Supporting Healthy Eating: Synergistic Effects of Nutrition Education Paired with Policy, Systems, and Environmental Changes

Author(s):  
Mary T. Story ◽  
Emily Duffy
2022 ◽  
pp. 1-53
Author(s):  
Matthew Greene ◽  
Bailey Houghtaling ◽  
Claire Sadeghzadeh ◽  
Molly De Marco ◽  
De’Jerra Bryant ◽  
...  

Abstract African Americans experience high rates of obesity and food insecurity in part due to structural racism, or overlapping discriminatory systems and practices in housing, education, employment, health care, and other settings. Nutrition education and nutrition-focused policy, systems, and environmental changes may be able to address structural racism in the food environment. This scoping review aimed to summarize the available literature regarding nutrition interventions for African Americans that address structural racism in the food environment and compare them to the “Getting to Equity in Obesity Prevention” framework of suggested interventions. An electronic literature search was conducted with the assistance of a research librarian encompassing 6 databases—MEDLINE, PyscINFO, Agricola, ERIC, SocINDEX, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. A total of 30 sources were identified detailing interventions addressing structural barriers to healthy eating. The majority of nutrition interventions addressing structural racism consisted of policy, systems, and/or environmental changes in combination with nutrition education, strategies focused on proximal causes of racial health disparities. Only two articles each targeted the “reduce deterrents” and “improve social and economic resources” aspects of the framework, interventions which may be better suited to addressing structural racism in the food environment. Because African Americans experience high rates of obesity and food insecurity and encounter structural barriers to healthy eating in the food environment, researchers and public health professionals should address this gap in the literature.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hagos Amare Gebreyesus ◽  
Girmatsion Fisseha Abreha ◽  
Sintayehu Degu Besherae ◽  
Merhawit Atsbha Abera ◽  
Abraha Hailu Weldegerima ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Diet is central to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Depending on the stage of the disease at which the recommended diet is initiated, optimal adherence can reduce HbA1c by about 1 to 2%. However, evidence on eating behavior is generally scarce including in Ethiopia. The present study aimed to assess the eating behavior of adults with T2DM in North Ethiopia. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 421 adults with T2DM from September to November 2019. Socio-demographic variables were collected using structured questionnaires; an asset-based wealth index was used to determine socioeconomic status. Three dimensions of eating behavior were assessed using Likert-type items: food selection, meal planning and calorie recognition. Raw Likert scores in each dimension were transformed to percent scales to maximum (%SM). Participants’ behavior in each dimension was categorized into healthy and unhealthy taking 66.7% SM score as a cutoff. Overall eating behavior was determined by aggregating ranks scored in the three dimensions. Correlates of overall eating behavior were identified using Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression with statistical significance set at P-value < 0.05. Result Only 1% of the participants had overall healthy eating behavior. Yet, overall unhealthy eating was apparent in 54.4%. By dimensions, healthy eating behaviors in food selection, meal planning and calorie recognition were seen in 43.5, 7.4 and 2.9% participants, respectively. Factors that were positively associated with having healthy eating behavior in one dimension relative to unhealthy in all were: receiving nutrition education [AOR 1.73; CI 1.09, 2.74], female gender [AOR 1.78; CI 1.03, 3.08] & being in 26–44 age category [AOR 3.7; CI 1.56, 8.85]. But, being in the poor [AOR 0.42; CI 0.16, 1.32] or average [AOR 0.54; CI 0.19, 1.55] socioeconomic strata were negatively associated. However, only receiving nutrition education [AOR 3.65; CI 1.31, 10.18] was significantly associated with having healthy behavior in two eating dimensions over unhealthy in all. Conclusion In North Ethiopia, the overall eating behavior of adults with T2DM is extremely poor. Diverse and integrated approaches including nutrition education during consultation should be implemented to address the gap.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Fathima Sirasa ◽  
Lana Mitchell ◽  
Aslan Azhar ◽  
Anoma Chandrasekara ◽  
Neil Harris

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention (MCI) on children’s dietary diversity and its impact pathway components of children’s food knowledge and healthy food preferences. Design: A six-week cluster randomised controlled trial with a MCI consisting of child nutrition education plus family engagement, through parental nutrition education, meal preparation and tasting was compared with two groups: single component intervention (SCI) of child nutrition education, and control, conducted during February to July 2018. Preschool centres were randomly assigned to one of the three arms. Children’s food knowledge, healthy food preferences and dietary diversity scores were collected. Intervention effects were analysed using a pre-post analysis and a difference-in-difference model. Setting: Fourteen preschool centres in an urban area of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka Participants: Child-parent dyads of children aged 4-6 years. Final analyses included 306 (for food knowledge and preferences) and 258 (for dietary diversity) dyads. Results: MCI significantly influenced the impact pathways to children’s dietary diversity by increasing children’s food knowledge and healthy food preferences scores by 3.76 and 2.79 (P<0.001) respectively, but not the dietary diversity score (P=0.603), compared to control arm. Relative to SCI, MCI significantly improved children’s food knowledge score by 1.10 (P<0.001), but no significant effects were noted for other outcome variables. Conclusion: Improved food knowledge and preferences require a positive food environment and time to develop into healthy eating behaviours. Research into dietary diversity should broaden to incorporate the contextual roles of the home and general food environments to more completely understand food choices of children.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo C. Noronha ◽  
Monique I. A. F. Santos ◽  
Adrianny A. Santos ◽  
Lizia G. A. Corrente ◽  
Rúbia K. N. Fernandes ◽  
...  

Nutrition education is one of the factors that may help to promote behavior change and therefore may improve the dietary habits of adolescent soccer players. However, information about the relationship between nutrition knowledge (NK) and the dietary behavior of these athletes is scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the eating habits of adolescent soccer players and analyse the correlations among dietary intake and NK. Seventy-three Brazilian adolescent soccer players (aged 14–19 years), from four professional clubs, underwent anthropometric evaluation and completed 3-day food records. Misreporting of energy intake was evaluated and the dietary intake data were energy-adjusted and compared with recommendations for athletes and dietary reference intakes. The athletes also answered a questionnaire about barriers for healthy eating and a nutrition knowledge test divided into three sections: Basic Nutrition Knowledge (BNK), Sports Nutrition Knowledge (SNK), and Food Pyramid Nutrition Knowledge (FPNK). The participants showed a low NK (54.6%) and an inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, carbohydrates, and micronutrients. A positive correlation was found between the ingestion of phosphorus and FPNK as well as among calcium and both SNK and Total NK (p<0.05). Sodium intake was negatively correlated with all categories of the NK test (p<0.05). The adolescents reported that the principal barriers for adopting a healthy diet were the lack of willpower and a busy lifestyle. In this context, nutrition education is recommended and should also provide practicable healthy eating goals according to athletes´ lifestyle as well as target motivational barriers to increase adherence.


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natoshia M. Askelson ◽  
Patrick Brady ◽  
Grace Ryan ◽  
Cristian Meier ◽  
Cristina Ortiz ◽  
...  

School-based interventions can play an important role in improving childhood and adolescent nutrition and preventing obesity. Schools offer a unique opportunity to implement policy, systems, and environmental interventions targeting healthy eating behaviors. An intervention was piloted in six middle schools featuring behavioral economics–based changes to the lunchroom, communication training, and communicate cues for food service staff. The pilot study employed a multicomponent evaluation with students and food service directors and staff including a lunchroom assessment, online surveys, production records, and interviews. Five schools increased their scores on the lunchroom assessment tool, and four schools increased the number of servings produced of healthy food items. Interviews with food service directors indicated the interventions was feasible and well received. School-based policy, systems, and environmental interventions targeting healthy eating behaviors may play a role in preventing obesity in children and adolescents.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Haynes-Maslow ◽  
Isabel Osborne ◽  
Stephanie Jilcott Pitts

To better understand the barriers to implementing policy; systems; and environmental (PSE) change initiatives within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) programming in U.S. rural communities; as well as strategies to overcome these barriers, this study identifies: (1) the types of nutrition-related PSE SNAP-Ed programming currently being implemented in rural communities; (2) barriers to implementing PSE in rural communities; and (3) common best practices and innovative solutions to overcoming SNAP-Ed PSE implementation barriers. This mixed-methods study included online surveys and interviews across fifteen states. Participants were eligible if they: (1) were SNAP-Ed staff that were intimately aware of facilitators and barriers to implementing programs, (2) implemented at least 50% of their programming in rural communities, and (3) worked in their role for at least 12 months. Sixty-five staff completed the online survey and 27 participated in interviews. Barriers to PSE included obtaining community buy-in, the need for relationship building, and PSE education. Facilitators included finding community champions; identifying early “wins” so that community members could easily see PSE benefits. Partnerships between SNAP-Ed programs and non-SNAP-Ed organizations are essential to implementing PSE. SNAP-Ed staff should get buy-in from local leaders before implementing PSE. Technical assistance for rural SNAP-Ed programs would be helpful in promoting PSE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 150-150
Author(s):  
Sarah Lee ◽  
Tammie S Choi ◽  
Nicole Kellow ◽  
Catherine Huggins

Abstract Objectives Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is disproportionally greater in Chinese immigrants in Australia compared with in China. Dietary acculturation is implicated as a CVD risk factor. This study aimed to explored Chinese immigrants’ perspectives on how and why their diets change post migration. Methods An exploratory qualitative interview study was undertaken with adult Chinese migrants who had been living in Australia for less than 10 years. Semi-structured interview questions were designed to draw out participants’ experience, emotions and thoughts of dietary change. Interviews were conducted via Zoom in participants’ preferred language (Mandarin or English). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English for analysis. A constructivist approach was adopted to thematically analyse the interviews. Results A total of 11 participants were interviewed (n = 3 males and n = 8 females) and ranged in age from 22–68 years old with length of residence in Australia ranging from 1–8 years. Key themes pertaining to how and why dietary changes that occur post migration are: that breakfast is the first meal to change from Chinese to Western style, convenience is one of the primary drivers of change in dietary habits, dinner is most frequently maintained in Chinese style, cultural identity is an important influence on dietary habits, and awareness of dietary change among Chinese immigrants is low as evidenced through statements such as “not much has changed” when asked about differences in their diet, but further probing identified that their post migration diets were quite different from their diets in China. Participants also reported a lack of general healthy eating knowledge and lack of nutrition education from China. Conclusions Though diets of Chinese immigrants to Australia change post migration, particularly in relation to breakfast, due to convenience, awareness of this change is low. Low awareness of dietary change along with lack of knowledge relating to healthy eating, could be a mechanism for adoption of unhealthy dietary patterns that may contribute to increased chronic disease risk for Chinese immigrants over time. Funding Sources No funding to declare.


Author(s):  
ARIESKA MALIA NOVIA PUTRI ◽  
DIAN NOVITA CHANDRA ◽  
RETNO ASTI WERDHANI ◽  
SAPTAWATI BARDOSONO

Objective: Nutrition in pregnant women influences fetal and maternal health. Nutrition education is used to improve the nutritional status of pregnant women, but currently, there are no guidelines available for this demographic in Indonesia. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to identify topics relevant to healthy eating in pregnant women in Jakarta, Indonesia. Methods: The mixed-methods approach included an online survey to understand the problems (relevant to healthy eating) that pregnant women face and the subjects that they lack information about and a review of the relevant literature. The information obtained from both sources was analyzed by a panel of experts with the multi-step Delphi technique, and a list of relevant topics was created. Results: The study was conducted from April to September 2019 and included 37 pregnant women and 10 experts in nutrition and obstetrics-gynecology. The 13 relevant topics identified were: (1) importance of healthy eating during pregnancy; (2) food groups and serving sizes; (3) nutrition requirements during pregnancy and use of multivitamins/supplements; (4) foods to be restricted or avoided; (5) substances to be restricted or avoided; (6) weight gain during pregnancy; (7) physical activity requirements; (8) tips for ensuring the safety of food; (9) menu containing healthy foods for pregnant women; (10) pregnancy problems related to eating patterns and solutions; (11) healthy eating tips for women with special conditions; (12) myths and facts about eating patterns during pregnancy; and (13) healthy eating for lactation. Conclusion: These topics would be useful for the creation of nutritional education material for pregnant women in Indonesia.


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