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Background: Although the prevalence of obesity is increasing during adulthood, there have been few assessments of obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, and levels of physical activity among adult elementary school staff. Methods: Data were collected from 745 African-American and White female school personnel in a suburban school district in southeastern Louisiana as part of the baseline assessment before implementation of a program to improve eating and physical activity behaviors. Anthropometry, blood pressure, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and glucose were measured using established protocols. Physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. Results: For both White and Black females, 30% were overweight (body mass index [BMI]) greater than or equal to 25 kg/m[superscript 2] but less than 30 kg/m[superscript 2]). Whereas 37% of White females were obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m[superscript 2]), 61% of the Black females were obese. There was a positive association between BMI and other cardiovascular risk factors except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, where the association was negative. The mean number of minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was less than 1 minute per day and was lower for overweight and obese women than for normal weight women. Conclusions: School personnel in the study have adverse cardiovascular risk factors, including high rates of obesity and very low levels of physical activity. Because these individuals are often called upon to promote health for children, they are an important target population for wellness interventions. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)

This study describes the relationships between sedentary activity and body composition in 1,458 sixth-grade girls from 36 middle schools across the United States. Multivariate associations between sedentary activity and body composition were examined with regression analyses using general linear mixed models. Mean age, body mass index, and percentage of body fat were 12.0 [plus or minus] 0.51, 21.1 kg/m[superscript 2] plus or minus 4.8, 28.5 [plus or minus] 8.9, respectively. Girls averaged 7.7 plus or minus 1.2 sedentary hours per day and about 13 hr (approximately 97% of the day) of both sedentary and light activities. Overweight girls were significantly more (13 min; p less than 0.003) sedentary, especially after school (greater than 2 p.m.; p less than 0.01), and less physically active (p less than 0.0001) than normal weight girls. The study documents small but significant associations between sedentary activity and adiposity. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

This article explores cross-sectional associations between depressive symptoms and body mass index (BMI) in women working in schools in the Greater New Orleans area. Self-efficacy for eating and exercise, eating styles, and exercise are examined as potential pathways. This is a secondary data analysis of 743 women who were participating in a workplace wellness randomized controlled trial to address environmental factors influencing eating and exercise behaviors using baseline data prior to the intervention. BMI was the primary outcome examined. Path analysis suggested that increased depressive symptoms were associated with increased BMI in women. Indirect effects of depressive symptoms on BMI were found for increased healthy eating self-efficacy, increased emotional eating, and decreased exercise self-efficacy. The association between greater healthy eating self efficacy and BMI was unexpected, and may indicate a suppressor effect of eating self-efficacy in the relationship between depressive symptoms and BMI in women. The findings suggest the importance of depressive symptoms to BMI in women. Targets for interventions to reduce BMI include targeting depressive symptoms and related sequelae including self-efficacy for exercise, and emotional eating. Further investigation of eating self-efficacy and BMI are recommended with particular attention to both efficacy for health eating and avoidance of unhealthy foods. Keywords Depressive symptoms * BMI * Self-efficacy * Emotional eating, The health and economic burden associated with both depression and obesity is an important public health issue (Simon et al., 2011). The National Comorbidity Survey suggests that lifetime episodes of [...]

Objectives. We evaluated the effect of providing a safe play space on the physical activity level of inner-city schoolchildren. Methods. In 1 of 2 matched neighborhoods, we opened a schoolyard and provided attendants to ensure children's safety. Over the next 2 years we directly observed the number of children and their physical activity levels in the schoolyard, as well as in the surrounding intervention and comparison neighborhoods. We also surveyed children in the schools in the intervention and comparison neighborhoods regarding sedentary activities. Results. After the schoolyard was opened, a mean of 71.4 children used it on weekdays and 25.8 used it on weekends during the school year. When observed, 66% of these children were physically active. The number of children who were outdoors and physically active was 84% higher in the intervention neighborhood than the comparison neighborhood. Survey results showed that children in the intervention school reported declines relative to the children in the comparison school in watching television, watching movies and DVDs, and playing video games on weekdays. Conclusion. When children were provided with a safe play space, we observed a relative increase in their physical activity. Provision of safe play spaces holds promise as a simple replicable intervention. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97: 1625-1631. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.092692)

Objective To explore the relationship of multiple-vitamin supplement use with selected food groups, physical activity, lifestyle behaviors, and weight status. Subjects and methods Two thousand seven hundred sixty-one adolescents in the 12th grade who participated in the fourth Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health study had height and weight measured and completed health behavior survey and food frequency questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to determine the likelihood of supplement use with health and activity behaviors and dietary intake. Results Prevalence of multiple-vitamin supplement use among adolescents was 25% and varied by sex and race/ethnicity. Supplement users had higher mean daily intakes of most food groups, but lower intakes of total fat and saturated fat than nonusers. Higher food index scores were positively associated with the likelihood of using multiple-vitamin supplements. Supplement users were more likely to be physically active, participate in team and organized sports, and less likely to be overweight and to watch more than an hour of television per day. Conclusions Adolescents who use multiple vitamin supplements have more healthful dietary and lifestyle behaviors than nonusers. Further study on supplement use by adolescents, including other types of supplements used and reasons for use, is warranted.

The purpose of this article is to determine the effect of medication reviews on patient understanding of and compliance to medications for participants in the Cenla Medication Access Program (CMAP). [...]

Objectives. This study examined cigarette smoking attitudes, peer and parental influence, and first use among children in southeastern Louisiana. Methods. Data from 933 children in grades 3 through 6 in the Bogalusa Heart Study (1993 through 1994) were analyzed. Results. Fifteen percent of the children had tried smoking. Of these, 40% first smoked with a family member, and 46% obtained their first cigarette from a family member or from home. Correlates of ever having smoked were race, sex, having a best friend or family member who smoked, and attitudes that smoking is disgusting and that nonsmokers get better grades. Conclusions. Prevention programs should begin early and focus on family and peer influences as well as attitudes. (Am J Public Health. 1997;87:1345-1348)