Christine Frisard

A Randomized Control Trial of a Chronic Care Intervention for Homeless Women with Alcohol Use Problems

A clinician-randomized trial was conducted using the chronic care model for disease management for alcohol use problems among n = 82 women served in a health care for the homeless clinic. Women with problem alcohol use received either usual care or an intervention consisting of a primary care provider (PCP) brief intervention, referral to addiction services, and on-going support from a care manager (CM) for 6 months. Both groups significantly reduced their alcohol consumption, with a small effect size favoring intervention at 3 months, but there were no significant differences between groups in reductions in drinking or in housing stability, or mental or physical health. However, intervention women had significantly more frequent participation in substance use treatment services. Baseline differences and small sample size limit generalizability, although substantial reductions in drinking for both groups suggest that screening and PCP brief treatment are promising interventions for homeless women with alcohol use problems.

Methodological quality of behavioural weight loss studies: a systematic review.

This systematic review assessed the methodological quality of behavioural weight loss intervention studies conducted among adults and associations between quality and statistically significant weight loss outcome, strength of intervention effectiveness and sample size. Searches for trials published between January, 2009 and December, 2014 were conducted using PUBMED, MEDLINE and PSYCINFO and identified ninety studies. Methodological quality indicators included study design, anthropometric measurement approach, sample size calculations, intent‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis, loss to follow‐up rate, missing data strategy, sampling strategy, report of treatment receipt and report of intervention fidelity (mean = 6.3). Indicators most commonly utilized included randomized design (100%), objectively measured anthropometrics (96.7%), ITT analysis (86.7%) and reporting treatment adherence (76.7%). Most studies (62.2%) had a follow‐up rate > 75% and reported a loss to follow‐up analytic strategy or minimal missing data (69.9%). Describing intervention fidelity (34.4%) and sampling from a known population (41.1%) were least common. Methodological quality was not associated with reporting a statistically significant result, effect size or sample size. This review found the published literature of behavioural weight loss trials to be of high quality for specific indicators, including study design and measurement. Identified for improvement include utilization of more rigorous statistical approaches to loss to follow up and better fidelity reporting.

Integrating mindfulness training in school health education to promote healthy behaviors in adolescents: Feasibility and preliminary effects on exercise and dietary habits

Whether mindfulness training (MT) could improve healthy behaviors is unknown. This study sought to determine feasibility and acceptability of integrating MT into school-based health education (primary outcomes) and to explore its possible effects on healthy behaviors (exploratory outcomes). Two high schools in Massachusetts (2014–2015) were randomized to health education plus MT (HE-MT) (one session/week for 8 weeks) or to health education plus attention control (HE-AC). Dietary habits (24-h dietary recalls) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA/7-day recalls) were assessed at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 6 months thereafter. Quantile regression and linear mixed models were used, respectively, to estimate effects on MVPA and dietary outcomes adjusting for confounders. We recruited 53 9th graders (30 HEM, 23 HEAC; average age 14.5, 60% white, 59% female). Retention was 100% (EOT) and 96% (6 months); attendance was 96% (both conditions), with moderate-to-high satisfaction ratings. Among students with higher MVPA at baseline, MVPA was higher in HE-MT vs. HE-AC at both EOT (median difference = 81 min/week, p = 0.005) and at 6 months (p = 0.004). Among males, median MVPA was higher (median difference = 99 min/week) in HE-MT vs. HEAC at both EOT (p = 0.056) and at 6 months (p = 0.04). No differences were noted in dietary habits. In sum, integrating school-based MT into health education was feasible and acceptable and had promising effects on MVPA among male and more active adolescents. These findings suggest that MT may improve healthy behaviors in adolescents and deserve to be reproduced in larger, rigorous studies.

Perceived weight status and weight change among a U.S. adult sample

Examine bidirectional associations between weight perception and weight change over time among adults.

A Comparison of Tanning Habits Among Gym Tanners and Other Tanners

Gym Tanners and Other Tanners Physical activity has been associated with increased risk of malignant melanoma,1 as has the use of tanning beds.2 The presence of tanning beds in gyms is a concerning trend. Two of the largest American gym chains (Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness) with total combined membership of more than 13 million people, offer indoor tanning. Nearly half of the gyms in Canada offer indoor tanning as well.3 Little is known about the characteristics of tanners who use gym tanning beds. The present study examined the proportion of indoor tanners who use gym tanning beds and tested whether they have riskier habits than other tanners. We also examined whether physical activity was related to the frequency of indoor tanning among tanners.

Association of Dysfunctional Eating Patterns and Metabolic Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease among Latinos

BACKGROUND Latinos are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Identifying behavioral factors associated with CVD risk in this population may provide novel targets for further research to reduce chronic disease disparities. Dysfunctional eating patterns (emotional eating [EE], uncontrolled eating [UE], and cognitive restraint of eating [CR]) may be associated with CVD risk but little is known about this relationship in Latinos. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine associations between dysfunctional eating patterns and metabolic risk factors for CVD in Latinos. DESIGN The study used a cross-sectional design. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Latino individuals (n=602), aged 21 to 84 years, were enrolled in the study from September 2011 to May 2013 from a community health center that serves 80% to 85% of the Latino population in Lawrence, MA. Individuals with complete data were included in this analysis (n=578). MEASURES Dysfunctional eating patterns were measured with the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R18V2. CVD risk factors examined included obesity assessed by body mass index and waist circumference and diagnoses of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia abstracted from electronic health records. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Multivariable logistic and Poisson regressions adjusting for age, sex, perceived income, employment, education, physical activity, and perceived stress were performed. The no dysfunctional eating category (ie, no EE, no UE, or no CR) was used as the reference category in all analyses. RESULTS High EE was associated with greater odds of obesity (odds ratio [OR] 2.19, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.45) and central obesity (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.81 to 4.87), and diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.48) and hypertension (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.48). High UE was associated with obesity (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.21) and central obesity (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.94). Low and high CR were associated with obesity (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.43 to 3.56 and OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.75 to 4.37, respectively) and central obesity (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.32 and 2.51, 95% CI 1.54 to 4.08, respectively) and diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.16 and OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.58 to 4.70, respectively) and hyperlipidemia (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.16 to 3.24 and OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.28 to 3.55, respectively). Lastly, high EE and low and high CR were associated with increased odds of having a greater number of metabolic CVD risk factors (incidence-rate ratio [IRR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.58; IRR 1.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.58; and IRR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.71, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Dysfunctional eating patterns were positively associated with metabolic CVD risk factors in this Latino sample, with dose-response relationships for some associations. Future studies are needed to determine whether dysfunctional eating patterns influence CVD risk factors among Latinos.

A 4-year randomized trial comparing three outreach interventions to promote screening mammograms

As population health has become a focus of health care payers and providers, interest has grown in mail, phone, and other forms of outreach for improving population rates of cancer screening. Translational research is needed to compare the effectiveness and cost of low- and high-intensity behavioral outreach interventions for promoting cancer screening. The purpose of the article is to compare the effectiveness in promoting biannual mammograms of three interventions delivered over 4 years to a primary care population with a high baseline mammography adherence of 83.3%. We randomized women aged 40-84 to reminder letter only (LO arm), letter + reminder call (RC arm), and two letters + counseling call (CC arm) involving tailored education and motivational interviewing. Mammography adherence (≥1 mammogram in the previous 24 months) at four time points was determined from insurance claims records. Over 4 years, 30,162 women were randomized. At the end of 4 years, adherence was highest in the RC arm (83.0%) compared with CC (80.8%) and LO (80.8%) arms (p = .03). Only 23.5% of women in the CC arm were reached and accepted full counseling. The incremental cost per additional mammogram for RC arm women was

Racial/ethnic representation in lifestyle weight loss intervention studies in the United States: A systematic review

30.45 over the LO arm cost. A simple reminder call can increase screening mammogram adherence even when baseline adherence is high. Some more complex behavioral interventions delivered by mail and phone as in this study may be less effective, due to limited participation of patients, a focus on ambivalence, lack of follow-up, and other factors.

Development and validation of a Weight Literacy Scale in English and Spanish

Obesity remains a persistent public health and health disparity concern in the United States. Eliminating health disparities, particularly among racial/ethnic minority groups, is a major health priority in the US. The primary aim of this review was to evaluate representation of racial/ethnic sub-group members in behavioral weight loss interventions conducted among adults in the United States. The secondary aims were to assess recruitment and study design approaches to include racial/ethnic groups and the extent of racial/ethnic sub-group analyses conducted in these studies. PubMed, PsycInfo, Medline, and CINAHL were searched for behavioral weight loss intervention trials conducted in 2009–2015 using keywords: weight, loss, overweight, obese, intervention and trial. Most of the 94 studies included a majority of White participants compared to any other racial/ethnic group. Across the included studies, 58.9% of participants were White, 18.2% were African American, 8.7% were Hispanic/Latino, 5.0% were Asian and 1.0% were Native Americans. An additional 8.2% were categorized as “Other”. Nine of the 94 studies exclusively included minority samples. Lack of adequate representation of racial and ethnic minority populations in behavioral trials limits the generalizability and potential public health impact of these interventions to groups that might most benefit from weight loss. Given racial/ethnic disparities in obesity rates and the burden of obesity and obesity-related diseases among minority groups in the United States, greater inclusion in weight loss intervention studies is warranted.

It Weigh(t)s on You: Everyday Discrimination and Adiposity Among Latinos

Objectives To develop and validate a Weight Literacy Scale in English and Spanish for adults. Methods The two-phase study utilized quantitative and qualitative methods. Phase 1 of the study consisted of developing an initial survey (English and Spanish versions) assessing weight literacy based on a review of the literature; conducting semi-structured interviews with content experts (N = 9) to refine survey items; and conducting in-person cognitive interviews with 20 study participants (N = 10 English-speaking and N = 10 Spanish-speaking adults) for survey pre-testing. Survey items were modified based on Phase 1 findings. Phase 2 consisted of a psychometric study of the Weight Literacy Scale developed in Phase 1. Procedures included administering the Weight Literacy Scale to 200 study participants (N = 100 English-speaking and N = 100 Spanish-speaking adults), a quantitative survey assessing dietary and physical activity behaviors and sociodemographics, measuring participants’ height and weight, and assessing the scale’s validity and internal reliability. A subset of Phase 2 participants (N = 71) completed the weight literacy scale at two-weeks follow-up to assess test-retest reliability. Participant recruitment and study procedures took place in community settings in central Massachusetts for both study phases. Weight literacy scale scores were calculated as the sum of total correct items. Three rounds of factor analysis were performed to identify items for elimination. The Kuder Richardson’s Coefficient of reliability was calculated. Correlations between the Weight Literacy Scale scores and related measures (body mass index and weight status, dietary behaviors, physical activity behaviors, and confidence in filling out medical forms) were examined. Results The final scale included 31 items and demonstrated strong internal consistency (Kuder Richardson Coefficient = 0.90), reasonable construct validity, and acceptable test-retest reliability (ρ = 0.72). Conclusion The Weight Literacy Scale is a reliable and valid research instrument to assess weight literacy among English- and Spanish-speaking adults.