Comparative analysis of body mass index, consumption of fruits and vegetables, smoking, and physical activity among Florida residents

Sociodemographic Determinants of Acute Myocardial Infarction Hospitalization Risks in Florida

Background Identifying social determinants of myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalizations is crucial for reducing/eliminating health disparities. Therefore, our objectives were to identify sociodemographic determinants of MI hospitalization risks and to assess if the impacts of these determinants vary by geographic location in Florida. Methods and Results This is a retrospective ecologic study at the county level. We obtained data for principal and secondary MI hospitalizations for Florida residents for the 2005-2014 period and calculated age- and sex-adjusted MI hospitalization risks. We used a multivariable negative binomial model to identify sociodemographic determinants of MI hospitalization risks and a geographically weighted negative binomial model to assess if the strength of associations vary by location. There were 645 935 MI hospitalizations (median age, 72 years; 58.1%, men; 73.9%, white). Age- and sex-adjusted risks ranged from 18.49 to 69.48 cases/10 000 persons, and they were significantly higher in counties with low education levels (risk ratio [RR]=1.033, P<0.0001) and high divorce rate (RR, 0.995; P=0.018). However, they were significantly lower in counties with high proportions of rural (RR, 0.996; P<0.0001), black (RR, 1.026; P=0.032), and uninsured populations (RR, 0.983; P=0.040). Associations of MI hospitalization risks with education level and uninsured rate varied geographically (P for non-stationarity test=0.001 and 0.043, respectively), with strongest associations in southern Florida (RR for <high school education, 1.036-1.041; RR for uninsured rate, 0.971-0.976). Conclusions Black race, divorce, rural residence, low education level, and lack of health insurance were significant determinants of MI hospitalization risks, but associations with the latter 2 were stronger in southern Florida. Thus, interventions for addressing MI hospitalization risks need to prioritize these populations and allocate resources based on empirical evidence from global and local models for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

The effect of education plus access on perceived fruit and vegetable consumption in a rural African American community intervention

African Americans have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease partly due to low fruit and vegetable consumption. This article reports the results of an intervention to provide nutrition education and access to fruits and vegetables through community gardens to change dietary behaviors among African Americans in rural Missouri. Cross-sectional surveys evaluated the intervention effect on blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and perceived fruit and vegetable consumption in this quasi-experimental study with a comparison group. Hypertension (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.38-0.71) and BMI (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.52-1.02) were lower in the intervention county at mid-intervention. Participation in nutrition education (OR = 2.67, 95% CI: 1.63-4.40) and access to fruits and vegetables from a community garden (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.20-3.15) were independently associated with perceived fruit and vegetable consumption. The strongest effect on perceived fruit and vegetable consumption occurred with high participation in nutrition education and access to community gardens (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.24-3.81). Those with access but without education had a reduced likelihood of consuming recommended servings of fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.95). Education plus access interventions may be best at increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in a rural African American population.

Correlations of Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, Shift Duty, and Selected Eating Habits among Nurses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Nurses are the largest group of direct health providers and can serve as role models for their patients. In this cross sectional study we assessed the relationship among physical activity and barriers, shift duty, elevated BMI, and selected eating habits among 362 non-Saudi female nurses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Results showed that 46.7% were either overweight or obese. Marital status, shift duty, education level, and BMI were significant predictors of physical activity. Weather was the most frequently reported barrier to physical activity (88.3%), followed by a lack of transportation (82.6%), and a lack of time (81.3%). Nurses who worked shift duty had significantly (p = 0.004) higher BMIs compared with day shift nurses. Nurses who rarely ate breakfast (p = 0.004) and meals (p = 0.001) and often eat fast food (p = 0.001) were more likely to be overweight or obese. Nurses should be encouraged for a better healthy lifestyles.

A comparison of fruit and vegetable intake estimates from three survey question sets to estimates from 24-hour dietary recall interviews

BACKGROUND

Fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake surveillance can provide information critical to the design and evaluation of interventions and the assessment of progress toward national intake objectives. The CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) assesses F/V intake among high school students using six questions about the frequency of intake in times per day. It is not known whether F/V intake frequency in times per day can be used as a proxy for intake in servings per day.

OBJECTIVE

To compare F/V intake estimates based on responses to three sets of survey questions, including the standard set of six YRBSS questions, with criterion F/V intake in servings per day based on data from 24-hour dietary recall interviews.

PARTICIPANTS/SETTING

Study participants were 610 high school students who completed an in-class questionnaire and three telephone-administered 24-hour dietary recall interviews. The questionnaire asked students how many times they consumed 100% fruit juice and ate fruit, carrots, potatoes, green salad, and other vegetables during the "past 7 days" (set 1), the number of times they did so "yesterday" (set 2), and the number of cup-equivalents of fruits and vegetables they consumed per day (set 3).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Mean estimated F/V intake either as "times/day" or "servings/day" and the percentage of students whose estimated F/V intake was ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 times/day or servings/day.

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED

t tests and corrected Pearson correlations were used to compare F/V intake estimates based on survey question responses with estimates based on responses to the 24-hour dietary recall interviews.

RESULTS

Mean F/V intake estimates (in times/day or servings/day) based on responses to all sets of survey questions were significantly more than servings/day estimates based on responses to the 24-hour dietary recall interviews, and the percentages of students meeting each intake cutpoint were also more. Of the three sets of survey questions, the standard YRBSS questions produced estimates and percentages that were most consistently closest to 24-hour dietary recall interview estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

For brief self-administered questionnaires of high school students, the current YRBSS questions are recommended for monitoring F/V intake even though mean intake estimates in times/day will likely be higher than, and are not a proxy for, mean intake estimates in servings/day.

Frequency of yoga practice predicts health: results of a national survey of yoga practitioners

Background. Yoga shows promise as a therapeutic intervention, but relationships between yoga practice and health are underexplored. Purpose. To examine the relationship between yoga practice and health (subjective well-being, diet, BMI, smoking, alcohol/caffeine consumption, sleep, fatigue, social support, mindfulness, and physical activity). Methods. Cross-sectional, anonymous internet surveys distributed to 4307 randomly selected from 18,160 individuals at 15 US Iyengar yoga studios; 1045 (24.3%) surveys completed. Results. Mean age 51.7 (± 11.7) years; 84.2% female. Frequency of home practice favorably predicted (P < .001): mindfulness, subjective well-being, BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, vegetarian status, sleep, and fatigue. Each component of yoga practice (different categories of physical poses, breath work, meditation, philosophy study) predicted at least 1 health outcome (P < .05). Conclusions. Home practice of yoga predicted health better than years of practice or class frequency. Different physical poses and yoga techniques may have unique health benefits.

Lower leptin levels in young non-obese male smokers than non-smokers

Since the effect of smoking on plasma leptin has been divergent in clinical trials, which might have occurred due to selection of heterogeneous study populations, we investigated whether there is such an association in a group of healthy, non-obese, young male adults. A total of 54 smokers (mean age: 21.18+/-1.62; body mass index (BMI): 19.60+/-0.85) and 26 non-smokers (mean age 21.69+/-3.0; BMI: 21.59+/-1.39) with similar daily physical activities and diet and without any documented disease were enrolled, and their plasma leptin levels were determined for the comparison between the two groups. The mean BMI and plasma leptin of smokers were significantly lower than in non-smokers. Plasma leptin in the smokers group correlated inversely with BMI and the amount of daily smoking. Below BMI 20 kg/m(2) and between 20.0 and 20.9 kg/m(2) the plasma leptin levels in smokers were significantly lower when compared to non-smokers. Plasma leptin is decreased in healthy, young non-obese male smokers independently of the amount of body fat. High amount of smoking is associated with lower serum leptin as well.