Male adolescents who participate in organized sports are more likely to be prescribed opioid medications and misuse them than male teens that don’t play sports, finds a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Teens with Late Bedtimes Have Lower Grades Teens with late bedtimes during the school year and schooldays that start early have lower academic performance and are at risk for later emotional distress. A new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health provides further evidence for a growing body of research that supports a movement to delay school start times for adolescents. More

Race a Bigger Health Care Barrier Than Insurance Status Blacks, Hispanics and Asians are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to visit a health care professional, even with health insurance, finds a recent study in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. More

Lifestyle Behaviors Key to Post-Deployment Health of Veterans A new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion finds that the lifestyle of veterans both pre- and post-deployment influences their post-deployment wellness.

Many workplaces ban smoking to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and to encourage employees to quit smoking. However, the presence of another smoker at home may sabotage employers’ efforts to get workers to quit, finds a new study in the American Journal of Health Promotion. More

Asking Your Doctor Questions | Be a Prepared Patient Resource One of the most important things you can do during a doctor’s appointment is to ask questions. Here’s advice on what to ask and how. More

Studies have shown that U.S. military veterans smoke at a higher rate than civilians. Websites targeting veterans, however, fail to provide information about the risks of tobacco products and how to quit smoking, finds a new report in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

Teens with Chronic Illnesses Find It Hard to Stick to Treatment Teenagers with chronic illnesses face special barriers that may interfere with how well they adhere to their medical treatment, according to a new review in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Weight Loss Apps Lack Key Ingredients for Success Weight loss mobile applications may work well as basic tracking devices, but need to do more to help dieters improve motivation, reduce stress and solve problems, according to a new report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Healthy Food Rarely Convenient for Urban Minorities Despite the prevalence of corner and convenience stores in urban neighborhoods, many residents have to travel farther to find supermarkets that offer a wide variety of healthful food choices, finds a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Unaccompanied Teens Often Unable to Get Needed Vaccines Health care providers report that older teens often go to the doctor without a parent or guardian, a new survey in the Journal of Adolescent Health reveals—and those teens may not get necessary vaccinations because there’s no parent or guardian present to give consent.

Parents Play a Role in Teen Eating Disorders | Health Behavior News

It May Not “Get Better” For Bisexual Teens The “It Gets Better” Project was launched in 2010 as an attempt to address suicides amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual teens by recording online reminders that their lives will improve as they leave school and transition into adulthood. A new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health finds that this is not necessarily the case for bisexual teens and that a more nuanced approach to counseling might help.

Having trust in one’s physician has been correlated with better adherence to diabetes self-care, finds a new study in the American Journal of Health Behavior.

Exercise Benefits People with Asthma People with asthma who engaged in appropriate exercise programs had improved cardiovascular fitness and an overall improved quality of life, finds a new review in The Cochrane Library.

Body Image Tied to Suicidal Thoughts in Young Teens Seeing oneself as overweight or obese may be an important, independent predictor of suicidal thoughts, especially in young girls, reports a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Restricting Food and Fluids during Labor is Unwarranted | Health Behavior News Despite the longstanding, widespread practice of restricting women’s food and fluid intake during labor, a large-scale analysis in The Cochrane Library finds it unwarranted and supports women eating and drinking as they please. More