American journal of preventive medicine
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Given the increase in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption, their potential health effects have aroused concern. Whether UPF consumption is associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality is debatable. This study evaluates the association of UPF consumption with mortality. ⋯ Higher UPF consumption was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality risk, with multiple metabolic pathways playing mediating roles.
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Understanding changes in cannabis use in the legalized nonmedical cannabis context is critical. Washington State, one the earliest states to implement legalization, presents a unique opportunity to examine how cannabis use and its consequences changed after the implementation of legalization for adults. With a focus on Washington State young adults, this study conducted in 2022-2023 examined changes in (1) cannabis use by sex and age, (2) preferred mode of use, and (3) cannabis use disorder symptoms. ⋯ During the 5-year period following the implementation of legalization, patterns of young adult cannabis use shifted, including particularly sharp increases among females and increases in cannabis use disorder symptoms. Future studies should investigate underlying causes for these important changes.
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Firearm-related injuries in the U.S. have risen 37% since 2015. Understanding how the association between firearm incidents and state-level firearm restrictiveness is modified by community-level distress and economic connectedness (EC) may inform upstream injury prevention efforts. ⋯ Stricter firearm laws are associated with lower rate of firearm incidents. The magnitude of this association is smallest for communities experiencing the greatest economic disadvantage.
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The University of California (UC) implemented the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to address diabetes and obesity risk. This project examined the reach and effectiveness of this university-based DPP delivery approach. ⋯ UC DPP reached a diverse group and was effective for weight loss at 12-month follow-up. However, UC DPP invitation letters to raise prediabetes and DPP awareness were not associated with significant weight change in the absence of DPP enrollment. University-based approaches to DPP delivery are effective and may enhance reach of DPP among at-risk adults.
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Firearm-related injuries are among the five leading causes of death for people aged 1-44 years in the U.S. The immediate and long-term harms of firearm injuries pose an economic burden on society. Fatal and nonfatal firearm injury costs in the U.S. were estimated providing up-to-date economic burden estimates. ⋯ Most of the nonfatal firearm injury-related costs are attributed to hospitalization. These findings highlight the racial/ethnic differences in fatal firearm injuries and the disproportionate cost burden to urban areas. Addressing this important public health problem can help ameliorate the costs to our society from the rising rates of firearm injuries.