Physical activity counseling in primary care: Insights from public health and behavioral economics.

Physical inactivity has reached epidemic proportions in modern society. Abundant evidence points to a causal link between physical inactivity and increased risk for numerous noncommunicable diseases, such as some types of cancer and heart disease, as well as premature mortality. Yet, despite this overwhelming evidence, many individuals do not meet the recommended amount of physical activity required to achieve maximum health benefits. Because primary care physicians' advice is highly regarded, clinicians have the unique opportunity to play an important role in enabling patients to modify their behavior at the point of care with the goal of guiding patients to adopt and maintain an active lifestyle. In the current study, the authors evaluate pertinent literature from the fields of medicine/public health and economics/psychology to suggest a comprehensive approach to physical activity counseling at the primary care level. They first examine the public health approach to physical activity counseling, and then proceed to offer insights from behavioral economics, an emerging field that combines principles from psychology and economics. The application of key behavioral economics tools (eg, precommitment contracts, framing) to physical activity counseling in primary care is elaborated. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:233-244. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Population-Based Estimates of Chronic Conditions Affecting Risk for Complications from Coronavirus Disease, United States.

We estimated that 45.4% of US adults are at increased risk for complications from coronavirus disease because of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, hypertension, or cancer. Rates increased by age, from 19.8% for persons 18-29 years of age to 80.7% for persons >80 years of age, and varied by state, race/ethnicity, health insurance status, and employment.

Updated Estimates of Chronic Conditions Affecting Risk for Complications from Coronavirus Disease, United States.

We updated estimates of adults at risk for coronavirus disease complications on the basis of data for China by using recent US hospitalization data. This update to our previous publication substitutes obesity for cancer as an underlying condition and increases adults reporting any of the conditions from 45.4% to 56.0%.

Efficacy and Safety of Massage for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment options for knee osteoarthritis have limited effectiveness and potentially adverse side effects. Massage may offer a safe and effective complement to the management of knee osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: Examine effects of whole-body massage on knee osteoarthritis, compared to active control (light-touch) and usual care. DESIGN: Multisite RCT assessing the efficacy of massage compared to light-touch and usual care in adults with knee osteoarthritis, with assessments at baseline and weeks 8, 16, 24, 36, and 52. Subjects in massage or light-touch groups received eight weekly treatments, then were randomized to biweekly intervention or usual care to week 52. The original usual care group continued to week 24. Analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred fifty-one screened for eligibility, 222 adults with knee osteoarthritis enrolled, 200 completed 8-week assessments, and 175 completed 52-week assessments. INTERVENTION: Sixty minutes of protocolized full-body massage or light-touch. MAIN MEASURES: Primary: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index. Secondary: visual analog pain scale, PROMIS Pain Interference, knee range of motion, and timed 50-ft walk. KEY RESULTS: At 8 weeks, massage significantly improved WOMAC Global scores compared to light-touch (- 8.16, 95% CI = - 13.50 to - 2.81) and usual care (- 9.55, 95% CI = - 14.66 to - 4.45). Additionally, massage improved pain, stiffness, and physical function WOMAC subscale scores compared to light-touch (p < 0.001; p = 0.04; p = 0.02, respectively) and usual care (p < 0.001; p = 0.002; p = 0.002; respectively). At 52 weeks, the omnibus test of any group difference in the change in WOMAC Global from baseline to 52 weeks was not significant (p = 0.707, df = 3), indicating no significant difference in change across groups. Adverse events were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy of symptom relief and safety of weekly massage make it an attractive short-term treatment option for knee osteoarthritis. Longer-term biweekly dose maintained improvement, but did not provide additional benefit beyond usual care post 8-week treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov NCT01537484.

The impact of key modifiable risk factors on leading chronic conditions.

We studied associations between 7 cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (RFs) and 9 chronic conditions and estimated population-attributable risk. Data (N = 358,218) were from the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Outcomes included asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cognitive impairment, CVD, and kidney disease. Risk factors (RF) were obesity, ever smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, while hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes were considered in both categories. Stata was used to study associations in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Population-attributable risk was estimated in Excel using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and compared results using all RFs versus only those where causality was confirmed by other studies. RF prevalence rates ranged from 10.8% (95% CI 10.6, 11.0) for diabetes to 84.1% (83.8, 84.3) for inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. Almost all adults (95.2%) reported ≥1 RF. Highest total PARs for RFs with confirmed causality were for obesity and ever smoking, and for hypertension when all RFs were considered. Total PARs for the 9 outcomes averaged 37.2-41.5% when results were limited to RFs with confirmed causality. Although the number of risk factors for which causality had been confirmed ranged from 1 to 6, all 9 outcomes showed linear dose response gradients with added risk factors. While all 7 RFs appeared important to address, targeting smoking and obesity with programs that have shown previous success offers the greatest potential for reducing burden for these 9 chronic diseases.

Linear association between number of modifiable risk factors and multiple chronic conditions: Results from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Multiple (≥2) chronic conditions (MCCs) are responsible for a large fraction of healthcare costs. Our aim was to examine possible associations between MCCs and composite measures of behavioral risk factors (RFs). Data were publicly available 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and included 483,865 non-institutionalized US adults ages ≥18years. Chronic conditions included asthma, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cognitive impairment, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and kidney disease. RFs included obesity, current smoking, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, and sleeping other than 7-8h, while depression, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes were considered in each category. Stata was used to study associations between 2 different MCCs and 2 composite measures of RFs in both unadjusted and adjusted analysis. Over 96% of respondents reported ≥1 of the 9 RFs and 71.5% reported ≥1 of the chronic conditions. For each combination there was a linear increase (with similar slopes) in MCC rate with more RFs and a statistically significant increase in adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the MCC with each additional RF. For the MCC based on 8 chronic conditions, ORs were 1.3 (95% CI 1.1, 1.6) for 1 RF, 2.3 (1.9, 2.7) for 2, 3.7 (3.1, 4.4) for 3, 5.7 (4.8, 6.8) for 4, 9.1 (7.6, 10.8) for 5, 14.6 (12.2, 17.4) for 6, 24.0 (19.7, 29.2) for 7, 38.1 (29.6, 48.9) for 8, and 100.0 (56.3, 177.8) for all 9, each vs. zero RFs. Findings highlight the need for effective integrated programs to address multiple RFs and chronic conditions.

Lifestyle Medicine and the Management of Cardiovascular Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Evidence has clearly demonstrated the importance of lifestyle factors (e.g., diet, physical activity, smoking) in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Interventions targeting these behaviors may improve outcomes for CVD patients. The aim of this review is to summarize the effects of lifestyle interventions in individuals with established CVD. RECENT FINDINGS: Most recent trials focused on diet, physical activity, stress reduction, or a combination of these. Findings were mixed, but most interventions improved at least some markers of cardiovascular risk. Few studies measured long-term clinical outcomes, but some suggested a possible benefit of stress reduction and multifaceted interventions on cardiovascular events. The benefits of lifestyle change for CVD patients have been established by decades of evidence. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal intensity, duration, and mode of delivery for interventions. Additional studies with long-term follow-up and measurement of clinical outcomes are also needed.

A healthy lifestyle composite measure: Significance and potential uses.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to create and explore potential uses of a composite "Healthy Lifestyle" measure based on Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) Objectives for behaviors shown to be associated with morbidity and mortality. METHODS: Data were from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N=412,942) on five modifiable behaviors with HP2020 Objectives (leisure time exercise, eating fruits and vegetables 5 or more times/day, getting ≥7h of sleep/24h, not smoking and not drinking excessively). These indicators were combined to form an all-or-none composite Healthy Lifestyle (HLS) measure. Associations between the HLS measure and demographic and other measures, plus details of component measures, were reported. RESULTS: Results indicated that only 7.7% of adults reported a HLS with wide variation among states and demographic groups. Both unadjusted and logistic regression results found associations between a HLS and better health, lower rates of chronic disease and better access to health care. Over one fourth of all respondents (28.0%) needed to only improve fruit and vegetable consumption to be practicing a HLS. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, few adults were practicing five behaviors that are generally recognized as healthy. All-or-none metrics like this HLS measure offer a fresh perspective on modifiable behaviors and the need for improvement. Examination of measure components can help explain demographic differences and identify strategies for improvement.

Effects of nutrient profiling and price changes based on NuVal® scores on food purchasing in an online experimental supermarket.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to apply experimental economic methods in an online supermarket to examine the effects of nutrient profiling, and differential pricing based on the nutrient profile, on the overall diet quality, energy and macronutrients of the foods purchased, and diet cost. DESIGN: Participants were provided nutrient profiling scores or price adjustments based on nutrient profile scores while completing a hypothetical grocery shopping task. Prices of foods in the top 20 % of nutrient profiling scores were reduced (subsidized) by 25 % while those in the bottom 20 % of scores were increased (taxed) by 25 %. We evaluated the independent and interactive effects of nutrient profiling or price adjustments on overall diet quality of foods purchased as assessed by the NuVal® score, energy and macronutrients purchased and diet cost in a 2×2 factorial design. SETTING: A large (>10 000 food items) online experimental supermarket in the USA. SUBJECTS: Seven hundred and eighty-one women. RESULTS: Providing nutrient profiling scores improved overall diet quality of foods purchased. Price changes were associated with an increase in protein purchased, an increase in energy cost, and reduced carbohydrate and protein costs. Price changes and nutrient profiling combined were associated with no unique benefits beyond price changes or nutrient profiling alone. CONCLUSIONS: Providing nutrient profile score increased overall NuVal® score without a reduction in energy purchased. Combining nutrient profiling and price changes did not show an overall benefit to diet quality and may be less useful than nutrient profiling alone to consumers who want to increase overall diet quality of foods purchased.

Effects of egg ingestion on endothelial function in adults with coronary artery disease: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Prevailing recommendations call for restricting intake of dietary cholesterol and eggs for those at risk of heart disease, despite accumulating evidence challenging this association. Our prior studies showed no short-term adverse effects of daily egg intake on cardiac risk factors in at-risk adults. OBJECTIVE: We conducted this study to determine effects of daily egg consumption in adults with established coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial of 32 adults (mean age, 67 years; 6 women, 26 men) with CAD assigned to 1 of 6 possible sequence permutations of 3 different treatments (breakfast with 2 eggs, breakfast with ½ cup Egg Beaters, ConAgra Foods, St. Louis, MO, or a high-carbohydrate breakfast part of an ad libitum diet) for 6 weeks, with 4-week washout periods. The primary outcome measure was endothelial function measured as flow-mediated dilatation. RESULTS: Compared with the control breakfast (ie, high-carbohydrate breakfast), daily consumption of eggs showed no adverse effects on flow-mediated dilatation (7.2% ± 2.9% vs 7.5% ± 2.9%, P = .33), lipids (total cholesterol: 158.3 ± 28.6 mg/dL vs 156.2 ± 27.4 mg/dL, P = .49), blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: 132.8 ± 14.1 mm Hg or vs 135.5 ± 14.9 mm Hg, P = .52; diastolic blood pressure: 77.2 ± 6.1 mm Hg vs 76.7 ± 6.9 mm Hg, P = .86), or body weight (90.8 ± 17.5 kg vs 91.8 ± 17.1 kg, P = .92). No outcomes differed (P > .05) between eggs and Egg Beaters. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence of adverse effects of daily egg ingestion on any cardiac risk factors in adults with CAD over a span of 6 weeks.

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles to Children at School: Using a Multidisciplinary Train-the-Trainer Approach.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine the efficacy of a multidisciplinary train-the-trainer model for improving fitness and food label literacy in third-grade students. DESIGN: University student trainers taught ABC for Fitness and Nutrition Detectives, established programs to promote physical activity and nutrition knowledge, to 239 third-grade students in 2 communities over a 6-month period. A total of 110 children were in the intervention group and 129 children in the control group (2 schools each). Outcomes included the Food Label Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge test and the fitness measures of curl-ups, push-ups, 0.5-mile run, and sit and reach. Focus groups were conducted as process feedback. SETTING: Four public schools in 2 different communities. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 200 third-grade students. INTERVENTION: ABC for Fitness and Nutrition Detectives. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Food Label Literacy and Nutrition Knowledge test and the fitness measures of curl-ups, push-ups, 0.5-mile run, and sit and reach. RESULTS: Nutrition knowledge increased in the intervention group by 25.2% (P < .01). Fitness measures in the intervention schools showed greater improvement than those in the controls for curl-ups (P < .01), push-ups (P < .01), sit and reach left (P = .07), and 0.5-mile run (P = .06). Process feedback from 3 teachers and 60 students indicated satisfaction with the program. CONCLUSION: Adaptation of the train-the-trainer approach for Nutrition Detectives and ABC for Fitness was effective for delivering these health-related programs.

Diet and diabetes: lines and dots.

Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is epidemic in the United States among adults and children alike, and increasingly prevalent around the world. On its current trajectory, the increasing incidence of diabetes has the potential to ravage both public health and economies. There has, however, been evidence for decades that lifestyle has enormous potential to prevent chronic disease, diabetes included. Studies suggest that the combination of tobacco avoidance, routine physical activity, optimal dietary pattern, and weight control could eliminate as much as 80% of all chronic disease, and 90% of cases of diabetes specifically. None of these factors is necessarily easily achieved, but most are simple. Diet, on the other hand, is complex, and arguments abound for competing diets and related health benefits. From an expansive review of relevant literature, the case emerges that the overall theme of optimal eating for human beings is very well established, whereas the case for any given variation on that theme is substantially less so. Once the theme of healthful eating is acknowledged, the challenge shifts to getting there from here. Although much effort focuses on the wholesale conversion of dietary patterns, the introduction or removal of highly nutritious foods can have direct health effects, and potentially reverberate through the diet as well, shifting the quality of the diet and related health effects. Studies demonstrating favorable effects of daily walnut ingestion in diabetes and insulin resistance are profiled as an illustration, and an ongoing study examining the implications of daily walnut ingestion on diet quality and various biometric variables is described. The line between dietary pattern and the epidemiology of diabetes is indelibly established; we must work to connect the dots between here and there.

Testing the effectiveness of an abbreviated version of the Nutrition Detectives program.

INTRODUCTION: Obese or overweight children have an increased risk for chronic diseases. Targeting diet and exercise in schools could help prevent childhood obesity. We have previously shown the effectiveness of a 90-minute nutrition program in improving elementary school students' food-label literacy. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 45-minute version of the program. METHODS: We conducted a pre-post study in a public school district, with no control group. We provided teacher training and program materials. Participants were 5th-grade students in 5 schools who had parental consent and were willing to take part. We condensed the program to a 45-minute lesson with a presentation and hands-on activity. The lesson showed students why and how to make healthful food choices based on Nutrition Facts panels and ingredient lists. The district's physical education teachers taught the lesson. The primary outcome measure was food-label literacy (ie, the ability to distinguish between more and less healthful foods using a validated test instrument with Nutrition Facts panels and ingredient lists). RESULTS: A total of 212 students completed pre-post measures. Following program delivery, we observed a significant gain of 16.2 percentage points in scores overall, ranging from 4.3 percentage points to 23.6 percentage points among schools. Results were similar to those achieved with the 90-minute program. DISCUSSION: The condensed nutrition program improved students' food-label literacy while requiring a minimal allocation of time. Further studies in other school districts would be useful.

COVID19 and the Follies of History: Forebodings that Forewarned is Not Forearmed.

COVID-19 was the first pandemic of the internet age. Beginning at a time of great societal division in the United States (and globally), pandemic responses were further beleaguered by the viral proliferation of information, disinformation, and propaganda-collectively, an "infodemic." Polarized, blinkered views of the crisis precluded a balanced consideration of objectives, opportunities, and ineluctable trade-offs between the risks of actions and corresponding inactions. The results were lapses in both directions, greatly amplifying the pandemic toll. Persistence of this costly fractiousness is now spawning monocular critiques of the pandemic response, with neglect of essential nuance. There is a better pandemic that might have been, and the chance for far better responses to the next- but only if the follies of this history are lessons learned and applied. Failing that, the risk looms that having been amply forewarned of our liabilities, we will fail to be forearmed.

Paradigm Shift in Medicine: Integrating Naturopathic Care in the Treatment of Chronic Disease: Want to follow best practices in chronic disease treatment? Look to naturopathic physicians.

The current healthcare system too often relies on prescription drugs, leading to increased opioid use and addiction, despite major medical organizations recommending non-drug approaches as the primary treatment in many conditions. The importance of lifestyle changes to achieving whole-person health is increasingly recognized. Nature-based medicine, as routinely practiced by naturopathic physicians provide a valuable and noteworthy alternative approach featuring lifestyle intervention to chronic pain and disease management. These physicians undergo extensive training in holistic models of care and apply a systematic approach called the Therapeutic Order, which focuses on addressing the underlying cause of symptoms and using the least force necessary for treatment. Improved outcomes are realized with multifactorial personalized treatment plans including lifestyle, nutrition, stress management, and physical activity. Integrative medicine is on the rise and we support the shift to the inclusion of a patient-centered approach in the management of chronic pain and disease. Nothing in the practice of natural, holistic medicine precludes respect for science, and the reliance on evidence. Rather, medicine is at its best when practice can draw from the best offerings of all pertinent fields.

Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine and its Evolution.

Lifestyle Medicine (LM) is a rapidly growing discipline that focuses on the role of lifestyle factors in preventing, managing, and reversing chronic disease. At this point in the field's evolution, there is strong evidence that the 6 pillars of LM-a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and positive social connections-are central in the creation and maintenance of health. Previous publications, many of them randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses, have solidified the evidence base for the use of the 6 pillars within the field of LM. As data emerged, so did its governing body, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), and with it a rich history began to unfold. Several articles have been written on the early history of the ACLM and the growth of the field; however, this review article explores the history and foundation of LM, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of its relevance and impact on health care. It underscores landmark studies that have defined the field and provides a road map detailing national and global barriers and areas of potential future growth.

The mortality toll of estrogen avoidance: an analysis of excess deaths among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the effect of estrogen avoidance on mortality rates among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years. METHODS: We derived a formula to relate the excess mortality among hysterectomized women aged 50 to 59 years assigned to placebo in the Women's Health Initiative randomized controlled trial to the entire population of comparable women in the United States, incorporating the decline in estrogen use observed between 2002 and 2011. RESULTS: Over a 10-year span, starting in 2002, a minimum of 18 601 and as many as 91 610 postmenopausal women died prematurely because of the avoidance of estrogen therapy (ET). CONCLUSIONS: ET in younger postmenopausal women is associated with a decisive reduction in all-cause mortality, but estrogen use in this population is low and continuing to fall. Our data indicate an associated annual mortality toll in the thousands of women aged 50 to 59 years. Informed discussion between these women and their health care providers about the effects of ET is a matter of considerable urgency.

Dietary Assessment by Pattern Recognition: a Comparative Analysis.

Background: Diet quality photo navigation (DQPN) is a novel dietary intake assessment tool that was developed to help address limitations of traditional tools and to easily integrate into health care delivery systems. Prevailing practice is to validate new tools against approaches that are in wide use. Objective: This study aimed to assess 1) the validity of Diet ID in measuring diet quality, food group and nutrient intake against 2 traditional dietary assessment methods (i.e., food record [FR], food frequency questionnaire) and 2) the test reproducibility/reliability of Diet ID to obtain similar results with repeat assessments. Methods: Using a participant-sourcing platform for online research, we recruited 90 participants, 58 of whom completed DQPN, a 3-d FR (via the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool), and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ, via the Dietary History Questionnaire III). We estimated mean nutrient and food group intake with all 3 instruments and generated Pearson correlations between them. Results: Mean age (SD) of participants was 38 (11) y, and more than half were male (64%). The strongest correlations for DQPN when compared with the other 2 instruments were for diet quality, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2015; between DQPN and the FFQ, the correlation was 0.58 (P < 0.001), and between DQPN and the FR, the correlation was 0.56 (P < 0.001). Selected nutrients and food groups also showed moderate strength correlations. Test-retest reproducibility for measuring diet quality was evaluated for DQPN and showed a correlation of 0.70 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The current study offers evidence that DQPN is comparable to traditional dietary assessment tools for estimating overall diet quality. This performance, plus DQPN's ease-of-use and scalability, may recommend it in efforts to make dietary assessment a universal part of clinical care.

Rapid, Digital Dietary Assessment in Association with Cardiometabolic Biomarkers.

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between dietary intake as assessed by a rapid, image-based digital tool and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of adults with blood biomarkers performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics (BHD) between December 2020 and March 2022. SETTING: Outpatient centers serviced by BHD. SUBJECTS: 546 adults, excluding those taking relevant medications and/or supplements known to affect blood test results. MEASURES: Laboratory assays of blood specimens were performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics. Nutrient intake and diet quality data were obtained using Diet Quality Photo Navigation (DQPN®; US Patent #11,328,810 B2) technique via Diet ID™ tool. ANALYSIS: Pearson correlation coefficients (for continuous variables) and Spearman coefficients (for ordinal variables) were used to evaluate associations between nutrient intake data and laboratory data for the full study sample. Two-sided P-values < .05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Both continuous and ordinal measures of diet quality correlated significantly with HDL-C and triglycerides (n = 485; P < .0 01); with hs-CRP (n = 441; P < .001); with HgbA1c (n = 345; P < .01); with fasting insulin (n = 372; P < .001); and with HOMA-IR (n = 319; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Findings affirm that rapid, digital diet quality and composition assessment by pattern recognition rather than recall tracks significantly with key biomarkers of cardiometabolic health.