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Creating Conditions for Effective Nutrition Education
From SNEB Creating Conditions for Effective Nutrition Education Sir Ken Robinson once said, ‘‘You cannot predict the outcome of human development. All you can do, like a farmer, is create the conditions under which it will begin to flourish.’’1 This analogy is very true to the role of nutrition education where our ultimate goal is to enable and facilitate food choices and food consumption for health and wellbeing. This can be done on the individual, household, or community level and using multiple strategies. The farmer has wisdom to what, when, and where to sow seeds for the best harvest possible. As qualified nutrition educators, we have the competencies to motivate people to make healthier and more sustainable food choices. Many of us also strive to make the healthier choices the easier choices. We do this by working directly with individuals or groups of people or by working to raise awareness and showcase good practice with industry and policymakers.
We also conduct research to provide evidence for policy, guidance for implementation strategies, and recommendations for individual action. The 2015 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference just held in Pittsburgh offered many examples of how nutrition educators work creatively and innovatively in different settings. It also highlighted the value of embracing new communication technologies for delivering messages and strengthening motivation; of being sensitive to cultural norms when developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions; and of working synergistically with various partners for added impact and positive outcomes. This issue of the journal also offers many examples that fit this bill. The Research Articles, Research Briefs, and GEMs address topics such as assessment of the food environment and of barriers to healthier eating, factors related to physical activity,
different types of nutrition education, health outcomes, impact of certain food behaviors and of different interventions on health, and measuring quality of assessment tools. Using Sir Robinson's words as a springboard, it is of great importance that we share our research and practice experiences in order for our clients and for the nutrition education profession to flourish. JNEB is a vehicle that can help us do this effectively. Suzanne Piscopo, PhD, RPH Nutrition, Eur Health Prom Practitioner 2015–2016 President, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
REFERENCE 1. Robinson K. Bring on the learning revolution! TED Talk. February 2010. http:// www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_ bring_on_the_revolution/transcript?langu age=en. Accessed August 10, 2015.
From JNEB Weighing in on Weight With constant media attention to high obesity rates and their associated health impacts, nutrition educators and public health practitioners are being asked for workable solutions to weight-related concerns, tailored to a diversity of populations. Anderson et al1 uses the social ecological model as a framework for a qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators to avoiding excessive gestation weight gain among WIC-eligible women. The article highlights the need to consider more than just the intrapersonal level when counseling women about recommended pregnancy weight gains and for consistent messaging among health care providers, WIC staff, and other community organizations serving pregnant and postpartum women. It also reminds us of the limitations of pamphlets as a means of delivering education and the unique role that peers
can play in collaboration with professionals. Holt et al2 qualitatively explores parent and child experiences with a weight management project focused on parental involvement and familylevel changes. Similar to Anderson et al,1 there is an endorsement of a group setting and the value of hearing from others going through a similar experience. Tavolacci et al3 highlights the other side of the weight debate with an article that quantifies the high number of college students who screen positive for an eating disorder. These articles remind us of the complexity of factors that influence weight and the need to move beyond individually focused interventions. They also highlight the value of focusing our nutrition education efforts on personal, social, and community health rather than a myopic focus on weight.
Julie A. Reeder, PhD, MPH, CHES JNEB Associate Editor State of Oregon WIC Program
REFERENCES 1. Anderson CK, Walch TJ, Lindberg SM, Smith AM, Lindheim SR, Whigham LD. Excess gestational weight gain in lowincome overweight and obese women: a qualitative study. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015; 47:404-411. 2. Holt NL, Neely KC, Newton AS, et al. Families’ perceptions of and experiences related to a pediatric weight management intervention: a qualitative study. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015;47:427-431. 3. Tavolacci MP, Grigioni S, Richard L, Meyrignac G, Dechelotte P, Ladner J. Eating disorders and associated health risks among university students. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015;47:412-420.
We also conduct research to provide evidence for policy, guidance for implementation strategies, and recommendations for individual action. The 2015 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference just held in Pittsburgh offered many examples of how nutrition educators work creatively and innovatively in different settings. It also highlighted the value of embracing new communication technologies for delivering messages and strengthening motivation; of being sensitive to cultural norms when developing, implementing, and evaluating interventions; and of working synergistically with various partners for added impact and positive outcomes. This issue of the journal also offers many examples that fit this bill. The Research Articles, Research Briefs, and GEMs address topics such as assessment of the food environment and of barriers to healthier eating, factors related to physical activity,
different types of nutrition education, health outcomes, impact of certain food behaviors and of different interventions on health, and measuring quality of assessment tools. Using Sir Robinson's words as a springboard, it is of great importance that we share our research and practice experiences in order for our clients and for the nutrition education profession to flourish. JNEB is a vehicle that can help us do this effectively. Suzanne Piscopo, PhD, RPH Nutrition, Eur Health Prom Practitioner 2015–2016 President, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
REFERENCE 1. Robinson K. Bring on the learning revolution! TED Talk. February 2010. http:// www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_ bring_on_the_revolution/transcript?langu age=en. Accessed August 10, 2015.
From JNEB Weighing in on Weight With constant media attention to high obesity rates and their associated health impacts, nutrition educators and public health practitioners are being asked for workable solutions to weight-related concerns, tailored to a diversity of populations. Anderson et al1 uses the social ecological model as a framework for a qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators to avoiding excessive gestation weight gain among WIC-eligible women. The article highlights the need to consider more than just the intrapersonal level when counseling women about recommended pregnancy weight gains and for consistent messaging among health care providers, WIC staff, and other community organizations serving pregnant and postpartum women. It also reminds us of the limitations of pamphlets as a means of delivering education and the unique role that peers
can play in collaboration with professionals. Holt et al2 qualitatively explores parent and child experiences with a weight management project focused on parental involvement and familylevel changes. Similar to Anderson et al,1 there is an endorsement of a group setting and the value of hearing from others going through a similar experience. Tavolacci et al3 highlights the other side of the weight debate with an article that quantifies the high number of college students who screen positive for an eating disorder. These articles remind us of the complexity of factors that influence weight and the need to move beyond individually focused interventions. They also highlight the value of focusing our nutrition education efforts on personal, social, and community health rather than a myopic focus on weight.
Julie A. Reeder, PhD, MPH, CHES JNEB Associate Editor State of Oregon WIC Program
REFERENCES 1. Anderson CK, Walch TJ, Lindberg SM, Smith AM, Lindheim SR, Whigham LD. Excess gestational weight gain in lowincome overweight and obese women: a qualitative study. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015; 47:404-411. 2. Holt NL, Neely KC, Newton AS, et al. Families’ perceptions of and experiences related to a pediatric weight management intervention: a qualitative study. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015;47:427-431. 3. Tavolacci MP, Grigioni S, Richard L, Meyrignac G, Dechelotte P, Ladner J. Eating disorders and associated health risks among university students. J Nutr Educ Behav. 2015;47:412-420.