Adolescents who consume energy drinks during the past 7 days are more likely to also consume other high-sugar beverages. Whereas those who report no past 7-day use of energy drinks consume higher rates of low- or no-sugar beverages. Health education and prevention efforts to reduce adolescent energy drink consumption may lead to reductions in other high-sugar beverage intake and have a positive impact on obesity rates among adolescents.

This study provides insight into a subsection of the WIC population. Further research should be done regarding increasing the amount and variety of F&V consumed by WIC women and children.

Although college is a crucial time to establish healthy behaviors for cancer prevention, little is known about cancer awareness and behaviors among US college students in less economically developed, rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine college students' cancer-preventative knowledge and health behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a large southeastern university in the USA, on a convenience sample of students attending a campus-wide health education class. Data were collected during April and May 2017. Pearson's chi-square tests, independent samples t test, and one-way ANOVA were used. Participants (n = 1511) were female (59.1%), non-Hispanic White (69.7%), first-year college students (76.7%), and either 18 (35.9%) or 19 (44.6%) years old. Participants recognized an average of 6.69 (SD = 3.08) out of 11 risk factors on the Cancer Awareness Measure (Cronbach's alpha = 0.874), with a statistically significant difference observed by gender (t(1471) = - 3.348, p = 0.001), but not by race ((F(2,1474) = 1.742, p = 0.176). Chi-square analyses revealed significant associations by gender for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), and alcohol use (p < 0.001). Significant associations were also found by race/ethnicity for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p < 0.001), and fruit and vegetable consumption (p = 0.035). Findings indicate a need to educate college students to recognize and modify cancer-related behavioral risk factors, particularly dietary habits. Specifically, health campaigns to reduce gender and racial gaps in cancer-preventative knowledge and behavior among first-year students are recommended.

Purpose: To investigate African-American fathers’ (AAF) perceptions regarding the applicability and need for their involvement as a health connection for their children and describe how participating fathers’ behavior was affected by their attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of their influence on their children’s health.Methods: This exploratory study gathered data via semi-structured focus groups (n = 3) and thematically analyzed it utilizing a grounded theory approach. Participants included AAF (n = 20) with a mean age of 37 years (SD 11.79), with at least one child between 6 and 18 years old.Results: Four major themes were revealed: (1) appropriate health education for participants’ children (should first and foremost be delivered by parents); (2) participants’ paternal health-related guidance approach (reactive, rather than proactive); (3) participants’ perceived influences on health-related communication with their children (gender roles, efficacy constraints); and (4) paternal definitions of health (most often associated with diet).Conclusion: Understanding AAFs’ perceived and desired role in their children’s health edification can inform initiatives that actively engage these men, and nurture their level of involvement, to promote positive health behaviors among their children; this is necessary to realize their potential to actively improve the health of their children, families, and communities.