As Healton et al have demonstrated (1), major risk behaviors for
chronic
diseases tend to cluster, especially in lower socioeconomic groups.
Since it
is known that these risk behaviors are acquired as early as in their teens
(2), it
is essential for efficient modification of these risk behaviors to
encompass
components targeting young people, such as education and school-based
programs (3).
References
1. Healton CG, Vallone D, McCausland KL, Xiao H, Green MP. Smoking,
obesity, and their co-occurrence in the United States: cross sectional
analysis.
BMJ 2006:bmj.38840.608704.80.
2. Lowry R, Kann L, Collins JL, Kolbe LJ. The effect of socioeconomic
status
on chronic disease risk behaviors among US adolescents. Jama 1996;276(10):
792-7.
3. Carrel AL, Clark RR, Peterson SE, Nemeth BA, Sullivan J, Allen DB.
Improvement of Fitness, Body Composition, and Insulin Sensitivity in
Overweight Children in a School-Based Exercise Program: A Randomized,
Controlled Study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159(10):963-968.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests:
No competing interests
15 May 2006
Takeharu Koga
Associate professor
Atsushi Kawaguchi
Kurume University School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume, 830-0011 Japan
Rapid Response:
Must be "terminated" earlier
As Healton et al have demonstrated (1), major risk behaviors for
chronic
diseases tend to cluster, especially in lower socioeconomic groups.
Since it
is known that these risk behaviors are acquired as early as in their teens
(2), it
is essential for efficient modification of these risk behaviors to
encompass
components targeting young people, such as education and school-based
programs (3).
References
1. Healton CG, Vallone D, McCausland KL, Xiao H, Green MP. Smoking,
obesity, and their co-occurrence in the United States: cross sectional
analysis.
BMJ 2006:bmj.38840.608704.80.
2. Lowry R, Kann L, Collins JL, Kolbe LJ. The effect of socioeconomic
status
on chronic disease risk behaviors among US adolescents. Jama 1996;276(10):
792-7.
3. Carrel AL, Clark RR, Peterson SE, Nemeth BA, Sullivan J, Allen DB.
Improvement of Fitness, Body Composition, and Insulin Sensitivity in
Overweight Children in a School-Based Exercise Program: A Randomized,
Controlled Study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159(10):963-968.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests