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J L Forster

Publications and source records attributed to J L Forster.

62 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of high fat/calorie food intake in a worksite population: the Healthy Worker Project.

Behavioral and sociodemographic correlates of high fat/calorie food consumption were examined in a population-based sample of working adults (N = 2038 men; N = 2335 women). Relative weight, dieting history, and cigarette smoking were significantly related to total energy intake from high fat/calorie foods. Relative weight was positively related to the intake of meat, eggs, fried potatoes, and fats. Current dieting to lose weight was associated with a lower intake of all foods, except alcohol and fats. These foods were unrelated to dieting status in men and positively related to dieting status in women. Physical activity and smoking were related to higher intake of high fat/calorie foods. Smokers consumed fewer sweet foods than nonsmokers, however. These results underscore the importance of controlling for dieting status, as well as other behavioral and demographic variables, in population studies of dietary intake. They also suggest factors that may be important in the etiology of unhealthy eating patterns and potential targets for dietary intervention.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of alcohol and tobacco availability to underage students.

Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) and Tobacco Policy Options for Prevention (TPOP) are randomized multicommunity trials designed to reduce the availability of alcohol (CMCA) and tobacco (TPOP) products to underage youth. We assessed the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of perceived availability measures developed for surveys of middle and high school students. Two questionnaires were administered twice, each to separate student populations (CMCA: 9th graders; TPOP; 8th graders) 21 to 26 days apart. A total of 111 (CMCA) and 70 (TPOP) subjects participated at both times (participation rate of 93.3% and 84.3%, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of demographic variables, alcohol or tobacco use variables, or availability variables across administrations. The scales assessing perceived access to alcohol or tobacco had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha of 0.84 for alcohol and 0.77 for tobacco), but moderate to low test-retest correlations (0.58 and 0.13, respectively). Single-item measures of sources of alcohol and tobacco and reported buy attempts also had moderate to low test-retest correlates (0.10-0.65). We recommend that items assessing tobacco and alcohol availability to underage youth be further developed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Support for restrictive tobacco policies among residents of selected Minnesota communities.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco related diseases remain the most important public health problem. Public policy approaches to tobacco control have been used historically, and remain a viable, though largely untested, tobacco control strategy. The purpose of this article is to report assessment of support for tobacco control policies among the general public. METHODS: A random sample of 821 residents from seven Minnesota communities was surveyed by telephone to assess their support for 12 measures designed to restrict smoking behavior and curb demand for tobacco. Some of these policies were similar to those already in place, while others had not yet been adopted. RESULTS: Over 50% of the respondents indicated that they strongly favored or somewhat favored each of the measures, suggesting that a constituency exists for further regulation of tobacco. Measures that restrict tobacco advertising, prohibit smoking in public places, increase the penalties for selling tobacco to minors, and reduce access of young people to tobacco are especially popular. Women, nonsmokers, and older people form the basis of support for these measures. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Minnesota citizens are more supportive of restrictive tobacco control policies than policy makers might believe, and that more aggressive lobbying on behalf of such measures at the state and local level is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing participation in worksite smoking cessation and weight loss programs: the Healthy Worker Project.

Worksite intervention for health behavior change has attracted much recent interest as a potentially cost-effective way to promote healthier behaviors in the general population. In evaluating the impact of health promotion activities, it is essential to consider the entire work force rather than just self-selected participants. Overall, recruitment results reported to date have varied widely. There are a large number of factors pertaining to both employee and worksite characteristics that could contribute to variability in how well worksite health promotion programs attract employees. A critical issue that has received little research attention is the dynamics of participation in employee health promotion programs as they are offered repeatedly over time. The present study examined participation rates and contributing factors in worksite health promotion programs for weight loss and smoking cessation in the Healthy Worker Project, a randomized trial of worksite intervention conducted among 16 intervention and 16 control worksites in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area between 1987 and 1990. Data analyses focused on characterizing individuals enrolling in worksite health promotion programs in comparison to those in the worksite population as a whole who would be considered in need of such programs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Community attitudes toward public policies to control alcohol, tobacco, and high-fat food consumption.

We report the results of a survey conducted in upper-midwestern communities to assess public attitudes toward policy level interventions to moderate the use of alcohol, tobacco, and high-fat food. Four hundred thirty-eight women and 383 men were asked to indicate how much they favored or did not favor 29 policy proposals. Results showed that regulatory controls in all three areas were favored by the general public. Support was strongest for alcohol and tobacco controls, less so for high-fat food. Interventions designed to protect children and youths were most strongly endorsed, followed by restrictions on advertising and direct control over conditions of sale. Women favored all interventions more than men. There was a strong positive association between age and support for measures to moderate alcohol use. Individuals reporting least personal use of alcohol, tobacco, and high-fat foods were most in favor of control policies. The results of this survey indicate specific measures that might be most readily enacted and what segments of the population are likely to be most and least receptive.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Payroll contracting for smoking cessation: a worksite pilot study.

Twenty-one men and 38 women participated in a worksite smoking cessation/smoking reduction program that combined financial contracts, organized through payroll deduction, and biweekly group treatment sessions. At the end of the program the smoking cessation rate was 51%, validated by expired air carbon monoxide. Six months later the validated cessation rate was 12%. We conclude that payroll incentives may be effective in helping workers quit smoking and offer suggestions for ways to promote better maintenance of this important behavior change.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perceived and measured availability of tobacco to youths in 14 Minnesota communities: the TPOP Study. Tobacco Policy Options for Prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Availability of tobacco to young people is believed to be an important factor in the onset of tobacco use. We still do not have a complete picture of how tobacco is obtained by youths or how access can be curtailed. DESIGN: This article describes tobacco availability to youths in 14 communities that are part of a randomized trial, known as TPOP (Tobacco Policy Options for Prevention). The data reported here were obtained from student surveys and tobacco-purchase attempts by underage confederates. RESULTS: Students who have smoked at least once were likely to cite social sources for cigarettes. However, more than half of weekly smokers and almost one third of tenth-grade ever smokers reported purchasing cigarettes in the last 30 days. Tobacco-purchase attempts by confederate buyers at all outlets resulted in an overall success rate of 40.8%, lower than previously reported for urban communities. Fifty-five percent of the over-the-counter outlets had no self-service displays of tobacco at baseline. Store factors that predicted purchase success include tobacco location; purchase success was lower when all tobacco was locked or behind a service counter. The percentage of smokers who reported purchasing their own tobacco soon after starting to smoke was highest in towns where purchase success by teenage study confederates was highest. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that sources of cigarettes shift from social to commercial with age and that sources of cigarettes for rural youths may be different than for urban youths.

Adolescent↗