Lara Latimer

Associations between energy drink consumption and alcohol use behaviors among college students

BACKGROUND To explore associations between energy drink consumption and alcohol use among college students. METHODS Participants included 585 students (m age=18.7; 47.0% White, 21% Hispanic, 25% Asian, 7% other race/ethnicity; 56.0% female). Energy drink behaviors included past month and past week consumption. Alcohol use behaviors included past month and past two week consumption, as well as heavy drinking and quantity of alcohol consumed. Consumption of energy drinks mixed with alcohol was also measured. Linear and logistic regression analyses between energy drink consumption and alcohol use were run controlling for gender, age, and race/ethnicity. RESULTS For each one unit increase in past month (i.e., additional day used) energy drink use, the likelihood of past month alcohol use increased by 80%, heavy drinking by 80% and past month energy drinks mixed with alcohol use by 90%. Similar results were found for past week energy drink use. A positive relationship between energy drink use and quantity of alcohol consumed during a single episode of drinking was also found (p<0.001). Significant gender interactions between energy drink consumption and alcohol use as well as quantity of alcohol consumed were found, with relationships stronger among males than females. There were no significant interactions by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS Energy drinks are readily available to students and pose potential health risks. Students who report greater energy drink consumption also consume more alcohol, are more likely to mix energy drinks and alcohol, and experience heavy episodes of drinking, which is problematic given the potential negative consequences of these drinks.

Prevalence and harm perceptions of various tobacco products among college students

INTRODUCTION Although use of non-cigarette alternative tobacco products (ATPs) is increasingly prevalent in the United States, little is known about the varying patterns of tobacco use among college students. This study examined prevalence of ATP use and differences across 4 groups of students (nontobacco, cigarette-only, polytobacco, and ATP-only users) on perceptions of danger and beliefs about government safety evaluation of tobacco products. METHODS An online survey was administered to 5,028 students attending 7 public universities within a larger university system (M age = 20.5 years, 59.6% female, 54.6% Hispanic/Latino). Multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate differences between the 4 groups on perceived danger of tobacco products and beliefs regarding government safety evaluation of these products. RESULTS Prevalence of ATP use among the sample ranged from 0.4% for dissolvable tobacco to 10.8% for hookah. Group membership was significantly associated with perceived danger of each tobacco product, whereby cigarette-only and ATP-only users reported significantly higher levels of perceived danger for most ATPs than did polytobacco users. Furthermore, cigarette-only, polytobacco, and ATP-only users were significantly more likely than nonusers to believe that the government evaluates some tobacco products for safety. CONCLUSIONS ATP use among young adult college students is prevalent. Furthermore, students who use ATPs in conjunction with cigarettes (i.e., polytobacco users) appear to be at highest risk for the continuation and subsequent dependence on nicotine, given their danger perceptions and beliefs of government evaluation. Future research examining trajectories of use, particularly among polytobacco users, is needed.

Ethnic-Specific Weight-Loss Interventions for Low-Income Postpartum Women Findings and Lessons

Promoting weight loss among overweight low-income postpartum women has proven difficult. The study’s aims were to pilot-test ethnic-specific weight-loss interventions using randomized control-group designs for White/Anglo (n = 23), African American (n = 25), and Hispanic low-income postpartum women (n = 23) and draw lessons from psychosocial data and follow-up interviews. Interventions lasting 13 weeks were offered in group settings in the community. Similar to other randomized trials with low-income mothers, weight changes between intervention and control groups were nonsignificant in each ethnic group; however, changes correlated significantly with self-efficacy (Spearman r = .50) for White/Anglo women and self-efficacy (Spearman r = −.48) and perceived stress (Spearman r = .48) for African American women. In follow-up interviews, women felt interventions gave a good foundation for weight loss, but program and situational factors affected participation and weight loss. Control groups (mailed interventions later) were generally more pleased with their assignment than intervention groups.

Altered perceptions of personal control about retained weight and depressive symptoms in low-income postpartum women.

Postpartum weight retention and depressive symptoms have a high prevalence among low income women. This qualitative study describes low-income womens experiences of weight changes and depressive symptoms during the late postpartum period. Women (n = 25) who were either overweight or had depressive symptoms, or both, at 12 months postpartum participated in an ethnically-congruent focus group. Womens experiences indicated altered personal control related to retained postpartum weight and depressive feelings. Retained weight negatively affected self-esteem and family functioning. Depression left women feeling isolated yet reluctant to seek help. These findings could provide the basis for health promotion interventions relevant to this population.

Self-Efficacy Scale for Weight Loss among Multi-Ethnic Women of Lower Income: A Psychometric Evaluation.

OBJECTIVE This study examined test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and construct and predictive validity of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Self-Efficacy (PANSE) scale, an 11-item instrument to assess weight-loss self-efficacy among postpartum women of lower income. METHODS Seventy-one women completed the PANSE scale and psychosocial measures at baseline and at 7 and 13 weeks of a pilot study of weight loss. RESULTS Test-retest reliability of PANSE scores was r = 0.55 (P < .01). Cronbach α was r = 0.89. Construct validity was supported by correlations with less-healthful behaviors (r = -0.33, P = .005), perceived stress (r = -0.24, P = .04), and decisional balance (r = 0.25, P = .03). PANSE change scores correlated with intervention group weight changes (r = -0.54, P < .01), although baseline scores did not. One factor emerged (loadings .80 to .57). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The PANSE scale demonstrated adequate reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and moderate predictive validity. Replication is needed to confirm study findings.

Developing Health Promotion Interventions: A Multisource Method Applied to Weight Loss Among Low-Income Postpartum Women

Developing focused and relevant health promotion interventions is critical for behavioral change in a low-resource or special population. Evidence-based interventions, however, may not match the specific population or health concern of interest. This article describes the Multisource Method (MSM), which, in combination with a workshop format, may be used by health professionals and researchers in health promotion program development. The MSM draws on positive deviance practices and processes, focus groups, community advisors, behavioral change theory, and evidence-based strategies. Use of the MSM is illustrated in the development of ethnic-specific weight loss interventions for low-income postpartum women. The MSM may be useful in designing future health programs designed for other special populations for whom existing interventions are unavailable or lack relevance.

Ethnic-Specific Perceptions of Altered Control Among American Women: Implications for Health Promotion Programs After Pregnancy

This study describes some ethnically diverse psychosocial and behavioral contexts that influence low-income postpartum womens ability to focus on their health. Content analysis was conducted on data from ethnically concordant focus groups of low-income American Anglo, African American, and Hispanic women 12 to 24 months postpartum. All women described altered sense of “perceived control” as the context contributing to their postpartum health status, but sources and management of this perception varied by ethnicity. Effective health promotion interventions may include self-image building activities, stress management strategies and interventions that include family members but should address unique ethnic-specific contexts of low-income mothers.

Food Neophiles: Profiling the Adventurous Eater

The study objective was to identify how food neophilia—having an adventurous eating style for new/different foods—may relate to body mass index (BMI).

The Role of Schools in Food and Beverage Marketing: Significance, Challenges, Next Steps

The potential detrimental effects of food and beverage advertising through television and print have been documented (e.g., Institute of Medicine [IOM], 2006; Holt, Ippolito, Desrochers, & Kelley, 2007; see also Chap. 8), however less research has examined this type of advertising in schools. It is necessary to further the literature in this area, because children spend a great deal of time in schools (Frumkin, 2006) and begin to form life-long habits during these age periods (Birch, 1999). In order to further our understanding of the influence of in-school food and beverage marketing and promotion, the current chapter aims to do the following (1) present a brief review of the current literature on in-school food and beverage promotion; (2) describe the development of a tool to assess in-school food and beverage promotion (as defined as advertising and product promotion); (3) present data from a pilot study that used the new in-school observation tool; and (4) highlight challenges and future goals in this area of research.Printed eBook exclusively available to patrons whose library offers Springer’s eBook Collection.*** ▶ € |

Elementary school lunch categorisation and correlations with dietitian recommendations

24.95 ▶ springer.com/mycopy J.D. Williams, Rutgers Business School, Newark and New Brunswick, Newark, NJ, USA; K.E. Pasch, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; C.A. Collins, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA (Eds.) Advances in Communication Research to Reduce Childhood ObesityChildhood obesity is a major public health problem in the USA, with youth at all stages of development at increasing risk (Health, 2008). Between 1976 and 2004, increases in overweight prevalence ranged from 5.0 % to 12.4 % for 2-to-5-year olds, 6.5 % to 17 % for 6-to-11-year olds, and 5.0 % to 17.6 % for 12- to– 19-year olds (Ogden, Carroll, &, Flegal, 2008; Ogden et al., 2006; Ogden & Carroll, 2010). These statistics are particularly alarming as overweight youth disproportionately suffer from chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, thus resulting in reduced quality of life at an early age (Anderson & Butcher, 2006). Overweight children are also at high risk for becoming overweight adults with the attendant comorbid conditions, including osteoarthritis and certain forms of cancer (Freedman, Dietz, Srinivasan, & Berenson, 1999; Dietz, 1998; Khaodhiar, McCowen, & Blackburn, 1999). As a consequence, a sense of urgency exists to disentangle the complex, multifactorial interactions between individual and environmental factors that lead to child weight imbalance and obesity (Johnson-Taylor & Everhart, 2006; Papas et al., 2007; Sallis & Glanz, 2006; Wang & Beydoun, 2007).