2 research outputs found
Tobacco use and co-varying behaviors among adolescents and young adults
No full textThe purpose of this dissertation was to explore the relationship between cigarettes and other health compromising behaviors, in adolescence and young adults. The first paper of this dissertation sought to determine trends in the use of individual and multiple tobacco products, among adolescent tobacco users, using repeated cross-sectional data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), from 1997-2011; and to examine differences in these trends by key socio-demographic factors. Trends indicate that there are significant changes in the prevalence and types of products used by high school students, as well key socio-demographic differences. Many of the significant trends may be attributed to an increase in smokeless tobacco use, among tobacco users. The second paper of this dissertation aimed to elucidate the temporal relationship of weight control behaviors and smoking from adolescence to young adulthood, from 1994-2002, using nationally representative longitudinal data from the Add Health Study. Regression analyses testing the bi-directional relationships between smoking and weight control behaviors showed that there is likely an association between these two behaviors. Ever smoking in young adulthood is predicted by weight control variables in late adolescence. Most models predicting weight control behaviors in young adulthood were statistically insignificant and less than one. These models did not provide evidence that early smoking led to weight control behaviors. Results of these analyses did not find consistent or overwhelming support for either behavior preceding the other. The third paper was a series of systematic literature reviews on the Fairness Doctrine on tobacco, food marketing to children, and counter-marketing campaigns and strategies to guide the development of a Fairness Doctrine-like campaign on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). These reviews gave insight into a potential counter-marketing campaign on SSBs aimed a youth. Potential effects of the proposed campaign include increased self-regulation by the SSB industry, decreased consumption of SSB, and changes in the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of SSBs. A counter-marketing campaign focused on SSBs may be step in curbing the childhood obesity epidemic, and appears feasible and justifiable as one potential strategy aimed at this epidemic
A global action agenda for turning the tide on fatty liver disease
No full textBackground and Aims: Fatty liver disease is a major public health threat due to its very high prevalence and related morbidity and mortality. Focused and dedicated interventions are urgently needed to target disease prevention, treatment, and care. Approach and Results: We developed an aligned, prioritized action agenda for the global fatty liver disease community of practice. Following a Delphi methodology over 2 rounds, a large panel (R1 n = 344, R2 n = 288) reviewed the action priorities using Qualtrics XM, indicating agreement using a 4-point Likert-scale and providing written feedback. Priorities were revised between rounds, and in R2, panelists also ranked the priorities within 6 domains: epidemiology, treatment and care, models of care, education and awareness, patient and community perspectives, and leadership and public health policy. The consensus fatty liver disease action agenda encompasses 29 priorities. In R2, the mean percentage of "agree"responses was 82.4%, with all individual priorities having at least a super-majority of agreement (> 66.7% "agree"). The highest-ranked action priorities included collaboration between liver specialists and primary care doctors on early diagnosis, action to address the needs of people living with multiple morbidities, and the incorporation of fatty liver disease into relevant non-communicable disease strategies and guidance. Conclusions: This consensus-driven multidisciplinary fatty liver disease action agenda developed by care providers, clinical researchers, and public health and policy experts provides a path to reduce the prevalence of fatty liver disease and improve health outcomes. To implement this agenda, concerted efforts will be needed at the global, regional, and national levels. © 2023 The Author(s)
