The association between television viewing time and percent body fat in adults varies as a function of physical activity and sex.

BACKGROUND: Data suggest that sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for obesity; however, the extent to which physical activity (PA) and sex alter this relationship remains unclear. To address this gap, the current study examined the association between television (TV) viewing time and percent body fat (%BF) as a function of PA level and sex. METHODS: Trained interviewers assessed 454 adults at their place of residence. Participants completed questionnaires to determine h of TV watched per week, PA level (inactive = not meeting PA guidelines vs. active = meeting PA guideline), and covariates including demographics (e.g., sex), depression symptoms, perceived stress, fruit and vegetable intake, and environmental support for PA. Foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance (Tanita TBF-300, Tokyo, Japan) was used to assess %BF. Mixed models were generated to examine the association between TV h/wk. and %BF as a function of PA level and sex while accounting for the multi-level nature of the data (neighborhood- and individual-levels) and covariates. RESULTS: Participants were 44.4 ± 14.0 (Mean + Standard Deviation) years of age with 33.2 ± 11.1%BF, and watched 19.3 ± 15.5 h/wk. of TV. Most were female (70.9%) and inactive (63.2%). Mixed model regression demonstrated that among inactive participants, each additional h of TV viewed/wk. was associated with a 1.03% increase in %BF; TV h/wk. and %BF were not associated in active adults. When models were further stratified by sex, h of TV viewed/wk. were significantly associated with %BF only in inactive females. Each additional h of TV viewed/wk. was associated with an increase in %BF of 1.14%. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeting PA and/or TV viewing time may be a high-priority to curb excess BF accumulation especially among inactive females.

Environmental Audits of Friendliness toward Physical Activity in Three Income Levels.

An important research area is the relationship among income status, health, and the environment. This study examined the relationships among income levels, features of the environment and friendliness toward physical activity. We investigated whether low-, middle-, and high-income neighborhoods differ in terms of four environmental characteristics that affect the degree to which an area is conducive to physical activity: population density, land use diversity, street design, and physical disorder in the environment. In a large, urban southwestern county, 30 block groups were randomly selected to represent low-, middle-, and high-income neighborhoods. Using the St. Louis Environmental Checklist Audit, walking audits were conducted and analyzed. The low-income neighborhoods had significantly greater density and land use diversity than the high-income neighborhoods. High- and middle-income neighborhoods had significantly fewer manifestations of physical disorder and incivility than low-income neighborhoods. Features of physical activity-promoting environments were found in each income level neighborhood.

Impact of antidepressant use on gastric bypass surgery patients' weight loss and health-related quality-of-life outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Psychological factors may be predictive of post-surgical adjustment and successful outcomes in obesity-surgery populations. OBJECTIVE: The authors compared post-gastric bypass surgery (GBS) outcomes of patients being given active psychotropic treatment for depression, with those of patients without treatment or identifiable need for treatment at enrollment. METHOD: Outcome measures included weight and repeated administration of the Medical Outcome Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36). RESULTS: There was no impact of antidepressant treatment on GBS patients' weight loss or SF-36 outcomes. CONCLUSION: Therefore, patients with actively treated depression should be expected to have GBS outcomes equivalent to those of patients without identifiable psychiatric illness or treatment.

Reproductive Health Concerns Among Female Firefighters.

There has been little research conducted on the reproductive health of female firefighters. The purpose of this study was to determine whether female reproductive health is a concern among firefighters and to identify key associated issues. Eighty-seven United States (US) firefighters participated in focus groups or interviews. Themes were created using grounded theory with NVivo analysis software and a three-phase coding process. The major finding emerging from the study is that female firefighter reproductive health is a significant concern among firefighters.

Priorities of legislatively active veteran services organizations: a content analysis and review for health promotion initiatives.

Military and Veterans Service Organizations (MVSOs) have a unique opportunity to influence legislation and advocate for the interests of their members. However, little is known about what legislative priorities MVSOs see as important. Understanding the legislative priorities of MVSOs can inform efforts by health scientists to promote policy and laws designed to improve the health of our nation's veterans. Using a mixed methods approach, we conducted a thematic analysis of legislative priorities MVSOs promote with their legislative agendas. Most commonly, MVSOs addressed issues related to disability evaluations and ratings with the Veterans Administration and access to Veterans Administration services. Other common themes identified as priorities include benefits such as retirement, education, housing assistance for veterans, and TRICARE benefits. Findings highlight the broad range of topics MVSOs identify as legislative priorities as well as some health issues that receive relatively limited attention.