A novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in Wuhan, China late December 2019. The disease has as of the end of March 2020, affected over 35 countries (with over 570,000 cases and 26,000 deaths) worldwide. This includes the U.S., where cases are increasing by the thousands every day (100,000 cases with 1500 deaths as of April 2020). We set out to investigate new or increased stressful life events (SLEs) as a result of this pandemic in the U.S. In this exploratory qualitative study, we examined new or heightened SLEs during an active phase of this outbreak. We used a list of SLEs acquired from the first phase of our study, whereby we conducted open-ended surveys and performed an in-depth focus group. We applied Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping to understand diverse focus-group participants’ appraisal of events. We coded survey data and applied sentiment analysis. Participants varied in perceived threat and challenge appraisals of COVID-19, indicating both calm and fear. From 267 coded and sentiment analyzed events from survey text, 95% were predominantly negative; 112 (42%) very negative and 142 (53%) moderately negative. Social capital was unanimously emphasized upon as monumental for example: family, friends or technology mediated. We additionally identified seven major themes of SLEs due to the pandemic. Our sample profile is not inclusive of all subsets of the population. Participants mostly shared similar frustrations and a variety of SLEs such as fear of the unknown and concern for loved ones as a result of COVID-19.

Obesity continues to be a health burden to society and new efforts may be needed to combat this epidemic. This study aims to investigate the contribution of parents education and level of income, food environment (grocery stores and fast food restaurants), and built environment (perceived safety, availability/quantity of parks) on childhood obesity. This cross-sectional observational study explored whether parents education and income level, built environment, and food environment can affect children with obesity. Participants were selected from 3 separate elementary schools located in an urban community with higher risk to have children with obesity in Montclair, California. Children living in families with low incomes have 2.31 times greater odds to be affected by obesity than children living in higher income homes. Children whose parents did not feel safe in their neighborhoods had odds of obesity 2.23 times greater than those who reported their neighborhoods as safe. Age also appeared to be a risk factor, and the odds of children affected by obesity among children 8 to 9 years was 0.79, and the odds of being affected by obesity among children 10 to 11 years of age was 0.36, when compared to children 6 to 7 years old. Findings suggest that low family income, perceptions of neighborhoods as unsafe, and young age are associated with higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles among children living in poor neighborhoods in Montclair, California.

Background: Waterpipe and cigarette smoking have been found to be associated with each other as cigarette smokers were more likely to be waterpipe users than non-cigarette smokers. Also, waterpipe smokers were likely to be former daily cigarette users. The aim of this study is to examine the...

The aim of this article was to investigate the use of exergaming in promoting exercise behavior among children and to examine the impact of the intervention on participants’ exercise self-efficacy, in addition to assessing physiological changes. A sample of 55 children enrolled in the Family Fit program, where participants were categorized into 2 groups: healthy weight and overweight. Measures were taken at baseline, after the 7-week program, at the 12-week follow-up, and at the 24-month follow-up. Positive changes in exercise self-efficacy were significant for the overweight group, while the healthy weight group maintained their exercise self-efficacy. At the 24-month follow-up, 97% children reported being interested in participating in a future fitness program, and 96% children who did not play sports before the intervention started practicing sports. Exercise self-efficacy is a predictor of physical activity, and incorporating exergaming in a structured program may lead to increased self-efficacy in participants.

Background and Purpose: Hookah smoking is a growing young adult phenomenon, particularly among college students. Many users feel that it is safer than other tobacco products, although its health threats are well documented. Little is known about hookah use rates in community colleges that are attended by nearly half of all US college students. This study examined hookah use in a diverse convenience sample of students attending two southern California community colleges. Methods: In fall 2011, a crosssectional, in-classroom survey was administered to 1,207 students. A series of fully adjusted multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to explore demographic, other substance use, and attitudinal correlates of lifetime and current hookah use. Results: Lifetime hookah use (56%) was higher than lifetime cigarette use (49%). Gender and personal socioeconomic status were not related to hookah use. Current use (10.8%) was associated with current use of alcohol, cigars, and cigarettes. Compared to African-Americans, Whites were 2.9 times more likely to be current users, and students who perceive hookah to be more socially acceptable were 21 times more likely to currently use. Conclusion: Since hookah use rates are high, colleges should offer health education programs to inform incoming students about the health risks of hookah and cessation programs.

This investigation aimed to evaluate and describe the health profile and dietary patterns of the oldest Adventists (individuals aged 80 years and older). Cross-sectional investigation. Self-administered lifestyle questionnaire in Adventist congregations in North America. 7192 individuals aged 80 years of age or older enrolled in the Adventist Health Study-2. Dietary intakes for participants were evaluated using a self-administered quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Selected health outcomes data were assessed with the baseline self-administered medical history questionnaire. Our cohort of the old adults Adventists had a predominant female participation (62 %), and the percentage of vegetarians was 52.7 %. Based on classification into respective dietary patterns, 7.8 % of the study population were vegan, 29.2 % of the participants were lacto-ovo vegetarians, 10.2 % were pesco-vegetarians, 5.5 % were semi-vegetarians, and 47.3 % were non-vegetarians. Regarding the assessment of prevalent conditions, non-vegetarians were more likely to report having hypertension than other dietary patterns. Semi-vegetarians and non-vegetarians were more likely to report high cholesterol. A large number of participants reported never smoking (78.5 %) and never drinking alcoholic beverages (57.8 %), and non-vegetarians reported the poorest health perception (20 %) compared to vegans (11.4 %). Our Adventist Health oldest of the old cohort shared many of the characteristics observed among the individuals that make up the long-living cohorts worldwide as well as younger aged Adventist participants. This observation indicates the importance of non-smoking, abstinence from alcohol consumption, daily engagement in regular physical activity, avoidance of disease in older ages, and following a plant-based diet concerning the potential for successful aging.