scholarly journals Promoting Dietary Behavior Using the Mediterranean Diet in an Online College Environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-111
Author(s):  
Basil H. Aboul-Enein ◽  
Joshua Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
The United States ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Dietary Behavior Change

Background and Purpose: The prevalence of obesity has prompted calls for broad public health education solutions to reduce, if not reverse, overweight and obesity among college students in the United States. This study investigated change in student dietary behavior and food choices following an education intervention that introduced the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a weight management tool in a Houston, Texas community college. Methods: Online survey data were collected at pre-test and post-test assessments from a convenience sample of 65 college students enrolled in an online undergraduate nutrition course during the summer of 2013. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) survey evaluated dietary behavior change based on the MD Principals. Results: The intervention improved total participant population from a mean KIDMED score of poor (4.12) to a mean score of high (8.45), indicating improved dietary behavior change, particularly among men. Significant differences in KIDMED change scores by ethnicity and heart disease (HD) history were also observed. Conclusion: This study provides a unique pedagogical illustration of e-learning to promote MD patterns among college student populations.

scholarly journals Desired Resources for Changing Diet Among Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative Inquiry Informing Future Dietary Interventions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Silveira ◽  
Emma V. Richardson ◽  
Robert W. Motl
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dietary Change ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dietary Behavior Change

Abstract Background: There are approximately 1 million adults in the United States with multiple sclerosis (MS). Persons with MS are interested in diet as a second-line therapy for improving MS symptoms and disease progression. Examination of desired resources regarding diet among persons with MS is necessary for supporting behavior change. Methods: Twenty-five adults with MS completed one-on-one, online semistructured interviews. An inductive, six-phase, semantic thematic analysis was applied for identifying themes associated with participant preferences for dietary behavior change. Results: The research team crafted four key themes from the data that encompassed participants’ desired resources for dietary behavior change. Theme 1, MS-specific evidence, involved the need for clear information about the impact of diet regimens or specific foods on MS. Theme 2, dietary guidelines, was related to guidelines provided by a reliable source such as a registered dietitian. Theme 3, behavioral supports, underscored the need for support for behavior change, including accountability, self-monitoring, motivation, habituation, and incremental changes. Theme 4, diet resources, highlighted tangible resources for supporting dietary change, including recipes, food lists, meal services, or games. Conclusions: This study provides a foundation for guiding dietary interventions for persons with MS that incorporates their needs and preferences and could improve their overall health. Such dietary change can be facilitated by theory-based behavioral interventions that incorporate behavior change techniques such as self-monitoring and goal setting for supporting behavior change.

Relationship Among Adherence to The Mediterranean Diet and Anthropometric and Metabolic Parameters in Subjects with Obesity

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Lampignano ◽  
Roberta Zupo ◽  
Rossella Donghia ◽  
Vito Guerra ◽  
Fabio Castellana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Height Ratio ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Waist To Height Ratio ◽  
The Mediterranean

Background: There is moderate-to-high evidence that the Mediterranean diet prevents increases in body weight and waist circumference in non-obese individuals but less is known about its effects in subjects with overweight and obesity. The present study was focused on exploring the cross-sectional association among the adherence to Mediterranean diet and the most commonly used variables of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of overweight subjects from a typical Mediterranean region, Apulia, in Southern Italy. Methods:: The study was performed in a cohort of 1214 individuals, all with overweight or obesity but no other clinical condition. We investigated the association among adherence to Mediterranean diet, assessed with the PREDIMED score, and anthropometric parameters [namely body mass index (BMI), WC, waist to height ratio (WHtR) and neck circumference (NC)], fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin, uric acid and lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol), and blood pressure and insulin resistance, measured by HOMA-IR. Results:: The waist to height ratio was negatively associated to a PREDIMED score ≥7 (p<0.04), whereas HDL cholesterol was positively associated to a PREDIMED score ≥7 (p<0.04) Conclusion: This study suggests that body fat distribution and HDL-cholesterol are the parameters most strongly influenced by MedDiet in Apulian subjects.

scholarly journals Exploring the Mechanisms of Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior Change in the Program X Intervention for Adolescents

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Lubans ◽  
Philip J. Morgan ◽  
Robin Callister ◽  
Clare E. Collins ◽  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
Dietary Behavior Change

Promoting Adoption and Maintenance of Physical Activity and Dietary Behavior Change

2000 ◽  
pp. 545-560
Author(s):  
Bess Marcus ◽  
Matthew Clark ◽  
Beth Bock ◽  
Bernardine Pinto ◽  
Deborah Tate
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
Dietary Behavior Change

scholarly journals Sustainable dietetic models in Europe: the Mediterranean diet as case study

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Scazzina
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Food System ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Adequate Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Cost

Abstract More than five years since the global commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 690 million people lack sufficient food and economic projections suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the ranks of the undernourished. Meanwhile, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally each year, utilizing 38% of total energy consumption in the global food system. Child and adult overweight and obesity are increasing in almost all countries, and on a global level the cost of a healthy diet is 60% higher than the cost of a nutrient adequate diet, and almost 5 times the cost of an energy sufficient diet. The Mediterranean Diet is one of the recognized models of healthy and sustainable diets. This model has proven to promote longevity and well-being, not only by considering specific food items and dietary patterns, but also taking into account the culture and the history of populations living in that region, as well as social aspects such as tradition and conviviality. Moreover, it is strongly tied to a gastronomic background that links health with enjoyment. This may be extremely important for the implementation of feasible programs for the prevention of chronic non communicable diseases. In fact, long lasting lifestyle changes are difficult to achieve and, although health motivations may lead to satisfactory dietary compliance in the short term, pleasure remains an important determinant of any dietary change that is intended to last. While keeping traditional dietary habits at European level, the main principles of the Mediterranean diet could be taken into account to identify key features that ensure both health benefits and sustainable impact on environment. Assessing the sustainability of these products can be an effective operational approach for preserving and promoting a Mediterranean-type dietary pattern in the European region.

scholarly journals MS-Diet, a tailored nutrition counselling web-application based on mathematical diet optimization

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Gazan ◽  
N D Darmon ◽  
F V Vieux ◽  
M M Maillot
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Web Application ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Dietary Behavior ◽  
Nutrition Counselling ◽  
Nutrition Research ◽  
Dietary Behavior Change ◽  
Diet Optimization

Abstract Background By definition, messages in tailored approaches are built to reach a given person, based on her/his specific characteristics and needs. Tailored dietary behavior change interventions have a small but significant effect on dietary behavior change. The majority of these interventions target a few food groups or nutrients, without evaluating the overall diet. Diet optimization is a powerful mathematical method to translate nutrient recommendations into individual-specific food choices. This method is increasingly used in nutrition research, in the fields of public health and diet sustainability. Objective: The aim was to combine tailored approaches and diet optimization in a web application of tailored nutrition counselling. Method and results The web application, called MS-Diet, was developed based on behavior changes techniques, such as: self-monitoring, self-regulatory, tailored feedback and engaging communication techniques. In a first feature, based on user’s data collected online (including answers to a food frequency questionnaire), the user can obtain a picture of the nutritional quality of her/his diet, the diet cost and the level of physical activity. In a second feature, MS-Diet suggests to the user a list of tailored dietary advices to get a healthier diet (i.e., a nutritionally adequate diet), adapted to her/his specific needs and food preferences. With the application, the user is actor in her/his own dietary changes: she/he specifies her/his food preferences and; chooses dietary suggestions that she/he considers achievable. Conclusions This prototype could be a future online health promotion tool which could help individuals to improve their diet or serve as a decision-support tool for health professionals. The evaluation of the tool (e.g. whether the use of the tool results in changes of dietary habits) is warranted before use on health promotion. Key messages MS-Diet demonstrates how diet optimization can be used to design dietary advice adapted to user’s needs and food preferences. MS-Diet is a promising tool to help individuals improving their diet but requires qualitative and quantitative evaluation for further improvements.

scholarly journals Pulse Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Cooking Experience of Midwestern US University Students

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3499
Author(s):  
Donna M. Winham ◽  
Elizabeth D. Davitt ◽  
Michelle M. Heer ◽  
Mack C. Shelley
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Attitudes And Practices ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Chi Square Analysis

Many American college students fail to meet dietary guideline recommendations for fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Pulses are a subgroup of legumes, harvested solely for dry grain seeds within a pod. Commonly consumed pulses include dry beans, dry peas, lentils, and chickpeas. Pulses are high in shortfall nutrients and could fill some nutritional gaps of college students. However, little is known about pulse intakes among young adults. The study aims were: (1) to identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding pulse consumption; and (2) to describe experiences of preparing dry pulses among college students. A convenience sample of 1433 students aged 18–30 enrolled at a Midwestern university in the United States completed an online survey in April 2020. Demographic and attitude variables were compared by the monthly count of pulse types eaten using chi-square, analysis of variance, and logistic regression modeling to predict pulse type intakes. Higher numbers of pulse types eaten was associated with being White, vegetarian/vegan, higher cooking self-efficacy, positive attitudes toward pulses, and greater daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and fiber. Knowledge and experience of cooking dry pulses was low, with canned pulses purchased more often. College students may not be consuming pulses due to unfamiliarity with them, low knowledge of nutrition benefits, and a general lack of cooking self-efficacy. Increased familiarization and promotion surrounding pulses may increase their consumption.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document