Preventive medicine
-
Preventive medicine · Oct 2002
Comparative StudyRelationship of satisfaction with body size and trying to lose weight in a national survey of overweight and obese women aged 40 and older, United States.
Despite the potential benefits of weight loss, the factors associated with weight loss behavior are only beginning to be identified. We examined the association between sociodemographic factors, perceived health, satisfaction with body size, and trying to lose weight. ⋯ Our findings should serve as the impetus for the inclusion of measures of body image in surveillance and intervention studies of weight loss and control.
-
Preventive medicine · Oct 2002
Subjective health of male ex-smokers: relationship with time since smoking cessation, intensity and duration of tobacco consumption.
To examine the relationship of subjective health with time since smoking cessation and amount and duration of tobacco consumption among male ex-smokers. ⋯ Suboptimal health declined with time since smoking cessation, to reach the frequency of never-smokers. Longer duration of tobacco consumption is associated with worse subjective health.
-
Brisk walking has been identified as an activity suited to meet American College of Sport Medicine/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for moderate intensity exercise (55-69% HR(max), 40-59% VO(2)R). However, little is known about whether recreational walkers self-select a pace which elicits this intensity and how they interpret the term "brisk walking." ⋯ The speed and intensity selected by this group of walkers meets current recommendations for moderate intensity exercise. Instructing individuals to "walk briskly" prompts more vigorous activity.
-
The objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of clustering of common lifestyle risk factors in a general adult population and to define subgroups with elevated clustering. ⋯ These findings suggest that common lifestyle risk factors cluster among adult subjects. The tendency for risk factors to aggregate has important implications for health promotion. Information on high-risk groups will help in planning future preventive strategies.
-
Preventive medicine · Aug 2002
Comparative StudyTrends in smoking, diet, physical exercise, and attitudes toward health in European university students from 13 countries, 1990-2000.
Smoking, diet, and physical exercise are key determinants of health. This study assessed changes over 10 years and their relationship to changes in health beliefs and risk awareness. ⋯ The differences in health behaviors, beliefs, and risk awareness between the two surveys were disappointing in this educated sector of young adult Europeans. The association between changes in beliefs and prevalence of behavior emphasizes the importance of enhancing positive attitudes to healthier lifestyles.