American journal of preventive medicine
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In spite of accelerating human genome discoveries in a wide variety of diseases of public health significance, the promise of personalized health care and disease prevention based on genomics has lagged behind. In a time of limited resources, public health agencies must continue to focus on implementing programs that can improve health and prevent disease now. Nevertheless, public health has an important and assertive leadership role in addressing the promise and pitfalls of human genomics for population health. Such efforts are needed not only to implement what is known in genomics to improve health but also to reduce potential harm and create the infrastructure needed to derive health benefits in the future.
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The American "stroke belt" has contributed to the study of stroke. However, U.S. geographic patterns of diabetes have not been as specifically characterized. ⋯ Nearly one third of the difference in diabetes prevalence between the diabetes belt and the rest of the U.S. is associated with sedentary lifestyle and obesity. Culturally appropriate interventions aimed at decreasing obesity and sedentary lifestyle in counties within the diabetes belt should be considered.
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Numerous cross-sectional studies have found higher levels of obesity among residents of auto-oriented, sprawling areas compared to residents of more urban areas. ⋯ Policies that encourage dense, urban residential development may have a positive role to play in addressing obesity in black women.
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People who engage in unprotected sexual intercourse or use injection drugs are at increased risk for HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Monitoring changes in behaviors over time can provide information about the effectiveness of new policies and programs. ⋯ Additional efforts to reduce HIV- and STD-related risk behaviors, particularly among black and Hispanic students, must be implemented to decrease rates of HIV infection and STDs.
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The rising prevalence of childhood obesity is a key public health issue worldwide. Limited evidence suggests that there may be interactions between environmental factors at a neighborhood level and the development of obesity, with the availability and accessibility of food outlets being potentially important. ⋯ Features of the built environment relating to food purchasing opportunities are correlated with weight status in children.