Greater engagement in valued activities is associated with less barriers to quitting smoking among smokers with mobility impairments.

Background: Individuals with mobility impairments (MI; use equipment to ambulate) have a high prevalence of both smoking and depression. Behavioral activation (BA) purports that depressed mood is remediated through valued activity engagement and may facilitate smoking cessation in MI populations.

Objective: We examined cross-sectional associations between activity engagement and variables important for smoking cessation among a high-risk group of smokers (people with MIs) and also describe a smoking cessation intervention based on BA, given the lack of studies on smokers with MIs.

SisterTalk: final results of a culturally tailored cable television delivered weight control program for Black women.

Background: Obesity among Black women continues to exceed that of other women. Most weight loss programs created without reference to specific cultural contexts are less effective for Black than White women. Weight control approaches accessible to Black women and adapted to relevant cultural contexts are important for addressing this problem.

Correlates of weight patterns during middle age characterized by functional principal components analysis.

Purpose: Describing weight trajectories using functional methods may further our understanding of how weight impacts health. We characterize weight patterns and describe correlates of these patterns.

Methods: Using a subset of the Framingham Heart Study original cohort limited-access data set (n=1,429), we conducted a functional principal components analysis (PCA) of body mass index from 40 to 55 years of age.

Incident diabetes in relation to weight patterns during middle age.

The authors examined the association between weight patterns during middle age and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus using a subset (n = 1,476) of the Framingham Heart Study original cohort limited-access data set (1948-2003). Participants diagnosed with diabetes before age 50 years were excluded. A functional principal components analysis of body mass index from age 40 years to age 50 years was used to define weight patterns in terms of overall weight status (normal weight, overweight, or obese), weight change (weight loss, stable weight, or weight gain), and weight cycling.

Dietary behaviors and portion sizes of black women who enrolled in SisterTalk and variation by demographic characteristics.

Objective: To describe the dietary behaviors of black women who enrolled in the SisterTalk weight control study.

Design: Baseline data collected via telephone survey and in-person screening.

Setting: Boston, Massachusetts and surrounding areas.