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Biomedical subjects

J Stang

Publications and source records attributed to J Stang.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Prevalence of use of herbal products by adults in the Minneapolis/St Paul, Minn, metropolitan area.

OBJECTIVES: To document the prevalence of use of herbal products among adults in a large metropolitan area and to examine issues surrounding such use. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Of people aged 18 years and older residing in the Minneapolis/St Paul, Minn, metropolitan area, 752 were randomly selected from Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Service Division data tapes. Between June and August 1999, surveys were mailed to determine use of any herb and use of 13 specific herbs. Rationale for use, perceived efficacy, and source of product information were assessed for each of the specific herbs. RESULTS: Of the initial 752 persons, 580 were eligible, and 376 returned a completed survey, resulting in a response rate of 65%. When asked whether they had used an herb during the past 12 months, 230 respondents (61.2%) reported that they had. Prevalence of use of specific herbs ranged from 30.9% for ginseng to 3.0% for milk thistle. The most commonly reported reasons for using herbs varied by the type of herb, although for 5 of the herbs, the most frequently mentioned reason was to promote general health/well-being. For 11 of the 13 herbs, less than 60% of those who used the herb rated it as effective or very effective. Family, friends, and written materials were the leading sources of product information among those taking 9 of the 13 specific herbs. CONCLUSIONS: Herbs are used frequently to treat or prevent an array of health conditions. At present, people who use herbal products appear to rely predominantly on family and friends for information.

Adolescent↗

Relationships between vitamin and mineral supplement use, dietary intake, and dietary adequacy among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine patterns of supplement use among US adolescents and the relationship between supplement use and dietary intake and adequacy. DESIGN: Adolescents self-reported 2 days of food intake using the 24-hour recall method and supplement use during a personal interview conducted as part of the 1994 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (CSFII). SUBJECTS: A national sample of 423 adolescents included in the 1994 CSFII survey. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: chi 2 analysis was used to determine which demographic factors were significantly related to patterns of supplement use. Weighted percentages of adolescents by category of supplement use for selected vitamins and minerals (calcium; iron; zinc; folic acid; and vitamins A, B-6, C, and E) are presented. Relationships between dietary intake of macronutrients and vitamins and minerals among adolescents and supplement use were determined using a least-squares model of general linear regression. RESULTS: Approximately one-third of adolescents reported using supplements, with 15.6% of youth using them on a daily basis. The majority of supplement users reported taking multivitamins (N = 95; 65.5%) whereas only one-third of supplement users reported taking individual vitamins or minerals. Supplement use was found to vary by gender, household size, and US region of residence. Adolescents who reported using supplements had higher mean dietary intakes of most micronutrients and lower intakes of total and saturated fat than those who did not use supplements. More than one-third of adolescents had dietary intakes of vitamins A and E, calcium, and zinc that were < 75% of the US Recommended Dietary Allowance. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: The majority of US adolescents do not use vitamin or mineral supplements. Interestingly, adolescents who do use supplements, even on an infrequent basis, consume diets that are more nutrient-dense than those who do not use supplements. Dietary intakes of several micronutrients were inadequate among all adolescents in this study, regardless of supplement use status. There is a need to develop and implement programs aimed at improving the dietary intakes of US adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Soft drink consumption among US children and adolescents: nutritional consequences.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether carbonated soft drink consumption is associated with consumption of milk, fruit juice, and the nutrients concentrated in these beverages. DESIGN: Data collected as part of the 1994 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals were analyzed. Information on food and nutrient intake was derived from 2 days of dietary recall data collected via an in-person interview. SUBJECTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative sample of people of all ages residing in the United States (response rate = 76.2%). Analyses were restricted to children aged 2 to 18 years (N = 1,810). STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict the odds of low milk and juice consumption by soft drink consumption level. To determine whether intake of select nutrients varied by soft drink consumption, multiple linear regression modeling was conducted. Analyses were conducted using sample weights and software appropriate for the survey design. RESULTS: Energy intake was positively associated with consumption of nondiet soft drinks. For example, mean adjusted energy intake was 1,830 kcal/day for school-aged children who were nonconsumers of soft drinks compared with 2,018 kcal/day for children in this age group who consumed an average of 9 oz of soda or more per day. Those in the highest soft drink consumption category consumed less milk and fruit juice compared with those in the lowest consumption category (nonconsumers). CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education messages targeted to children and/or their parents should encourage limited consumption of soft drinks. Policies that limit children's access to soft drinks at day care centers and schools should be promoted.

Adolescent↗

Guess who's cooking? The role of men in meal planning, shopping, and preparation in US families.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of men in meal-related tasks in households with both a male and female head, and to identify households in which the man is more likely to be involved in these tasks. DESIGN: Data collected as part of the US Department of Agriculture's 1994 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals were analyzed. SUBJECTS/SETTING: All analyses were restricted to sampled persons who were identified as a male head of household residing in a household that also had a female head (N = 1,204). STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Frequency distributions were calculated and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Approximately 23%, 36%, and 27% of men reportedly were involved in meal planning, shopping, and preparation, respectively. Men in lower income and smaller households were more likely to be involved in each of the meal activities. Younger men and men in households in which the female head of household worked full-time were more likely to be involved in meal planning and preparation. IMPLICATIONS: Current education efforts to improve family nutrition tend to target the female rather than the male head of household. Our findings confirm that this focus is appropriate for most dual-headed households.

Adult↗

Dieting status and its relationship to eating and physical activity behaviors in a representative sample of US adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether adolescents engaging in extreme weight loss methods (i.e., vomiting and diet pills) and those using more moderate methods differ from each other in dietary intake (fruits, vegetables, and higher-fat foods) and physical activity, and to compare these variables in dieting and nondieting adolescents. DESIGN: Data were obtained from the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. SUBJECTS/SETTINGS: The survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of 16,296 adolescents in grades 9 through 12 in a school setting. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Data were analyzed for 16,125 adolescents. Associations between weight control behaviors and dietary intake and physical activity were examined using mixed-model logistic regressions, controlling for grade in school, race, parental education, region of the country, and urban vs nonurban residence. RESULTS: Differences in dietary and physical activity were found among adolescents who use extreme weight loss methods and moderate methods, and between dieters and nondieters. Adolescents using moderate methods of weight control engaged in more health-promoting eating and exercise behaviors than did extreme dieters or nondieters. Girls categorized as extreme dieters were less likely to eat fruits and vegetables than were moderate dieters (odds ratio [OR] = .56) or nondieters (OR = .75), and were more likely than more moderate dieters (OR = .76) to have consumed 2 or more servings of high-fat foods during the previous day. APPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest the importance of distinguishing between different types of dieting behaviors in clinical settings and research studies. Adolescents engaging in extreme weight control behaviors may be at particular risk for inadequate nutritional intake. In contrast, adolescents using more moderate methods may be consuming a more healthful diet than are nondieters. For all adolescents, nutrition guidance on healthful and safe weight control strategies is needed.

Adolescent↗

A pilot study of the effect of cholesterol measurement on the eating patterns of adolescents.

Epidemiologic research demonstrates that a diet high in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol is linked to elevated cholesterol levels and increased risk for heart disease in adults. It is thought that this relationship also holds true for children and adolescents. The literature shows strong support for combining instruction strategies with cardiovascular risk factor screening within the educational setting. Reasons cited include: enhancing the effectiveness of classroom curriculum in achieving health behavior modification; presenting a motivational component; providing important physiological feedback; and offering norm-creating potential. Teaching the adolescent the importance of controlling blood cholesterol through a low-fat diet can be difficult, but producing a change in behavior can be even more challenging. The purpose of this project was to determine whether or not incorporating a cholesterol measurement into instructional strategies would enhance learning. Project objectives included: 1) increasing students' knowledge of the health effects of a high blood cholesterol; and 2) promoting a change in dietary behaviors related to low-fat dietary choices.

Adolescent↗