forms of physical activity, is associated with lower levels of circulating pro-inflammatory markers.