FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Department of Preventive Medicine

Margaret Caufield – (901) 448-6732, mcaufiel@uthsc.edu or

Department of Communications and Marketing

Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957, schampli@uthsc.edu

 

 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

TARGIT Study Reaches Enrollment Milestone

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Memphis, Tenn. (April 11, 2012) – The Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has announced that the TARGIT Research Study (Treating Adults at Risk for Weight Gain with Interactive Technology) has reached a milestone of enrolling 200 participants.  The purpose of the study is to test an intervention, which targets young adult smokers who want to quit, but avoid weight gain that often occurs afterwards.

The UTHSC Department of Preventive Medicine still seeks men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 who are normal weight or above, smoke 10 or more cigarettes per day and want to quit smoking.  Enrolled participants will receive nicotine patches at no cost, access to a telephone tobacco-quit line, interactive technology and $250 for follow-up visits.  There is no cost to participate.  Recruitment for this study will continue through August 2012, so there is still time to join.

“We are very excited that 200 young adult smokers have joined the TARGIT study to help themselves stop smoking without weight gain using interactive technology,” noted Karen Johnson, MD, MPH, principal investigator of the TARGIT study.  “Time is running out for other young adult smokers to make this commitment and join the study.  I encourage anyone who is thinking about quitting to give us a call.  Just call 448-STOP -- 448-7867 -- to learn more.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causes many diseases and reduces the health of smokers in general.  Smoking can cause an increased risk of having a stroke, coronary heart disease and lung cancer.  Some of the benefits of quitting smoking include improved lung function and fewer coughs.  Quitting can also prolong your life and help you feel healthier.

As the flagship statewide academic health system, the mission of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is to bring the benefits of the health sciences to the achievement and maintenance of human health, with a focus on the citizens of Tennessee and the region, by pursuing an integrated program of education, research, clinical care, and public service.  In 2011, UT Health Science Center celebrated its centennial: 100 years advancing the future of health care.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main UTHSC campus is located in Memphis and includes six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy.  The UTHSC campus in Knoxville includes a College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  In addition, the UTHSC Chattanooga campus includes a College of Medicine and an Allied Health Sciences unit.  Since its founding in 1911, UTHSC has educated and trained more than 53,000 health care professionals on campuses and in health care facilities across the state.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

 

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