The relationship between the DETERMINE checklist, social factors, and nutritional risk in rural, community-dwelling, elderly women

Using a stratified sample of 249 older, rural, community-dwelling women grouped into three age cohorts (65--74 years, 75--84, and 85+ years), this research evaluated the ability of the DETERMINE checklist and social factors to identify those with at-risk nutritional status. A modified DETERMINE checklist found 7% and 42% of the sample to be at high and moderate risk, respectively. Anthropometric measures identified approximately 10% of the sample to be at-risk; however, at-risk measures were more prevalent among the oldest-old (aged 85+). At-risk energy intake was identified in half the women, with a larger percentage of young-old (aged 65--74) compared to the old-old (aged 75--84) and oldest-old found with at-risk energy intake. At-risk protein intake was present in 9% of the women. Assessing inadequate nutrient intake as \u3c75% of recommended levels for nine nutrients, cumulative risk totals showed that 33% of the women consumed ≥ 4 nutrients at inadequate levels, but this percentage dropped to 13% for ≥ 5 nutrients. Overall, at-risk energy and protein intakes were predictive of anthropometric measures;Overall, the DETERMINE checklist was a poor predictor of at-risk nutritional status. A score of ≥ 6 on the DETERMINE checklist only identified those with an at-risk mid-arm circumference and was not predictive of cumulative at-risk nutrient intake. Four questions predicted at-risk anthropometric measures: having an illness; eating few fruits, vegetables, or dairy products; involuntary weight change; and inability to shop, cook, and feed oneself. Three questions predicted cumulative at-risk nutrient intake: eating few fruits, vegetables, or dairy products; eating alone; and involuntary weight change;Cohort differences were evident. For the oldest-old, having an illness, a ten pound weight change, or a score of ≥ 6 on the DETERMINE checklist identified those who were more likely to have at-risk anthropometric measures. In the young-old group, eating alone predicted at-risk triceps skinfold measures;Social factors did little to help predict nutritional risk overall. For the young-old, attendance at a senior center, having contact with others besides family, and living with someone reduced the likelihood of at-risk protein and energy intake

Worksite Wellness: A Preliminary Study Utilizing E-mail Health Messages for City Employees

The purpose of this 38-week, quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of one weekly e-mail health (e-health) message that utilized the World Health Organization’s seven dimensions of wellness. Employees from a large Midwestern city were recruited and divided into two groups based on their desire to receive additional health information. The participants in each group were then randomly assigned to receive basic or detailed e-health messages. The basic e-health message consisted of an e-mail with health tips for the specific topic; whereas the detailed message included the basic message plus links to games, surveys, and websites to supplement the basic message. Those lacking an e-mail address comprised the control group, and did not receive any e-health messages. A total of 46 employees completed both assessments and comprised the analytic sample. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in unmotivated participants receiving the detailed messages (-2.1 mmHg, p=0.04). Across all groups, at-risk participants (blood pressure ? 140/90 mm/Hg or body mass index ? 25 kg/m2) showed greatest improvement with significant drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Detailed ehealth messages may be an effective approach to assist employees who are at-risk for chronic disease

Using E-Mail Health Interventions and Transtheoretical Model to Promote Wellness: A Pilot Study

Purpose: The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of one weekly e-mail health (e-health) message in assisting individuals meet their self-identified health goals. Methods: Employees (N=31) from a midwestern city were recruited at a Benefits Fair health booth and divided into two groups based on their desire to receive additional health information. The participants in each group were then randomly assigned to receive basic or detailed e-health messages that were developed using the constructs of the Transtheoretical Model. Participants self-identified a personal wellness goal and how soon they planned to start working toward accomplishing this goal. For 38 weeks, the basic group received weekly e-health messages that contained basic information related to one of the World Health Organization’s seven dimensions of wellness while the detailed group received the basic message plus additional games, webpage links and more extensive information. Participant’s progress along the change continuum and goal completion was assessed 38 weeks later with a Post-Wellness Survey. Results: Participants exhibited positive movement on the behavior change continuum with many reaching their goals, regardless of the type of e-health message received. Conclusion: E-health messages can be a practical, cost-effective way to assist employees in making healthy behavioral changes and meeting their personal health goals

Life Skills at a Tribal College: A Culturally Relevant Educational Intervention

American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians (AI/AN/NH) experience the lowest rates of college retention and significant barriers to graduation. In addition, AI/AN/NH individuals face health challenges that include higher rates of obesity, overweight, and type 2 diabetes. We designed a culturally relevant life skills curriculum based on family and consumer science standards to promote educational achievement, self-efficacy, and healthful food choices among tribal college students. The Life Skills at a Tribal College course was delivered by tribal college Extension professionals in a family meal–style environment and involved culturally appropriate, traditional ways of learning to promote positive educational and health outcomes

Are Grocery Store Tours Capturing the Right Audience? Characteristics of Students Who Volunteer to Receive a Grocery Store Tour

The goal of this research is to examine the demographics of students volunteering to receive a grocery store tour in order to assess if these students represent those most in need of the information. Dietetics students trained in giving grocery store tours through a Produce for Better Health grant provided store tours to college student volunteers, “tourists”. Tourists provided demographic and health behavior data which was analyzed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA, t-tests, and chi-square. Twenty-three student trainees gave tours to 49 student tourists. Most tourists were female (77.8%), of healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) (64.9%), and reported being healthy eaters (47.3%). Results indicated that tourists who were not healthy eaters, did not cook daily, and were not likely to increase produce intake after the tour had higher BMI’s. Few tourists were male, obese, or reported having less healthy eating habits. Future research should examine who is participating in store tours in order to optimize their impact on healthy eating and shopping habits by assuring recruitment of individuals most in need of the experience

Dietetics and Nutrition Students Response to Grocery Store Tour Training Program

Retail dietetics is a growing field, however, there is very little research available on effective teaching strategies for preparing students to enter this part of the profession. This paper is the second paper to report on the results of produce –focused grocery store tour training program. This paper focuses on the trained students’ perception of the program’s effectiveness. Twenty-five dietetics and nutrition students were trained in providing produce – based grocery store tours, and then gave store tours to other college students. Students completed a pre – and post – training survey rating their confidence in providing this type of education and on their intention to do so as part of their career. Students rated their confidence level in giving produce – based grocery store tours significantly higher after the training than before (p < 0.05). However, the training program did not significantly increase the student’s intention in pursuing a career that included giving grocery store tours. The results of this study indicate that a practical training program in giving store tours may increase students’ comfort level with doing so

Participation Rates in a Worksite Wellness Program Using E-Mail Wellness Messages

The purpose of this study was to determine which days of the work week had the largest rate of opened e-health messages, whether detailed or basic e-health messages were more likely to be opened, if motivation influenced the rate of message opening, and if the rate of opening messages declined over time. Ninety-one city employees (52 male and 39 female) of a medium-sized Midwestern city in the United States participated in the study. Participants were divided into four groups according to desire to receive wellness email messages and amount of information provided in the message. These groups were motivated-detailed (n=25), motivated-basic (n=23), unmotivated-detailed (n=20), and unmotivated-basic (n=23). A total of 38 weekly messages focused on one of seven dimensions of wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, environmental, or occupational wellness. The basic e-health message consisted of an e-mail with health tips for the specific topic; whereas the detailed message included the basic message plus links to games, surveys, and websites to supplement the basic message. A total of five to six e-health messages for each wellness dimension were sent by a scheduled rotation. Day of the week showed no differences in frequency of opening messages Employees who wanted to receive the messages were more likely to participate. Basic messages were more likely to be opened. Overall, there was a steady decline in the number of messages opened. It was concluded that sending basic e-health messages any day of the week to employees who desire such information may be most effective

Flaxseed supplementation improved insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people: a randomized crossover design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity leads to an increase in inflammation and insulin resistance. This study determined antioxidant activity of flaxseed and its role in inflammation and insulin resistance in obese glucose intolerant people.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using a randomized crossover design, nine obese glucose intolerant people consumed 40 g ground flaxseed or 40 g wheat bran daily for 12 weeks with a 4-week washout period. Plasma inflammation biomarkers (CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6), glucose, insulin, and thiobaribituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) were measured before and after of each supplementation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Flaxseed supplementation decreased TBARS (p = 0.0215) and HOMA-IR (p = 0.0382). Flaxseed or wheat bran supplementation did not change plasma inflammatory biomarkers. A positive relationship was found between TBARS and HOMA-IR (r = 0.62, p = 0.0003).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the study weakly support that decreased insulin resistance might have been secondary to antioxidant activity of flaxseed. However, the mechanism(s) of decreased insulin resistance by flaxseed should be further determined using flaxseed lignan.</p

The relationship between the DETERMINE checklist, social factors, and nutritional risk in rural, community-dwelling, elderly women

Using a stratified sample of 249 older, rural, community-dwelling women grouped into three age cohorts (65--74 years, 75--84, and 85+ years), this research evaluated the ability of the DETERMINE checklist and social factors to identify those with at-risk nutritional status. A modified DETERMINE checklist found 7% and 42% of the sample to be at high and moderate risk, respectively. Anthropometric measures identified approximately 10% of the sample to be at-risk; however, at-risk measures were more prevalent among the oldest-old (aged 85+). At-risk energy intake was identified in half the women, with a larger percentage of young-old (aged 65--74) compared to the old-old (aged 75--84) and oldest-old found with at-risk energy intake. At-risk protein intake was present in 9% of the women. Assessing inadequate nutrient intake as <75% of recommended levels for nine nutrients, cumulative risk totals showed that 33% of the women consumed ≥ 4 nutrients at inadequate levels, but this percentage dropped to 13% for ≥ 5 nutrients. Overall, at-risk energy and protein intakes were predictive of anthropometric measures;Overall, the DETERMINE checklist was a poor predictor of at-risk nutritional status. A score of ≥ 6 on the DETERMINE checklist only identified those with an at-risk mid-arm circumference and was not predictive of cumulative at-risk nutrient intake. Four questions predicted at-risk anthropometric measures: having an illness; eating few fruits, vegetables, or dairy products; involuntary weight change; and inability to shop, cook, and feed oneself. Three questions predicted cumulative at-risk nutrient intake: eating few fruits, vegetables, or dairy products; eating alone; and involuntary weight change;Cohort differences were evident. For the oldest-old, having an illness, a ten pound weight change, or a score of ≥ 6 on the DETERMINE checklist identified those who were more likely to have at-risk anthropometric measures. In the young-old group, eating alone predicted at-risk triceps skinfold measures;Social factors did little to help predict nutritional risk overall. For the young-old, attendance at a senior center, having contact with others besides family, and living with someone reduced the likelihood of at-risk protein and energy intake.</p