Alok Bhargava1, Jennifer Hays. 1. Department of Economics, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5019, USA. bhargava@uh.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reducing the intakes of fats and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables are an important goal for improving population health. Analyzing the effects of nutrition education programs on subjects' dietary intakes incorporating factors such as habit persistence in diets, unhealthy eating habits, perceptions of health risks, participation motivation, and expectancies can yield useful insights. METHODS: A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure intakes at baseline, 6 and 12 months, by 318 and 548 postmenopausal women in, respectively, the Control and Intervention groups of the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations (WHTFSMP). Information on background, behavioral, and anthropometric variables was collected. The Intervention group met in classes led by nutritionists. Dynamic random effects models were estimated for the two groups using the data at baseline, 6 and 12 months on the intakes of carbohydrate, saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and calcium. RESULTS: The nutrition education program lowered the intakes of fats while increasing fiber, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid intakes especially in subjects scoring high on indices reflecting concerns about health, desirability of change, and participation motivation. In addition, subjects' education was a predictor of dietary intakes in the Intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education can be an effective tool for improving diets, but behavioral characteristics deserve greater attention in helping to design the most effective approaches for various target groups.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Reducing the intakes of fats and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables are an important goal for improving population health. Analyzing the effects of nutrition education programs on subjects' dietary intakes incorporating factors such as habit persistence in diets, unhealthy eating habits, perceptions of health risks, participation motivation, and expectancies can yield useful insights. METHODS: A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to measure intakes at baseline, 6 and 12 months, by 318 and 548 postmenopausal women in, respectively, the Control and Intervention groups of the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations (WHTFSMP). Information on background, behavioral, and anthropometric variables was collected. The Intervention group met in classes led by nutritionists. Dynamic random effects models were estimated for the two groups using the data at baseline, 6 and 12 months on the intakes of carbohydrate, saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, fiber, beta-carotene, ascorbic acid, and calcium. RESULTS: The nutrition education program lowered the intakes of fats while increasing fiber, beta-carotene, and ascorbic acid intakes especially in subjects scoring high on indices reflecting concerns about health, desirability of change, and participation motivation. In addition, subjects' education was a predictor of dietary intakes in the Intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition education can be an effective tool for improving diets, but behavioral characteristics deserve greater attention in helping to design the most effective approaches for various target groups.
Authors: William J McCarthy; Antronette K Yancey; Gail G Harrison; Joanne Leslie; Judith M Siegel Journal: Prev Med Date: 2006-12-06 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Mathieu Valcke; Onil Samuel; Michèle Bouchard; Pierre Dumas; Denis Belleville; Claude Tremblay Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2006-02-21 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Shrikant I Bangdiwala; Alok Bhargava; Daniel P O'Connor; Thomas N Robinson; Susan Michie; David M Murray; June Stevens; Steven H Belle; Thomas N Templin; Charlotte A Pratt Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2016-06 Impact factor: 3.046