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Biomedical subjects

C K Haddock

Publications and source records attributed to C K Haddock.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Predictors of milk consumption in a population of 17- to 35-year-old military personnel.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this investigation was to survey an entire population of Air Force recruits (N = 32,144) regarding milk consumption and demographic and health-related factors that may predict milk consumption. DESIGN: All subjects were required to fill out a 53-item health survey at the start of basic military training. SUBJECTS/SETTING: All recruits who entered the US Air Force from August 1995 to August 1996 participated in this study (N = 32,144). STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Potential correlates of milk intake were analyzed using Spearman rank order correlations and multiple linear regression. Variables were removed if they did not make a meaningful contribution to variance in milk intake. Because of skewed distributions, several variables were dichotomized (e.g., age: 17 to 24 vs 25 to 35 years). RESULTS: In terms of milk consumption, 51.7% of the respondents reported intake of fewer than 1 serving per day; only 17.9% reported intake of 3 servings or more per day. Milk intake was positively associated with body weight and fruit/vegetable intake and negatively associated with age, education level, reported milk-related gastric distress, physical activity level, dieting frequency, and concern about weight. Gender (women reported lower intake) and ethnicity (minorities reported lower intake) were independently related to milk consumption. Of all respondents, 16.1% reported themselves to have milk-related gastric distress, but rates varied depending on age, gender, and ethnicity (ranging from 10.2% for younger non-Hispanic white men to 60.4% for older Asian men). APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Despite the efforts of large, costly campaigns designed to increase milk consumption, self-reported milk consumption in young adults is extremely low. Given the importance of dairy products as a major source of calcium in the American diet, dietetics practitioners should assess milk consumption among young adults to ensure sufficient calcium intake to maximize peak bone mass in this group.

Adolescent↗

Efficacy of forced smoking cessation and an adjunctive behavioral treatment on long-term smoking rates.

This study evaluated the efficacy of a 6-week forced ban on smoking and brief behavioral counseling on long-term smoking rates. Participants were active-duty enrollees in U.S. Air Force basic military training over a 1-year period (N = 25,996). All participants were under a 6-week ban from tobacco products, and 75% were randomized to a brief smoking cessation intervention, with the other 25% randomized to a control condition. At 1-year follow-up, 18% of smokers were abstinent; women, ethnic minorities, and those intending to stay quit at baseline were more likely to be abstinent. Among smokers not planning to remain abstinent at baseline, those receiving the intervention were 1.73 times more likely to be abstinent. Over time, substantial smoking initiation occurred among nonsmokers (8% of never smokers, 26% of experimental smokers, and 43% of ex-smokers). Forced cessation is associated with good levels of long-term cessation, and brief behavioral interventions enhance cessation in certain subgroups.

Adult↗

A study of the psychometric and predictive properties of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence in a population of young smokers.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in a population (N = 7998) of young smokers entering US Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT). An exploratory factor analysis suggested that the FTND is comprised of two factors. The first factor, labeled Smoking Pattern, included items assessing the number of cigarettes smoked per day, time to first cigarette, difficulty refraining from smoking, and smoking when ill. The second factor, labeled Morning Smoking, consisted of two items measuring whether one smokes more in the morning and whether one would rather give up the first cigarette of the day or all others. The Smoking Pattern factor proved to have adequate internal consistency, impressive criterion-related validity, and was strongly related to smoking cessation 1 year following BMT. In contrast, the Morning Smoking factor demonstrated questionable psychometric properties and was not supported by a confirmatory factor analysis.

Adolescent↗

A population comparison of participants and nonparticipants in a health survey.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the characteristics of Air Force recruits willing to take part in a health survey vs those unwilling to participate. METHODS: US Air Force recruits undergoing basic military training (n = 32,144) were surveyed regarding demographic and health variables. RESULTS: Respondents indicating an unwillingness to participate in a health survey reported less healthy lifestyles than those willing to participate. Prediction equations modeling the characteristics of those engaging in 4 risky behaviors were nearly identical regardless of whether those refusing to participate were included. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that, despite some low estimates of health behaviors due to response bias, relationships between most risk factors are generally unaffected by those not responding to health surveys.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence and predictors of discharge in United States Air Force Basic Military Training.

The purpose of the current investigation was to determine the prospective predictors of discharge in a population of individuals entering U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT). Subjects were 32,144 consecutive individuals entering Air Force BMT. In the first week, subjects filled out a comprehensive lifestyle and behavioral assessment. Over time, a total of 1,999 subjects (6.2%) dropped out of BMT for a variety of reasons, the most common being medical (33.6%), psychiatric (21.3%), legal (20%), and poor performance (13.1%). Overall, discharges by gender were equal, but the reasons for discharge varied by gender. Ethnicity predicted for medical, psychiatric, and legal discharge. Results suggest that women and ethnic minorities are not biased in favor of discharge and that both lifestyle and psychosocial variables are consistent predictors of discharge. Future research could potentially yield other significant predictors of success versus discharge in the U.S. military.

Adolescent↗

An examination of body weight standards and the association between weight and health behaviors in the United States Air Force.

This study examined the weight standards used by the U.S. Air Force and tested whether Air Force personnel who exceed the maximum allowable weight standard are more likely to engage in health risk behaviors compared with individuals who do not exceed current Air Force weight standards. Participants were 32,144 individuals who completed basic military training from August 1995 to August 1996. Compared with body mass levels known to predict increased health risks, the Air Force maximum allowable weight standards were found to be more stringent for women than for men. Furthermore, exceeding the maximum allowable weight standard of the weight management programs did not consistently indicate that an individual engaged in a less healthy lifestyle than other airmen. Perhaps other risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, may be more closely linked to negative health consequences than body weight.

Adolescent↗

D4 dopamine receptor gene exon III polymorphism and obesity risk.

Many genes have been identified that may play a role in increasing individual susceptibility to obesity. Reduced dopamine function appears to play a role in dysfunctional eating patterns and may predispose some individuals to obesity. The long version of the D4 dopamine receptor gene (D4DR) has been shown to alter receptor function and reduce intracellular response to dopamine. It also has been associated with novelty-seeking-related personality traits that are found with greater frequency in obese individuals. We examined the association between the long alleles of the D4DR and obesity in a sample of 115 obese patients participating in a weight management program. No direct relationship was found between the D4DR and body mass or novelty-seeking-related personality traits. We constructed four models of increased obesity risk that included combinations of traditional risk factors (i.e., long-term history of obesity, parental obesity, a body mass index > 40) and elevations on the novelty-seeking-related scales of the Karolinska Scales of Personality. There was a significant increase in the frequency of the D4DR long alleles in individuals defined as high risk using the combination of novelty-seeking-related personality traits, severe obesity (i.e., BMI > 40), and any other traditional risk factor, but not with the traditional risk factors alone. These preliminary data suggest a potential role for the D4DR gene in increasing obesity susceptibility.

Adult↗

The relationship between smoking and body weight in a population of young military personnel.

Evidence indicates that middle-aged smokers weigh less than nonsmokers and that smoking cessation reliably produces weight gain, but recent studies have questioned the weight control "benefits" of smoking in younger populations (the time that people typically initiate smoking). The relationship between smoking and body weight was evaluated in all U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training recruits during a 1-year period (n = 32,144). Those who smoked prior to Basic Military Training (n = 10,440) were compared to never smokers or experimental smokers. Results indicated that regular-current smoking had no relationship to body weight in women (p > .05) and a very small effect in men (p < .05). Ethnicity, education, income, and duration and intensity of smoking did not affect the relationship between smoking and body weight. It was concluded that smoking has no effects on the body weights of young women and minimal effects in young men.

Adolescent↗

Challenges in obesity management.

CONTEXT: Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. During the past decade, the overall prevalence of obesity in the United States increased over 30%, with more than one third of the adult population meeting the definition of being overweight. OBJECTIVE: We review current and emerging therapies, present outcome data from a large clinical practice, and discuss challenges for physicians and researchers involved in obesity treatment. SUMMARY: Because obesity is a risk factor for numerous medical disorders and excess mortality, it is imperative that effective treatments be developed. While the current conservative therapies produce short-term weight losses, they are ineffective in the long term. Some obesity treatments are controversial, most notably the increasing use of anorexiant medications. For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently requested the withdrawal of two widely used medications because of concerns about side effects. Currently, therapies that combine psychosocial interventions, drugs, and extended maintenance appear to have the most promising long-term benefits. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment, including extended pharmacotherapy, may be necessary for many obese patients. Broader definitions of treatment outcome and success, including improvements in comorbid conditions, physical activity, and quality of life are needed.

1-Naphthylamine↗

Smoking prevalence and risk factors for smoking in a population of United States Air Force basic trainees.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive assessment of smoking prevalence and risks for smoking in an entire population of United States Air Force (USAF) military basic trainees (n = 32,144). DESIGN: Population-based survey with every individual entering the USAF enlisted force from August 1995 to August 1996. SETTING: USAF Basic Military Training (BMT) facility at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. All trainees were assessed during the first week of BMT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 53-item questionnaire was developed to assess four domains: demographics, smoking history, risk factors for smoking, and other health behaviours. RESULTS: Approximately 32% of the trainees smoked regularly before basic training and a small percentage of the trainees (7.6%) described themselves as ex-smokers. Men, Euro-Americans, and those from lower educational backgrounds were more likely to smoke than other trainees. On average, smokers had smoked for approximately four years and had low nicotine dependence scores. Individuals who had smoked before BMT were more likely to use other drugs (such as alcohol, binge drinking, smokeless tobacco), and were less physically active than never-smokers. These findings were particularly strong for those who smoked up to basic training but were also evident for ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is a prevalent risk factor among individuals entering the USAF. Furthermore, smoking was related to other risk factors believed to lower military readiness, including alcohol use and decreased physical activity. Comprehensive tobacco control policies aimed at reducing smoking among military trainees are needed.

Adult↗

Evaluation of the factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the General Well-Being Schedule (GWB) with Mexican American women.

The General Well-Being Schedule (GWB) is a brief, reliable, and valid measure of subjective well-being that is widely used in research as an indicator of psychological health and dysfunction. The GWB is hypothesized to have six subscales or dimensions (anxiety, depression, positive well-being, self-control, vitality, and general health), but previous research has not yielded a consistent factor structure. Little attention has been paid to the reliability and validity of the GWB with Mexican-Americans, the fastest growing minority group in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the GWB schedule with Mexican-American women involved in a community-based weight-loss study. Factor analysis indicated a four-factor solution. The GWB and the resulting factors demonstrated acceptable reliability and discriminability.

Adolescent↗

Preliminary development of the Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale.

The development of a healthy eating style and physical fitness regimen in adolescence or adulthood might be contingent on physical self-concept in childhood. Most available measures of physical self-concept are inappropriate for use with 1st and 2nd grade children, so the present study developed, piloted, and partially validated the 27-item Children's Physical Self-Concept Scale (CPSS), which assesses Global physical self-concept and subscales of Physical Performance, Physical Appearance, and Weight Control behaviors in children 6 to 11 years of age. The test exhibits adequate test-retest reliability and internal consistency. A comparison of 316 normal and overweight children indicated that normal-weight children obtained higher Global physical self-concept scores and higher subscale scores. In addition, the CPSS distinguished test groups of diabetic, overweight, and normal-weight children in a contrasted-groups analysis.

Body Image↗

Co-occurrent use of cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine in a retired military population.

Previous studies have linked the use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol to health complications and have also found that the use of these substances significantly covary. Given the prevalence of health problems of older adults, it is surprising that no studies to date have examined the co-occurrent use of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine in a senior population. This investigation evaluated the co-occurrent use of cigarettes, caffeine, and alcohol in a community sample of older Americans. Respondents (1,095 women and 1,371 men) completed a questionnaire examining their use of caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. This study replicated earlier findings that tobacco, caffeine, and alcohol use co-occur and that there are consistent use patterns for these substances. The results suggest that health organizations could better target services by prescreening for smoking, alcohol, and caffeine use and possibly targeting smokers and ex-smokers for potentially problematic use patterns of caffeine and alcohol.

Aged↗

Perceived coping capacity: a comparison between obese patients and patients on long-term sick leave.

Overweight is a significant health problem and perceived by many as a disability. While obese persons in the general population are no more likely to suffer from mental disorders, many obese individuals experience significant difficulties coping with their weight and weight-loss failures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the similarities and differences in coping capacity among obese and disabled individuals. We compared a group of obese adults (76 consecutive obese patients, 82% female) with unemployed long-term sick leave disability patients (59 consecutive patients, 46% female) who had an average of 13 +/- 9 months on disability. We used the Perception of Cognitive Structure, Emotion and Control questionnaire (PASEC), which assesses an individual's coping capacity for general problems in life and to specific health problems. Both groups significantly differed from PASEC normative data, suggesting that they had more negative and harmful emotional perceptions of their lives than individuals in the normative sample. Compared to long-term sick leave patients' perceptions of disabilities, obese patients perceived their weight problems with more negative and harmful emotional investment, even after adjustment for gender differences in the groups. This suggests that obese patients may experience substantial difficulties in coping with their weight problems.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Home-based behavioral treatments for chronic benign headache: a meta-analysis of controlled trials.

Controlled clinical trials have consistently demonstrated that behavioral treatments for chronic benign headache produce clinically beneficial outcomes both post-treatment and at follow-up. Given these results there is interest in cost-reduction and redesign of these treatments to improve their accessibility. One promising approach in this regard is home-based headache treatment. These treatments seek to provide the same amount of treatment as clinic-based treatments; however, some of the material typically presented to the patient by a clinician is presented through home-study materials (e.g., manuals, audiotapes). To date, the published literature contains 20 controlled clinical trials which have examined the outcomes produced by home-based treatments. This article presents the first comprehensive meta-analysis of these clinical outcome studies. Results of the quantitative analyses suggest that home-based treatments produce comparable, or with certain outcome measures, superior results to clinic-based treatments. Moreover, costeffectiveness scores of home-based treatments were found to be more than five times larger than those of clinic-based therapies. Methodological analyses are also presented along with suggestions for future research.

Adolescent↗

Site specificity of pain and tension in tension-type headaches.

Previous studies have not found a significant correlation between location of pain and electromyogram levels in chronic headache patients. However, these studies only examined a limited number of muscle groups and did not assess subjective tension levels. The present study evaluated a group of tension-type (n = 43) and migraine and tension-type (n = 30) headache patients. Measures were obtained at five muscle sites (frontalis, temporalis, masseter, splenius capitis, and trapezius) for patient ratings of headache pain, patient ratings of muscle tension, and electromyogram recording cross-sectionally. Neither subjective pain nor tension ratings were found to be significantly related to electromyogram levels. The site-specificity relationship between chronic headache pain, subjective report of muscular tension, and electromyogram levels remains unclear.

Adolescent↗

Health behaviors of military retirees: incidence of smoking and alcohol use.

Previous investigations of the health behaviors of active duty military members and their dependent spouses generally have found a higher rate of smoking and greater alcohol use in this group compared to their civilian counterparts. However, it is not known whether military retirees and their dependents also report higher smoking and alcohol use compared to the general senior population. Therefore, this study examined cigarette and alcohol use in a group of military retirees (n = 1,359) and dependents (n = 983). Contrary to studies surveying active duty members and their spouses, the present study found that smoking rates and alcohol use among military retirees and dependents were similar to those reported in surveys of the general senior population. In addition, the fact that the majority of retirees (68%) classified themselves as ex-smokers suggests that these individuals may adopt more healthy lifestyles over time. Factors associated with smoking and alcohol use are also presented, along with suggestions for future research.

Age Factors↗

Relationship between psychosocial functioning and body fat in preschool children: a longitudinal investigation.

This study examined whether preschool children differed on measures of psychosocial functioning both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. One hundred and thirty-two children who varied in levels of body fat participated in the study along with their natural parents. Results indicated that the children did not differ in levels of self-esteem and family functioning as a function of their body fat. Prospectively, physical self-esteem weakly (but significantly) correlated with body fat at 1 and 2 years, and father's perception of family functioning predicted body fat at 1 year only. Results suggested that childhood obesity may not develop as a result of psychosocial factors.

Adipose Tissue↗