Prevention Matters

Congrats to the University of Louisville!

On November 19, 2009, the University of Louisville will begin its transition toward becoming a smoke-free campus. While some smoking areas will be designated temporarily, the campus will go entirely smoke free in June, 2010. Congratulations to president, Dr. James Ramsey, and the university leadership for making what must have been a difficult decision. Bucking the powerful tobacco industry and facing down disgruntled smoking student and university workers are no easy tasks. You did the right thing!

Tobacco use costs our nation more than $150 billion annually. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death. Yet, there is hope – if tobacco users quit by age 30, their life expectancy is comparable to that of non-smokers. And, stopping tobacco use at any age can bring improved health.

Along with instituting a smoking ban, I encourage the University to make comprehensive cessation counseling, quitlines and medications available to all employees and students. Smoking cessation treatment is one of the highest ranked preventive health services – very positive health impact and cost effective.

I’m very proud of my alma mater and encourage all campuses throughout the United States to become smoke-free.

Diane M. Canova, JD
Managing Senior Fellow
& Senior Program Officer

When college-town bars offer special prices on drinks, the result is an increase in drunk college students. That's the conclusion of recent research, and it didn't come from the "Univeristy of DUH!"

Alcohol researchers from the University of Florida and San Diego State University decided to study the relationship between drink specials and the quantity of alcohol consumed. According to the New York Times' Tara Parker-Pope, they were spurred by long-time claims from bar owners that special drink prices attract more people to the bar, but don't result in people drinking more.

The researchers collectied data on 495 men and 309 women leaving seven bars near a university campus. The bar patrons were given breath alcohol concentration tests and also told researchers what they drank and spent during their time at the bar. For every $1.40 hike in drink price, the bar goer was 30 percent less likely to leave the bar legally drunk.

The findings will be published in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

College classes are starting and another cohort of students is arriving on campus. Some of them will pack on the so-called "freshman 15"—the extra pounds gained during college that can last a lifetime.

It’s been assumed this rapid weight gain is related to sitting in the all-you-can-eat cafeteria on campus having long philosophical conversations. Research from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health indicates that heavy drinking is associated with weight gain during college years in complex ways.

Among 3206 Minnesota college students, binge drinking was associated with a 7 to 32% increase in a wide variety of unhealthy eating behaviors--infrequent breakfast consumption, eating few fruit and vegetables, high fast food consumption, unhealthy weight control behaviors, and some sedentary behavior. These associations held throughout the college years.　

The study authors wonder if health messages are inadvertently competing with each other. Perhaps healthy eating messages do not fully account for ways a campus drinking context influences eating and, on the flip side, that the adage to never drink on an empty stomach may subtly contribute to weight gain. Now that’s food (and drink) for thought.

Susan Maloney
Managing Senior Fellow
& Senior Program Officer