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eResearch Briefing 09/06/2011
Highlights in chronic disease prevention > Nutrition > Obesity > Physical activity > Public
health and the environment > Alcohol > Tobacco
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This week...
Highlights in chronic disease prevention

China: Measuring the burden of disease using disability-adjusted life years in
Shilin County of Yunnan Province, China

International: Global cancer incidence and mortality caused by behavior and
infection

UK: Association between area-level socioeconomic deprivation and a cluster of
behavioural risk factors: cross-sectional, population-based study

Netherlands: Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and years lived with
disability: a Sullivan life table approach.

USA: Socioeconomic and ethnic differences in disease burden and disparities in
physical function in older adults
Nutrition

Norway: Intakes and perceived home availability of sugar-sweetened beverages,
fruit and vegetables as reported by mothers, fathers and adolescents in the HEIA
(HEalth In Adolescents) study

UK: National Diet and Nutrition Survey: UK food consumption and nutrient intakes
from the first year of the rolling programme and comparisons with previous
surveys

UK: Does living in a food insecure household impact on the diets and body
composition of young children? Findings from the Southampton Women's Survey
Obesity

France: Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with overweight in a
representative sample of 11-15 year olds in France: Results from the WHOCollaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) cross-sectional
study

Promoting children's healthy eating in obesogenic environments: Lessons learned
from the rat.

UK: Assessing the obesogenic environment of North East England
Physical activity

UK: Family and home correlates of children's physical activity in a multi-ethnic
population: the cross-sectional child heart and health study in england (CHASE)

Canada/Australia: A cross-sectional study of the individual, social, and built
environmental correlates of pedometer-based physical activity among elementary
school children

UK: Are cars the new tobacco?
Public health and the environment

UK: The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence

Taiwan: Fast-food outlets and walkability in school neighbourhoods predict fatness
in boys and height in girls: a Taiwanese population study

USA/New Zealand/Switzerland: Estimating the Global Public Health Implications
of Electricity and Coal Consumption
Alcohol

Australia: Individual and household-level socioeconomic position is associated
with harmful alcohol consumption behaviours among adults

UK: The geography of binge drinking: The role of alcohol-related knowledge,
behaviours and attitudes. Results from the Health Survey for England 2007
Tobacco

UK: Estimating the cost of smoking to the NHS in England and the impact of
declining prevalence
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Highlights in chronic disease prevention
China: Measuring the burden of disease using disability-adjusted life years in Shilin
County of Yunnan Province, China - Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
2011; Vol. 16, Issue 3: pp. 148-154,
Aim: Few studies calculating burden of disease (BOD) have been carried out in China.
Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) is one of the useful methods used to estimate BOD.
This study aims to use DALY for evaluating BOD and to provide useful information for
health planning for residents in Shilin Yi Nationality Autonomous County (Shilin County) of
Yunnan Province, China.
Conclusion: Prevention and treatment of neuropsychiatric conditions and respiratory
diseases for both females and males should be enhanced in Shilin County, so as to
decrease injury. More preventive interventions for noninfectious chronic diseases should
be emphasized in remote townships.
Article abstract
International: Global cancer incidence and mortality caused by behavior and
infection - Journal of Public Health 2011; Vol. 33, Issue 2 pp. 223-233
Aim: The objective is to systematically estimate the current cancer incidence and mortality
from the six leading cancer types globally and by sub-regions resulting from exposure to
known risk factors such as tobacco use, elevated body weight, alcohol consumption,
inadequate physical activity, unhealthy diet and infections.
Conclusions: The cancer burden is driven by changes in exposure to influential risk
factors and can be influenced by preventive interventions aimed at reducing these
exposures.
Article abstract
UK: Association between area-level socioeconomic deprivation and a cluster of
behavioural risk factors: cross-sectional, population-based study - Journal of Public
Health 2011; Vol. 33, Issue 2 pp. 234-245
Aim: The Commission on Social Determinants of Health has urged governments across
the world to promote health equity by reducing the gap between the most and least
deprived individuals in society. Some of this gap can be bridged by promoting healthy
lifestyles through targeted Public Health policy and interventions.
Conclusions: Public health interventions aimed at reducing health inequalities by
targeting behavioural risk factors may focus in particular on reducing smoking and
increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in more deprived communities.
Article abstract
Netherlands: Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and years lived with
disability: a Sullivan life table approach. - BMC Public Health 2011; Vol. 11 pp. 378
Aim: To avoid strong declines in the quality of life due to population ageing, and to ensure
sustainability of the health care system, reductions in the burden of disability among
elderly populations are urgently needed. Life style interventions may help to reduce the
years lived with one or more disabilities, but it is not fully understood which life style factor
has the largest potential for such reductions. Therefore, the primary aim of this paper is to
compare the effect of BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption on life expectancy with
disability, using the Sullivan life table method. A secondary aim is to assess potential
improvement of the Sullivan method by using information on the association of disability
with time to death.
Conclusion: Compared with smoking and drinking alcohol, obesity is most strongly
associated with an increased risk of spending many years of life with disability. Although
employing information on the relation of disability with time to death improves the
precision of Sullivan life table estimates, the relative importance of risk factors remained
unchanged.
Article abstract
USA: Socioeconomic and ethnic differences in disease burden and disparities in
physical function in older adults - American Journal of Public Health 2011; Vol 101,
Issue. 7: pp. 1322-1329
Aim: We investigated whether a greater burden of disease among poorer individuals and
ethnic minorities accounted for socioeconomic and racial disparities in self-reported
physical functioning among older adults.
Conclusions: Socioeconomic disparities in functional limitations among older Americans
exist independent of disease burden, whereas socioeconomic differences and disease
burden account for racial disparities.
Article abstract
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Nutrition
Norway: Intakes and perceived home availability of sugar-sweetened beverages,
fruit and vegetables as reported by mothers, fathers and adolescents in the HEIA
(HEalth In Adolescents) study - Public Health Nutrition 2011; FirstView article
Aim: To investigate the intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), fruit and
vegetables (FV) among adolescents and their parents and to explore differences in the
perceived availability by gender and parental education.
Conclusion: The intake of SSB was higher during weekend days than during weekdays,
whereas the frequency of FV intake was low. Differences in adolescents' perceived
availability of both SSB and FV on the basis of parental education were found, whereas
the differences in intake were significant only for SSB. Increasing parental awareness of
availability and their potential as role models across parental gender and educational level
could improve adolescents' dietary habits.
Article abstract
UK: National Diet and Nutrition Survey: UK food consumption and nutrient intakes
from the first year of the rolling programme and comparisons with previous surveys
- British Journal of Nutrition 2011; FirstView article
Aim: The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is a cross-sectional survey designed
to gather data representative of the UK population on food consumption, nutrient intakes
and nutritional status. The objectives of the present paper were to identify and describe
food consumption and nutrient intakes in the UK from the first year of the NDNS rolling
programme (2008-09) and compare these with the 2000-01 NDNS of adults aged 19-64
years and the 1997 NDNS of young people aged 4-18 years.
Conclusion: There were no changes in energy, total fat or carbohydrate intakes between
the surveys. Children aged 4-10 years had significantly lower consumption of soft drinks
(not low calorie), crisps and savoury snacks and chocolate confectionery in 2008-09 than
in 1997 (all P < 0·0001). The percentage contribution of non-milk extrinsic sugars to food
energy was also significantly lower than in 1997 in children aged 4-10 years (P < 0·0001),
contributing 13-14·6 % in 2008-09 compared with 16·8 % in 1997. These changes were
not as marked in older children and there were no changes in these foods and nutrients in
adults. There was still a substantial proportion (46 %) of girls aged 11-18 years and
women aged 19-64 years (21 %) with mean daily Fe intakes below the lower reference
nutrient intake. Since previous surveys there have been some positive changes in intakes
especially in younger children. However, further attention is required in other groups, in
particular adolescent girls.
Article abstract
UK: Does living in a food insecure household impact on the diets and body
composition of young children? Findings from the Southampton Women's Survey Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2011; Online First
Aim: Little is known about food insecurity in the UK. The aims of this study were to assess
the prevalence and factors associated with food insecurity in a UK cohort and to examine
whether the diets, reported health and anthropometry of young food insecure children
differed from those of other children.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that there are significant numbers of food insecure families
in the UK. The poorer reported health and diets of young food insecure children have
important implications for their development and lifelong health.
Article abstract
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Obesity
France: Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors associated with overweight in a
representative sample of 11-15 year olds in France: Results from the WHOCollaborative Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) cross-sectional
study - BMC Public Health 2011; Vol. 11 pp.442
Aim: The prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents is high and overweight is
associated with poor health outcomes over short- and long-term. Lifestyle factors can
interact to influence overweight. Comprehensive studies linking overweight concomitantly
with several demographic and potentially-modifiable lifestyle factors and health-risk
behaviours are limited in adolescents - an age-group characterized by changes in lifestyle
behaviours and high prevalence of overweight. Thus, the objective of the current study
was to examine the association of overweight with several socio-demographic and lifestyle
variables simultaneously in a representative sample of adolescents.
Conclusion: In multivariate models, family affluence, breakfast consumption and
moderate to vigorous as well as vigorous physical activity were negatively associated with
overweight. These findings extend previous research to a setting where multiple risk and
protective factors were simultaneously examined and highlight the importance of multifaceted approaches promoting physical activity and healthy food choices such as
breakfast consumption for overweight prevention in adolescents.
Article abstract
Promoting children's healthy eating in obesogenic environments: Lessons learned
from the rat. - Physiology and Behaviour 2011; Online first article
Aim: Current statistics on children's eating patterns and obesity rates are consistent with
the idea that genetic taste predispositions, traditional feeding practices, and the
obesogenic environment combine to increase the likelihood of unhealthy outcomes in
many individuals. In this paper, the authors focus on one particular level of analysis
through which this unhealthy combination of factors may begin to be disassembled:
children's learning about food and flavors.
Conclusion: Overall, the implications of the literature are that children should be
repeatedly exposed to a variety of flavors early in life, and that new flavors should be
paired with already-liked flavors and positive contexts. This message is consistent with
recent research results from our laboratory, showing that familiarization and associative
learning paradigms may be used to increase young children's acceptance of, preference
for, and intake of previously-unfamiliar, healthy foods.
Article abstract
UK: Assessing the obesogenic environment of North East England - Health and
Place 2011; Vol. 17, Issue 3, pp 738-747
Aim: This study examines the influence of the environment (defined as "walkability", food
availability and deprivation), alongside individual factors, on Body Mass Index (BMI) and
fruit and vegetable consumption. The aim of this unique study was to objectively scrutinise
the concept of the obesogenic environment in the North East of England.
Conclusion: Results suggest that few elements of both walkability and food availability are
significantly associated with BMI and fruit and vegetable intake. Some methodological
concerns are highlighted, such as the appropriateness of walkability calculations for rural
areas. The study concludes by strongly recommending a multi-faceted approach be taken
when trying to tackle current levels of obesity.
Article abstract
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Physical activity
UK: Family and home correlates of children's physical activity in a multi-ethnic
population: the cross-sectional child heart and health study in england (CHASE) International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 2011; Vol. 8 Issue 11
Aim: The influence of the family and home environment on childhood physical activity
(PA) and whether this differs between ethnic groups remains uncertain. This paper
investigates associations between family and home factors and childhood PA in a multiethnic population and explores whether associations differ between ethnic groups.
Conclusion: Some family and home environmental factors have modest associations with
childhood PA and these are mostly similar across different ethnic groups. This suggests
that targeting these factors in an intervention to promote PA would be relevant for children
in different ethnic groups.
Article abstract
Canada/Australia: A cross-sectional study of the individual, social, and built
environmental correlates of pedometer-based physical activity among elementary
school children - International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activty 2011;
Vol. 8 Issue 30
Aim: Children who participate in regular physical activity obtain health benefits.
Preliminary pedometer-based cut-points representing sufficient levels of physical activity
among youth have been established; however limited evidence regarding correlates of
achieving these cut-points exists. The purpose of this study was to identify correlates of
pedometer-based cut-points among elementary school-aged children.
Conclusion: Comprehensive multi-level interventions that reduce screen-time, encourage
active travel to/from school and foster a physically active classroom culture might
encourage more physical activity among children.
Article abstract
UK: Are cars the new tobacco? - Journal of Public Health 2011; Vol. 33, Issue 2 pp.
160-169
Aim: Public health must continually respond to new threats reflecting wider societal
changes. Ecological public health recognizes the links between human health and global
sustainability. We argue that these links are typified by the harms caused by dependence
on private cars.
Conclusion: Car dependence is a potent example of an issue that ecological public
health should address. The public health community should advocate strongly for effective
policies that reduce car use and increase active travel.
Article abstract
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Public health and the environment
UK: The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence - Journal of
Public Health 2011; Vol. 33, Issue 2 pp. 212-222
Aim: Urban development projects can be costly and have health impacts. An evidencebased approach to urban planning is therefore essential. However, the evidence for
physical and non-physical health benefits of urban green space is unclear. The authors
carried out a literature review of studies on this topic.
Conclusion: Most studies reported findings that generally supported the view that green
space have a beneficial health effect. Establishing a causal relationship is difficult, as the
relationship is complex. Simplistic urban interventions may therefore fail to address the
underlying determinants of urban health that are not remediable by landscape redesign.
Article abstract
Taiwan: Fast-food outlets and walkability in school neighbourhoods predict fatness
in boys and height in girls: a Taiwanese population study - Public Health Nutrition
2011; FirstView Article
Aim: There is increasing evidence that the school food environment contributes to
childhood obesity and health in various locations. We investigated the influence of fastfood stores and convenience food stores (FS and CS, respectively) on growth and body
composition in a range of residential densities for North-east Asian food culture.
Conclusions A high FS density, more than CS density, in Taiwan increased the risk of
general (BMI) and abdominal (waist circumference) obesity in boys and stature in girls.
These findings have long-term implications for chronic disease in adulthood.
Article abstract
USA/New Zealand/Switzerland: Estimating the Global Public Health Implications of
Electricity and Coal Consumption - Environmental Health Perspectives
Aim: We assessed the relationships among electricity use, coal consumption, and health
outcomes.
Conclusions: Increased electricity consumption in countries with IM < 100/1,000 live
births does not lead to greater health benefits, whereas coal consumption has significant
detrimental health impacts.
Article abstract
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Alcohol
Australia: Individual and household-level socioeconomic position is associated
with harmful alcohol consumption behaviours among adults - Australia and New
Zealand Journal of Public Health 2011; Vol. 35 Issue 3 pp.270-277
Aim: To examine associations between individual-, household- and neighbourhood-level
socioeconomic position (SEP) and harmful alcohol consumption.
Conclusion: Men and women from socioeconomically advantaged backgrounds were
more frequent consumers of alcohol, whereas their disadvantaged counterparts drank less
frequently but in greater quantities on each drinking occasion
Article abstract
UK: The geography of binge drinking: The role of alcohol-related knowledge,
behaviours and attitudes. Results from the Health Survey for England 2007 - Health
and Place 2011; Vol. 17, Issue 3, pp. 784-792
Aim: To determine the role of alcohol-related knowledge, behaviours and attitudes in
regional inequalities of binge drinking in England.
Conclusion: Alcohol-related attitudinal and behavioural factors were associated with
regional variations in binge drinking.
Article abstract
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Tobacco
UK: Estimating the cost of smoking to the NHS in England and the impact of
declining prevalence - Health Economics Policy and Law 2011; FirstView article
Aim: Smoking cost the National Health Service (NHS) in England in 1996 an estimated
£1.4-£1.7 billion. In 1998, in Smoking Kills, the Government outlined an action plan for
reducing smoking prevalence. This paper estimates 2006 costs and the impact of
declining prevalence.
Conclusion: Smoking represents a substantial cost throughout the NHS. Significant
savings are associated with a reduction in prevalence, but much of this stems from an
earlier phase of the smoking epidemic. Securing future such savings requires further
policies to reduce smoking prevalence.
Article abstract
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