A healthy start to the New Year
Lose weight, stay fit and healthy, and quit smoking are some of the perennial favorites for New Year’s resolutions, according to the Statistic Brain Research Institute. Some 64 percent of these well-intentioned promises last past January. Researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC are experts in keeping the public healthy. This time of year, that might mean helping people get a new start.
Contact: Zen Vuong at (213) 300-1381 or zvuong@usc.edu
Dangers of ‘thirdhand smoke’
“A new year always brings resolve to be healthier and to stop health-harming behaviors, like cigarette smoking. One reason to quit is to limit the exposure of family, friends and co-workers to ‘thirdhand smoke’ — the smoke particles and gases that deposit on surfaces, like carpets, furniture and even clothes. New research shows that thirdhand smoke may have adverse consequences, but exposure to it can be reduced and even eliminated.”
Jonathan Samet is the Distinguished Professor and Flora L. Thornton Chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He is a leading authority on the health effects of smoking and air pollution. One of his research interests is the health effects of thirdhand smoke in indoor environments.
Contact: (323) 865-0803 or jsamet@usc.edu
The influence of social networks
“Research shows that our social networks — meaning the people who are part of our day-to-day lives, like friends, family and co-workers — strongly influence what we eat, how much we exercise and ultimately whether we are a healthy weight or overweight. So when you are setting new, healthy goals and trying to take on new, healthy behaviors, make sure you enlist the support of your social network. Rather than have your social network be a barrier to your healthy goals, ask the people in your life to support your goals and even collectively adopt these goals and healthy choices so that you are more likely to succeed.”
Kayla de la Haye is an assistant professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She specializes in applying social network analysis and systems science to health behavior research and interventions in youth and families.
Contact: (323) 442-8228 or delahaye@usc.edu
Not another couch potato
“Due to streaming, the speed of accessing highly enjoyable TV and movies has reached never-before-seen heights. If this trend continues, binge watching and other addiction-like symptoms, such as TV cravings and spending less time doing alternative hobbies, might become even more common in future years. While binge watching doesn’t directly cause harm, it could indirectly affect your mental and physical health. All things being equal, the more time you spend binge watching, the less time available for exercise and other activities, like interacting with friends and family.”
Adam Leventhal, an associate professor of preventive medicine and psychology, is the director of the USC Health, Emotion & Addiction Laboratory in the Keck School of Medicine. He is an expert on smoking, vaping, addiction and mental health.
Contact: (323) 442-8222 or adam.leventhal@usc.edu
Are e-cigarettes a smoking cessation tool?
“Some people use e-cigarettes in order to quit smoking. So far, there is no conclusive evidence that e-cigarettes are effective for smoking cessation. There is also increasing evidence that the chemicals in e-cigarette vapor are dangerous. Several studies have shown dangerous levels of chemicals such as diacetyl, which is linked to lung disease.
“There are several treatments that have been proven effective for smoking cessation, such as combinations of nicotine replacement therapy and counseling. People who want to quit should use methods that have been proven effective in large-scale clinical trials.”
Jennifer Unger, a professor of preventive medicine in the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is director of the Ph.D. program in Health Behavior Research. She is an expert on smoking, vaping and public health.
Contact: (323) 442-8234 or unger@usc.edu
