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A NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WOOD COUNTY ELDERLY PARTICIPATING IN A TITLE VI MEAL PROGRAM
Journal of the American Dietetic Association Online
other groups. Comparing BMD means, volleyball and swimming had higher BMD levels than cross country and gymnastics. Calcium intake, percent body fat, oral contraceptive use and menstrual status had no significant effects on BMD. Using pairwise comparisons, the swimming group had a higher percent body fat level and body mass index (BMI) than runners and gymnasts. Results also indicated that volleyball, a weight-bearing activity, had higher BMD values compared with the other weightbearing sports (cross country and gymnastics) and the non-weight-bearing sport (swimming). Interestingly, when compared to cross country runners and gymnasts, swimmers had higher BMD values. These results may indicate that swimmers, despite participation in a non-weight-bearing sport, maintained high BMDs because they possessed a high BMI. TITLE: A FAMILY ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' FOOD CHOICES IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AUTHOR(S): S.M. Brown, MS; L. Landry-Meyer, Ph.D.; R. Pobocik, Ph.D., RD; S. Horowitz, Ph.D. LEARNING OUTCOME: Identify and describe four different environments that impact adolescents' school food choice. TEXT: The school system, where one in five children and adolescents consume their main meal per day, reaches approximately 95% of American children and adolescents. Using an ecological perspective, the study examined how school food choice is affected by the adolescent and by the interplay of different environments such as the family (microsystem), school (exosystem), and culture (macrosystem). Subjects, 144 adolescents from six high schools enrolled in a 4-H youth program, were surveyed and personnel from each of these high schools were interviewed. For each environment, regression analysis was used to determine the best predictor of school food choice. Results indicated that for the individual model, 11.7% of the variance was explained by a combination of overall perceived health and eating self-efficacy. For the family model, 7.2% of the variance was explained using a combination of socioeconomic status, food availability in the home, family meal pattern, and family connectedness measures. Contrary to the supporting literature, constructs in the exo- and macrosystem were opposite of the proposed hypothesis and only accounted for 5.5% and 3.4% (respectively) of the variance in school food choice. In the relationship model, there was a weak relationship between the constructs from each environment and adolescents' school food choice. Further studies should be conducted that use a variety of outcome measures and obtain a sample more representative of the United States adolescent population. Although variables in this study were weak predictors of school food choice, ensuring the nutritional integrity of schools should be a top priority for policy-makers. TITLE: A NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WOOD COUNTY ELDERLY PARTICIPATING IN A TITLE VI MEAL PROGRAM AUTHOR(S): J. M. Hearons; C. Haar, MS, RD, R. S. Pobocik, PhD, RD; M. S. Houston, PhD, RD; S. Fulks, PhD, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase awareness of the many variables that place free-living elderly at risk of malnutrition. http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?article=jjada0310309ab01&arttype=full (109 of 117) [3/21/2008 8:45:21 AM]
Journal of the American Dietetic Association Online
TEXT: By the year 2030, 70 million adults or 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 and older, years often marked by malnutrition. This investigation examined the nutritional status of free-living elderly participating in the Wood County Committee on Aging Title VI Meal Program. Thirty-nine subjects, age 58 to 96, were assessed using The Mini Nutritional Assessment, Nutrition Screening Initiative DETERMINE Checklist and Level I Screen, and an assessment adapted from the Georgian Centenarian Study. Overall results found subjects to be at moderate to high nutritional risk. The average DETERMINE Checklist score was 5.5 ± 3.2 (0-2, good; 3-5, moderate; 6 or more, high risk) and the average MNA score was 17.3 ± 2.5 (<17 is malnourished; 17 - 23.5 is at risk). Weight, body mass index, and body fat were predominantly above the normal reference range. Dietary assessments indicated subjects lacking in all food groups. Self report of attitude reveal 79.5% of subjects with good life satisfaction and 59% rated overall physical health as excellent. Pearson correlations showed a negative relationship between better mental health and lower DETERMINE scores (r = –.42463), BMI and age (r = –.3511), and a positive relationship between better physical health and higher MNA scores (r = +.48502). The findings of this investigation indicate further research is necessary to explore the relationship between nutritional status and attitudes regarding mental and physical health. Dietitians should continue to focus on adequate nutrient and food intake, maintaining a healthful weight, and promoting physical activity for individuals in this age group. TITLE: FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE OF RUSSIAN-SPEAKING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AS COMPARED TO AMERICAN CHILDREN AUTHOR(S): M.D. Houghton, PhD, RD; University of Idaho; D.M. Oliver, MS; Spokane Regional Health District, Spokane, WA LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand the cultural influences on fruit and vegetable consumption among Russian-speaking immigrant children. TEXT: Culture plays a major role in food decisions. However, the eating habits of children of immigrants from the Former Soviet Union have not been fully examined. The objectives of this research were to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption by children from both American and Russian-speaking immigrant (RSI) low-income families, assess the mothers' behaviors, attitudes and beliefs, and to identify cultural differences between groups. Thirty-nine American and 37 RSI mothers participating in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) completed a survey questionnaire. Fruit and vegetable consumption data was also collected on their 2-5 year old children using a 24-hour recall. Children from RSI families consumed a significantly greater number (p<.05) and variety (p<.001) of fruits and vegetables than children from American families. Both groups had knowledge about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, with the exception of fiber, which was less understood by RSI mothers (p<.0001). Significant differences in family structure and eating habits emerged in this study. Children from RSI families had another adult, in addition to their mother, present at meals more often than American children (p<.05) and also ate less restaurant food (p<.001) and more food prepared at home (p<.0001). Consumption of fruits and vegetables by American WIC clients may be improved by encouraging home prepared food and family meal time as observed among the Russian-speaking immigrants. TITLE: THE STARTING POINT FOR A HEALTHY DIET: WHERE POPULAR DIETS AND http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?article=jjada0310309ab01&arttype=full (110 of 117) [3/21/2008 8:45:21 AM]
other groups. Comparing BMD means, volleyball and swimming had higher BMD levels than cross country and gymnastics. Calcium intake, percent body fat, oral contraceptive use and menstrual status had no significant effects on BMD. Using pairwise comparisons, the swimming group had a higher percent body fat level and body mass index (BMI) than runners and gymnasts. Results also indicated that volleyball, a weight-bearing activity, had higher BMD values compared with the other weightbearing sports (cross country and gymnastics) and the non-weight-bearing sport (swimming). Interestingly, when compared to cross country runners and gymnasts, swimmers had higher BMD values. These results may indicate that swimmers, despite participation in a non-weight-bearing sport, maintained high BMDs because they possessed a high BMI. TITLE: A FAMILY ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' FOOD CHOICES IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AUTHOR(S): S.M. Brown, MS; L. Landry-Meyer, Ph.D.; R. Pobocik, Ph.D., RD; S. Horowitz, Ph.D. LEARNING OUTCOME: Identify and describe four different environments that impact adolescents' school food choice. TEXT: The school system, where one in five children and adolescents consume their main meal per day, reaches approximately 95% of American children and adolescents. Using an ecological perspective, the study examined how school food choice is affected by the adolescent and by the interplay of different environments such as the family (microsystem), school (exosystem), and culture (macrosystem). Subjects, 144 adolescents from six high schools enrolled in a 4-H youth program, were surveyed and personnel from each of these high schools were interviewed. For each environment, regression analysis was used to determine the best predictor of school food choice. Results indicated that for the individual model, 11.7% of the variance was explained by a combination of overall perceived health and eating self-efficacy. For the family model, 7.2% of the variance was explained using a combination of socioeconomic status, food availability in the home, family meal pattern, and family connectedness measures. Contrary to the supporting literature, constructs in the exo- and macrosystem were opposite of the proposed hypothesis and only accounted for 5.5% and 3.4% (respectively) of the variance in school food choice. In the relationship model, there was a weak relationship between the constructs from each environment and adolescents' school food choice. Further studies should be conducted that use a variety of outcome measures and obtain a sample more representative of the United States adolescent population. Although variables in this study were weak predictors of school food choice, ensuring the nutritional integrity of schools should be a top priority for policy-makers. TITLE: A NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT OF WOOD COUNTY ELDERLY PARTICIPATING IN A TITLE VI MEAL PROGRAM AUTHOR(S): J. M. Hearons; C. Haar, MS, RD, R. S. Pobocik, PhD, RD; M. S. Houston, PhD, RD; S. Fulks, PhD, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase awareness of the many variables that place free-living elderly at risk of malnutrition. http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?article=jjada0310309ab01&arttype=full (109 of 117) [3/21/2008 8:45:21 AM]
Journal of the American Dietetic Association Online
TEXT: By the year 2030, 70 million adults or 20% of the U.S. population will be age 65 and older, years often marked by malnutrition. This investigation examined the nutritional status of free-living elderly participating in the Wood County Committee on Aging Title VI Meal Program. Thirty-nine subjects, age 58 to 96, were assessed using The Mini Nutritional Assessment, Nutrition Screening Initiative DETERMINE Checklist and Level I Screen, and an assessment adapted from the Georgian Centenarian Study. Overall results found subjects to be at moderate to high nutritional risk. The average DETERMINE Checklist score was 5.5 ± 3.2 (0-2, good; 3-5, moderate; 6 or more, high risk) and the average MNA score was 17.3 ± 2.5 (<17 is malnourished; 17 - 23.5 is at risk). Weight, body mass index, and body fat were predominantly above the normal reference range. Dietary assessments indicated subjects lacking in all food groups. Self report of attitude reveal 79.5% of subjects with good life satisfaction and 59% rated overall physical health as excellent. Pearson correlations showed a negative relationship between better mental health and lower DETERMINE scores (r = –.42463), BMI and age (r = –.3511), and a positive relationship between better physical health and higher MNA scores (r = +.48502). The findings of this investigation indicate further research is necessary to explore the relationship between nutritional status and attitudes regarding mental and physical health. Dietitians should continue to focus on adequate nutrient and food intake, maintaining a healthful weight, and promoting physical activity for individuals in this age group. TITLE: FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE OF RUSSIAN-SPEAKING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AS COMPARED TO AMERICAN CHILDREN AUTHOR(S): M.D. Houghton, PhD, RD; University of Idaho; D.M. Oliver, MS; Spokane Regional Health District, Spokane, WA LEARNING OUTCOME: To understand the cultural influences on fruit and vegetable consumption among Russian-speaking immigrant children. TEXT: Culture plays a major role in food decisions. However, the eating habits of children of immigrants from the Former Soviet Union have not been fully examined. The objectives of this research were to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption by children from both American and Russian-speaking immigrant (RSI) low-income families, assess the mothers' behaviors, attitudes and beliefs, and to identify cultural differences between groups. Thirty-nine American and 37 RSI mothers participating in Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) completed a survey questionnaire. Fruit and vegetable consumption data was also collected on their 2-5 year old children using a 24-hour recall. Children from RSI families consumed a significantly greater number (p<.05) and variety (p<.001) of fruits and vegetables than children from American families. Both groups had knowledge about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, with the exception of fiber, which was less understood by RSI mothers (p<.0001). Significant differences in family structure and eating habits emerged in this study. Children from RSI families had another adult, in addition to their mother, present at meals more often than American children (p<.05) and also ate less restaurant food (p<.001) and more food prepared at home (p<.0001). Consumption of fruits and vegetables by American WIC clients may be improved by encouraging home prepared food and family meal time as observed among the Russian-speaking immigrants. TITLE: THE STARTING POINT FOR A HEALTHY DIET: WHERE POPULAR DIETS AND http://www2.us.elsevierhealth.com/inst/serve?article=jjada0310309ab01&arttype=full (110 of 117) [3/21/2008 8:45:21 AM]