Anisha Abraham

Competitive versus cooperative exergame play for African American adolescents' executive function skills: short-term effects in a long-term training intervention.

Exergames are videogames that require gross motor activity, thereby combining gaming with physical activity. This study examined the role of competitive versus cooperative exergame play on short-term changes in executive function skills, following a 10-week exergame training intervention. Fifty-four low-income overweight and obese African American adolescents were randomly assigned to a competitive exergame condition, a cooperative exergame condition, or a no-play control group. Youths in the competitive exergame condition improved in executive function skills more than did those in the cooperative exergame condition and the no-play control group. Weight loss during the intervention was also significantly positively correlated with improved executive function skills. The findings link competitive exergame play to beneficial cognitive outcomes for at-risk ethnic minority adolescents.

Adolescent exergame play for weight loss and psychosocial improvement: A controlled physical activity intervention: Adolescent Exergame Play for Weight Loss

Overweight and obese youth, who face increased risk of medical complications including heart disease and type II diabetes, can benefit from sustainable physical activity interventions that result in weight loss.

Motivating Effects of Cooperative Exergame Play for Overweight and Obese Adolescents

Background: Exergames (i.e., video games that require gross motor activity) may provide intrinsically motivating experiences that engage youth in sustained physical activity. Method: Thirty-one low-income 15– to 19-year-old overweight and obese African American adolescents were randomly assigned to a competitive exergame (n = 17) or a cooperative exergame (n = 14) condition. Participants played a preassigned Wii Active exergame routine that took between 30 and 60 min each school day, and sessions occurred during lunch time or an after-school program over a 6 month period. Participation was voluntary, so students decided whether to come or not on a given day. Cooperative exergame players worked together with a peer to expend calories and earn points, while competitive exergame players competed individually against a peer to expend calories and earn points. Motivation was measured through surveys and interviews at the end of the intervention, and energy expenditure was measured by accelerometry during game play. Results: Compared with the competitive group, the cooperative players were significantly more intrinsically motivated to play (p = .034, partial eta-squared = 0.366) and more psychologically attracted to the design of the exergame (p = .034, partial eta-squared = 0.320). Intrinsic motivation was significantly positively correlated with energy expenditure during game play: Individuals who were motivated by control/choice had higher energy expenditure (p = .026), and those who were more goal motivated (p = .004) and more immersed in game play (p = .024) had lower energy expenditure during game play. Conclusions: Cooperative exergame play produced higher intrinsic motivation to play the exergame than competitive exergame play did. Intrinsic motivation that came from a desire for control/choice was related to higher energy expenditure during game play. Cooperative exergame play holds promise as a method for engaging overweight and obese youth in physical activity.

Adolescent Caffeine Use, ADHD, and Cigarette Smoking

The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of adolescent caffeine use and its association with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cigarette smoking. A total of 448 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 21 years consecutively presenting for routine, well-child care were studied. Twenty-four percent had a pre-existing diagnosis of ADHD, and 47% reported a positive lifetime history of cigarette smoking. Eighty-five percent of participants reportedly consumed a caffeinated beverage within the past 30 days; 38% had consumed 1+ cups of caffeinated coffee, and 78% had consumed 1+ glasses of another caffeinated beverage other than coffee (e.g., tea or soft drinks). After controlling for sociodemographic and other potential confounding factors, an ADHD diagnosis and a positive lifetime smoking history were significantly associated with caffeine use: Adolescents with ADHD were nearly twice as likely to use more caffeine than were adolescents without ADHD (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23, 3.50, p = .006); lifetime smokers were 80% more likely to use more caffeine than were adolescents who had never smoked (OR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.16, 2.79, p = .009). Caffeine use is elevated among adolescents diagnosed with ADHD and those who have ever tried cigarette smoking. Although caffeine is a non-illicit psychostimulant, these findings add to the emerging data on substance use behaviors among adolescents with ADHD. Health care professionals who work with adolescents with ADHD should regularly screen for both cigarette and caffeine use among their patients.

Lifestyle Intervention Using an Internet-Based Curriculum with Cell Phone Reminders for Obese Chinese Teens: A Randomized Controlled Study

Objectives Obesity is an increasing public health problem affecting young people. The causes of obesity are multi-factorial among Chinese youth including lack of physical activity and poor eating habits. The use of an internet curriculum and cell phone reminders and texting may be an innovative means of increasing follow up and compliance with obese teens. The objectives of this study were to determine the feasibility of using an adapted internet curriculum and existing nutritional program along with cell phone follow up for obese Chinese teens. Design and Methods This was a randomized controlled study involving obese teens receiving care at a paediatric obesity clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Hong Kong. Forty-eight subjects aged 12 to 18 years were randomized into three groups. The control group received usual care visits with a physician in the obesity clinic every three months. The first intervention (IT) group received usual care visits every three months plus a 12-week internet-based curriculum with cell phone calls/texts reminders. The second intervention group received usual care visits every three months plus four nutritional counselling sessions. Results The use of the internet-based curriculum was shown to be feasible as evidenced by the high recruitment rate, internet log-in rate, compliance with completing the curriculum and responses to phone reminders. No significant differences in weight were found between IT, sLMP and control groups. Conclusion An internet-based curriculum with cell phone reminders as a supplement to usual care of obesity is feasible. Further study is required to determine whether an internet plus text intervention can be both an effective and a cost-effective adjunct to changing weight in obese youth. Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TRC-12002624

Adolescents, Celebrity Worship, and Cosmetic Surgery

r a t The surge in TV shows,Web sites, and advertisements featurng cosmetic surgery has changed public perception of “ideal” eauty standards, raising expectations of beauty that are not btainable by natural means [1]. Popular procedures among adlescents in Western countries include nose reshaping, breast ugmentation, and liposuction, as well as blepharoplasty or eyeid surgery in parts of Asia [2–5]. Researchers have noted an ncrease in media fascination with and reporting of celebrities ho have elective procedures [6]. Does the frequent attention ocusedon celebrities undergoing cosmetic surgery influence the ehavior of adolescents who admire them? In this issue of the ournal of Adolescent Health, Maltby and Day demonstrate that eens who worship celebrities do not simply mimic their clothng andhairstyles, but also obtain elective cosmetic surgerymore han those who do not worship celebrities. Cosmetic procedures have become pervasive, advertised in he mass media, and the subject of countless TV programs, such s Dr. 90210 (created in the United States but internationally nown). The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estiates that the number of children less than 18 years of age ndergoing cosmetic surgery procedures by their members has anged from 33,000 to 65,000 annually in the past 10 years, with onsurgical cosmetic procedures ranging from 91,000 to 90,000 per year [7]. On a global scale, the possible reasons for ncreasing demand include higher disposable income, media ortrayal, and reduced stigma [6,8]. In addition to these factors, altby and Day find that adolescents’ attitudes toward celebriies have a significant impact. Should the increase in elective cosmetic surgery among teens oncern health professionals? Surgery to correct deformities uch as cleft lip and palate has clear benefits. In contrast, proceures such as liposuction and breast augmentation among adoescents are much more controversial. There is no scientific evience that surgery improves self-esteem or confidence in the ong term, although it tends to increase satisfaction with the ody part that was “fixed” [9]. Even without cosmetic proceures, satisfaction with appearance increases with age during dolescence [10]. Cosmetic procedures can lead tomedical comlications, are extremely expensive, and often are not covered by nsurance. There is the risk that initial procedures can lead to

Correlates of Adherence to a Telephone-Based Multiple Health Behavior Change Cancer Preventive Intervention for Teens The Healthy for Life Program (HELP)

This study examined factors associated with teens’ adherence to a multiple health behavior cancer preventive intervention. Analyses identified predictors of trial enrollment, run-in completion, and adherence (intervention initiation, number of sessions completed). Of 104 teens screened, 73% (n = 76) were trial eligible. White teens were more likely to enroll than non-Whites (χ2[1] df = 4.49, p = .04). Among enrolled teens, 76% (n = 50) completed the run-in; there were no differences between run-in completers and noncompleters. A majority of run-in completers (70%, n = 35) initiated the intervention, though teens who initiated the intervention were significantly younger than those who did not (p < .05). The mean number of sessions completed was 5.7 (SD = 2.6; maximum = 8). After adjusting for age, teens with poorer session engagement (e.g., less cooperative) completed fewer sessions (B = −1.97, p = .003, R2 = .24). Implications for adolescent cancer prevention research are discussed.

Patterns and correlates of multiple risk factors for adult-onset cancer among adolescents

The authors investigated patterns and correlates of multiple cancer risk factors (MCRFs) among adolescents. Baseline data from an intervention efficacy trial were analyzed to examine patterns of co-occurring MCRFs and sociodemographic and theoretical (e.g. prevention self-efficacy) correlates of MCRFs among adolescents (N = 50) aged 13–21 years. The mean total MCRFs was 4.6 (SD = 1.6; range = 0–9). The most common risk factors were intentions to use alcohol (n = 40, 80%), <5 daily servings of fruits/vegetables (n = 40, 80%), and lifetime alcohol use (n = 38, 76%). MCRFs commonly co-occurred, suggesting a clustered risk profile. Higher age (B = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01, 0.38) and lower prevention self-efficacy (B = −0.16, 95% CI: −0.30, −0.02) were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with MCRFs. Multiple health behavior change interventions are needed to prevent accumulation of risk factors as youth mature. Self-efficacy may be an important target for prevention interventions.

Are Adolescents with ADHD Interested in Genetic Testing for Nicotine Addiction Susceptibility

It has been well-established that some adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for cigarette smoking. Current research on the genetic basis of this association could ultimately translate into genetic tests capable of identifying smoking-prone adolescents with ADHD. In this study we examined 81 ADHD affected adolescents’ (age 13–21) interest in genetic testing for nicotine addiction susceptibility. Fifty-seven percent of adolescents indicated a fair amount of interest or more in testing. Most adolescents indicated that the personal information revealed from testing would be either useful (29%) or interesting (37%). Implications for genetically-informed smoking prevention and cessation interventions in high risk adolescents with ADHD are discussed.