Weekly Prevention Update 25 April 2012
Weekly prevention update 04-18-12
Noticeboard
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Calling for abstracts: Journal of Health Information
The Medical Library Association of Nigeria is launching its official journal, Journal of Health Information, and will focus medical librarianship as well as broader health informatics. The journal will publish twice a year, with the first issue published in October 2012. For more information on the journal, or submitting an article, please email: Journalhealthinform@gmail.com. HIFA2015 email dated 13 April 2012
Prevention updates
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Global: Salt content in fast food varies between countries
The amount of salt found in fast food meals varies significantly between countries, and fast food in Canada and the US contained the most salt, according to new research. Looking at six fast food chains in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, researchers found, for example, that in the US, McDonald's Chicken McNuggets contain around 1.6 g of sodium per 100 g, whereas in the UK, they contained only 0.6 g of sodium per 100 g. "Many business decisions are made by the chains saying they are making the products based on the preference of the people, but those preferences could come from a test group of 20 people," said study author Dr. Norm Campbell, from the University of Calgary. "In Canada, our fries have about twice as much salt as anywhere else. It should be a travel advisory." Time.
http://ti.me/IyU8RJ
Global: 135 nations agree to stem illegal tobacco trade
One hundred thirty five nations agreed to a global deal to fight the illegal tobacco trade and provide governments with US$50 billion in annual tax revenues, according to the WHO. The agreement, set to go before a ministerial meeting in November for adoption, will require countries to establish tracking measures to detect and investigate illegally traded tobacco products. "Illicit trade in tobacco is one of the most dangerous trades at the moment, it's a way of getting cheap, illegal cigarettes into the hands of young people, poor people, people who are in a vulnerable position," said Ian Walton-George, who chaired the negotiations. AFP.
http://bit.ly/HYRTg0
India: Bangalore improves anti-smoking efforts
Although there is already a ban on smoking in public places, the law is often overlooked and now two business associations have agreed to include no-smoking areas throughout the city's hotels, restaurants, and bars. "Customers of some darshinis and hotels continue to smoke within the premises [and] are also putting other customers, hotel owners, and staff at risk," said Bruhat Bangalore Hotel Owner’s Association president, Vasudey Adiga. "This initiative will strengthen the implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 guidelines. We also want to create awareness about cancer prevention among the public, besides strengthening smoke-free policies in restaurants." The Hindu.
http://bit.ly/ztrEZ6
UK: New NCD research center launched
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine launched the Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, which will bring together researchers, policymakers, funders, and advocates to focus on research and develop strategies that address the global the NCD burden. The Centre will include over 50 researchers and experts across a range of disciplines and geographic regions. "Our Centre will support policy makers and researchers in low and middle income countries to work in collaboration with those in high income countries," said Professor Neil Pearce, Director of the Centre. "We can achieve much more by working together, both to take action on the problems for which solutions already exist, and to research the problems for which the solutions are not yet clear." The Centre was launched today (25 April) during a symposium at the School titled, "Global non-communicable disease: From research to action", and had experts participating from all over the world. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
http://bit.ly/InigHL
US: California poll supports soda tax
Nearly 60% of California voters would support a special tax on soft drinks to fight childhood obesity, according to a new poll. In order to fund anti-obesity programs targeting homes, schools, and communities, an increasing number of people believe local governments should have the ability to levy taxes on alcohol, tobacco, junk food, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Almost half of respondents believe that unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity are the greatest threats to children's health. "Californians understand that health happens in schools, in neighborhoods, and with prevention," Dr. Robert Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment, which sponsored the poll, said in a statement. "Regardless of age, ethnicity, income or political ideology, they recognize that investments in prevention save money." Conversely, around 22% of respondents believe that obesity was a personal issue and should be left to families to deal with. San Francisco Chronicle.
http://bit.ly/HovlQw
US: Crippled by obesity
Half of Americans will be obese by 2020 and obesity will reduce life expectancy by 13 years, according to current projections. Also, obesity will be responsible for US$344 billion in health care spending (21% of all health care spending) in the US by 2020. Currently, 72% of all Americans eat fast food at least once a week, which totals around US$100 billion a year. Americans burn 120-140 fewer calories per day than they did 50 years ago, adding up to over 51,000 calories - 14 pounds – a year. EpiAnalysis.
http://bit.ly/HE0eF4
US: Kids find ways around soda bans in school
When sodas (as opposed to all sugar-sweetened beverages) are banned from schools, students supplement their inability to purchase soda by consuming other sugar-sweetened beverages, according to new research involving 6900 schoolchildren from 40 states. However, banning all sugar-sweetened beverages reduced in-school access to those beverages by 15% and weekly purchasing of those beverages by 8%. Despite the decreased access, researchers found that overall daily and weekly consumption (30% and 85%, respectively) did not change for students in any state. Also, when schools ban all sugar-sweetened beverages, students tend to increase consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages outside of school to compensate. Journal Watch.
http://bit.ly/J7ZO6q
Research updates
----------
"Community health workers in Brazil's United Health System: A framework of their praxis and contributions to patient health behaviors"
R Pinto, S Bulhoes da Silva, R Soriano
Social Science and Medicine 2012; 74(6):940-947
http://bit.ly/HXj3Tt
"Comparative impact of smoke-free legislation on smoking cessation in three European countries"
G Nagelhout, H Vries, C Boudrea, S Allwright, et al
European Journal of Public Health 2012; 22(1):4-9
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/suppl_1/4.abstract
"Kiwifruit decreases blood pressure and whole-blood platelet aggregation in male smokers"
A Karlsen, M Svendsen, I Seljeflot, P Laake, et al
Journal of Human Hypertension 2012; published online 19 January 2012
http://bit.ly/IgIJsV
"Perceived crime and traffic safety is related to physical activity among adults in Nigeria"
A Oyeyemi, B Adegoke, J Sallis, A Oyeyemi, I De Bourdeaudhuij
BMC Public Health 2012; 12:294 (open access)
http://bit.ly/I4AqE1
Resources
----------
Effectiveness of tax and price policies for tobacco control
Report that presents a "critical review and evaluation of the evidence by 25 international experts from twelve countries on the economics, epidemiology, public policy, and tobacco control aspects of tax and price policies." The report includes 18 concluding statements on the impact of interventions to increase the price of tobacco products. WHO.
http://bit.ly/HZMjZP
Linking policies that prevent hunger and childhood obesity
Report that suggests "policymakers seeking to address hunger in their communities can find solutions that will also contribute significantly to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic." Policy strategies outlined in the report include: establishing healthy food financing initiatives to increase access to nutrition foods; supporting farm-to-institution, farm-to-school, and school garden programs; increasing free and reduced-priced school meals; and partnering with the private sector to increase the value of federal nutrition assistance benefits for healthful foods through double-coupon initiatives. Leadership for Healthy Communities.
http://bit.ly/IYeJRD
Sustainable development and health toolkit
Toolkit for the UN conference Rio +20 that was "designed to strengthen the capacity of advocates, program managers, policy makers, donors, and others to plan, implement, evaluate, promote, and scale up Health and Sustainable Development programs and to advocate for changes to national policy and service delivery guidelines." PAHO.
http://bit.ly/mXjm1u
Calendar
----------
19th European Congress on Obesity
9-12 May 2012
Lyon, France
http://bit.ly/AofMTV
Noticeboard
----------
Calling for abstracts: Journal of Health Information
The Medical Library Association of Nigeria is launching its official journal, Journal of Health Information, and will focus medical librarianship as well as broader health informatics. The journal will publish twice a year, with the first issue published in October 2012. For more information on the journal, or submitting an article, please email: Journalhealthinform@gmail.com. HIFA2015 email dated 13 April 2012
Prevention updates
----------
Global: Salt content in fast food varies between countries
The amount of salt found in fast food meals varies significantly between countries, and fast food in Canada and the US contained the most salt, according to new research. Looking at six fast food chains in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, researchers found, for example, that in the US, McDonald's Chicken McNuggets contain around 1.6 g of sodium per 100 g, whereas in the UK, they contained only 0.6 g of sodium per 100 g. "Many business decisions are made by the chains saying they are making the products based on the preference of the people, but those preferences could come from a test group of 20 people," said study author Dr. Norm Campbell, from the University of Calgary. "In Canada, our fries have about twice as much salt as anywhere else. It should be a travel advisory." Time.
http://ti.me/IyU8RJ
Global: 135 nations agree to stem illegal tobacco trade
One hundred thirty five nations agreed to a global deal to fight the illegal tobacco trade and provide governments with US$50 billion in annual tax revenues, according to the WHO. The agreement, set to go before a ministerial meeting in November for adoption, will require countries to establish tracking measures to detect and investigate illegally traded tobacco products. "Illicit trade in tobacco is one of the most dangerous trades at the moment, it's a way of getting cheap, illegal cigarettes into the hands of young people, poor people, people who are in a vulnerable position," said Ian Walton-George, who chaired the negotiations. AFP.
http://bit.ly/HYRTg0
India: Bangalore improves anti-smoking efforts
Although there is already a ban on smoking in public places, the law is often overlooked and now two business associations have agreed to include no-smoking areas throughout the city's hotels, restaurants, and bars. "Customers of some darshinis and hotels continue to smoke within the premises [and] are also putting other customers, hotel owners, and staff at risk," said Bruhat Bangalore Hotel Owner’s Association president, Vasudey Adiga. "This initiative will strengthen the implementation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 guidelines. We also want to create awareness about cancer prevention among the public, besides strengthening smoke-free policies in restaurants." The Hindu.
http://bit.ly/ztrEZ6
UK: New NCD research center launched
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine launched the Centre for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, which will bring together researchers, policymakers, funders, and advocates to focus on research and develop strategies that address the global the NCD burden. The Centre will include over 50 researchers and experts across a range of disciplines and geographic regions. "Our Centre will support policy makers and researchers in low and middle income countries to work in collaboration with those in high income countries," said Professor Neil Pearce, Director of the Centre. "We can achieve much more by working together, both to take action on the problems for which solutions already exist, and to research the problems for which the solutions are not yet clear." The Centre was launched today (25 April) during a symposium at the School titled, "Global non-communicable disease: From research to action", and had experts participating from all over the world. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
http://bit.ly/InigHL
US: California poll supports soda tax
Nearly 60% of California voters would support a special tax on soft drinks to fight childhood obesity, according to a new poll. In order to fund anti-obesity programs targeting homes, schools, and communities, an increasing number of people believe local governments should have the ability to levy taxes on alcohol, tobacco, junk food, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Almost half of respondents believe that unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity are the greatest threats to children's health. "Californians understand that health happens in schools, in neighborhoods, and with prevention," Dr. Robert Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment, which sponsored the poll, said in a statement. "Regardless of age, ethnicity, income or political ideology, they recognize that investments in prevention save money." Conversely, around 22% of respondents believe that obesity was a personal issue and should be left to families to deal with. San Francisco Chronicle.
http://bit.ly/HovlQw
US: Crippled by obesity
Half of Americans will be obese by 2020 and obesity will reduce life expectancy by 13 years, according to current projections. Also, obesity will be responsible for US$344 billion in health care spending (21% of all health care spending) in the US by 2020. Currently, 72% of all Americans eat fast food at least once a week, which totals around US$100 billion a year. Americans burn 120-140 fewer calories per day than they did 50 years ago, adding up to over 51,000 calories - 14 pounds – a year. EpiAnalysis.
http://bit.ly/HE0eF4
US: Kids find ways around soda bans in school
When sodas (as opposed to all sugar-sweetened beverages) are banned from schools, students supplement their inability to purchase soda by consuming other sugar-sweetened beverages, according to new research involving 6900 schoolchildren from 40 states. However, banning all sugar-sweetened beverages reduced in-school access to those beverages by 15% and weekly purchasing of those beverages by 8%. Despite the decreased access, researchers found that overall daily and weekly consumption (30% and 85%, respectively) did not change for students in any state. Also, when schools ban all sugar-sweetened beverages, students tend to increase consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages outside of school to compensate. Journal Watch.
http://bit.ly/J7ZO6q
Research updates
----------
"Community health workers in Brazil's United Health System: A framework of their praxis and contributions to patient health behaviors"
R Pinto, S Bulhoes da Silva, R Soriano
Social Science and Medicine 2012; 74(6):940-947
http://bit.ly/HXj3Tt
"Comparative impact of smoke-free legislation on smoking cessation in three European countries"
G Nagelhout, H Vries, C Boudrea, S Allwright, et al
European Journal of Public Health 2012; 22(1):4-9
http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/suppl_1/4.abstract
"Kiwifruit decreases blood pressure and whole-blood platelet aggregation in male smokers"
A Karlsen, M Svendsen, I Seljeflot, P Laake, et al
Journal of Human Hypertension 2012; published online 19 January 2012
http://bit.ly/IgIJsV
"Perceived crime and traffic safety is related to physical activity among adults in Nigeria"
A Oyeyemi, B Adegoke, J Sallis, A Oyeyemi, I De Bourdeaudhuij
BMC Public Health 2012; 12:294 (open access)
http://bit.ly/I4AqE1
Resources
----------
Effectiveness of tax and price policies for tobacco control
Report that presents a "critical review and evaluation of the evidence by 25 international experts from twelve countries on the economics, epidemiology, public policy, and tobacco control aspects of tax and price policies." The report includes 18 concluding statements on the impact of interventions to increase the price of tobacco products. WHO.
http://bit.ly/HZMjZP
Linking policies that prevent hunger and childhood obesity
Report that suggests "policymakers seeking to address hunger in their communities can find solutions that will also contribute significantly to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic." Policy strategies outlined in the report include: establishing healthy food financing initiatives to increase access to nutrition foods; supporting farm-to-institution, farm-to-school, and school garden programs; increasing free and reduced-priced school meals; and partnering with the private sector to increase the value of federal nutrition assistance benefits for healthful foods through double-coupon initiatives. Leadership for Healthy Communities.
http://bit.ly/IYeJRD
Sustainable development and health toolkit
Toolkit for the UN conference Rio +20 that was "designed to strengthen the capacity of advocates, program managers, policy makers, donors, and others to plan, implement, evaluate, promote, and scale up Health and Sustainable Development programs and to advocate for changes to national policy and service delivery guidelines." PAHO.
http://bit.ly/mXjm1u
Calendar
----------
19th European Congress on Obesity
9-12 May 2012
Lyon, France
http://bit.ly/AofMTV
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