Wellness and middle-school aged children

TITLE: F.U.E.L (FLUIDS USED EFFECTIVELY FOR LIVING): ANUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM TO CHANGEKNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF GRADE NINESTUDENTS TOWARD HEALTHY BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION

AUTHOR(S): S.J. Whiting; L. Humbert; R. Coles; E. Lo; C.J. HenryUniversity of Saskatchewan

LEARNING OUTCOME: To assess the effectiveness of nutritioneducation program in changing knowledge, attitudes and behavior ofgrade nine students toward healthy beverage consumption.

TEXT: Intakes of soft drinks have increased dramatically over thepast decade and intake of milk has declined. Excessive consumptionof soft drinks rather than milk may compromise the attainment ofpeak bone mass during adolescence. Overweight and obesity are alsoimplicated as being the result of inappropriate beverage consumption.This study sought to design, implement, and evaluate theeffectiveness of a nutrition education program aimed at promotinghealthy beverage consumption among high school students. A pair ofhigh schools in Saskatoon matched in regards to neighborhood andbeverage accessibility were selected for the study, and assigned toeither a peer-led or teacher-assisted teaching program. Same-agehigh school peers, cross-age university nutrition students and recentnutrition graduates participated in the delivery of the peer-ledcurriculum. Complete packages of curriculum materials wereprovided to both groups of students. The pre-test/post-test evaluationshows that students in the peer-led school had significantimprovements in knowledge and attitude of healthy beverages;further, this group showed a significant decline in non-carbonated(sugary) beverage intake and a small decline in carbonated beverageintake. All students expressed satisfaction with the duration, doseintensity and quality of curriculum delivery. A multifactorial andinteractive curriculum design is an effective approach to help teenslearn about healthy beverage consumption.

FUNDING DISCLOSURE: Supported Dairy Farmers of Canada

TITLE: WELLNESS AND MIDDLE-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN

AUTHOR(S): D.F. Vanata, Ph.D., R.D. L.D.; Ashland University,Ashland, OH

LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify wellness and health interestsof middle-school aged children.

TEXT: Many states provide health and wellness classes as part oftheir current secondary school curriculum. Although content of theseclasses will vary from state to state, most contain content addressingseveral youth health behaviors. As part of a community-widewellness initiative, students attending a suburban middle-school,aged 11-14, were questioned regarding their wellness concerns andfood service preferences. Data obtained from this survey will assist inthe development of future intervention strategies in this schooldistrict. Students attending current health classes were assessed atthe beginning of the school year. A total of 560 questionnaires werecompleted (53% females, 47% males). Questionnaires addressedstudents’ definition of wellness, the importance of wellness/health,preferred sources of wellness/health information and topics of interestin health/wellness. Students were questioned regarding participationin school lunches and vending machines. Students also indicated fooditems they would like to see offered as part of the school lunch. Thedata indicate that most students define “wellness” as being healthyor well (57.1%), view their own wellness as a high priority(83.3%),and indicated that they would ask a doctor (31.9%) or parent (20.6%)if they had health-related questions. While student varied in theirresponses to school lunch preferences, most indicated that they wouldlike to see more candy (30.1%), chips/cookies/crackers (26.2%) andsoda pop (15.2%), offered in the vending machines. Results indicatethat although most students view their health and wellness asimportant, stated vending machine food preferences may negativelyimpact their nutritional status.

FUNDING DISCLOSURE: None

TITLE: THE IMPACT OF CHARACTERISTICS AND KNOWLEDGE ONFOLIC ACID CONSUMPTION AMONG COLLEGE-AGED WOMEN

AUTHOR(S): L.M. Stahlhut, BS; P.E. Fernando, PhD, RD; EasternIllinois University, Charleston, IL

LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase the awareness of the impact ofcharacteristics and knowledge on folic acid consumption among college-aged women.

TEXT: Periconceptional consumption of folic acid can prevent up to 70% ofneural tube defects. Increased folate intake is needed before the closure ofthe neural tube during the first month of pregnancy, often before manywomen are aware they are pregnant. Because most pregnancies in womenaged 18-24 are unplanned, inadequate consumption of folic acid amongcollege-aged women may lead to neural tube defects. The purpose of thispilot study was to determine what characteristics and knowledge impactfolic acid consumption in college-aged women. Thirty-one college-agedwomen were conveniently selected and completed a questionnaire, whichincluded demographic information, behavioral characteristics, andknowledge concerning folic acid. The subjects also completed a 24-hourdietary recall. The participants ranged from 18-25 years old, the majority(87%) was white, and 58% were sexually active. Thirteen percentconsumed folic acid supplements regularly and 36% consumed therecommended amount of 400 micrograms of folic acid. Using Pearson’scorrelational coefficients, supplement usage was the characteristiccomponent (r�0.287), while knowing the benefits (r�0.156) and havingheard of folic acid (r�0.112) were the knowledge components that had thehighest impact on folic acid consumption. The data suggests that college-aged women are not consuming adequate amounts of folic acid. Healthprofessionals need to target college-aged women as a high-risk group forneural tube defects as well as provide education and promote consumptionof folic acid. Results from this pilot study are the basis for current furtherresearch on folic acid consumption among college-aged women on a largerscale.

FUNDING DISCLOSURE: N/A

TITLE: GET ON THE ELDERBOOM EXPRESS-IT’S ABOUTAGING, LONGEVITY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS

AUTHOR(S): S.E. Belle, MA, RD, CDN; Westchester CountyDepartment of Senior Programs and Services, NY

LEARNING OUTCOME: To increase the awareness of the price ofaging in this community and set an agenda for action.

TEXT: One of the success stories of the twenty first century islongevity. Medical advances show that good nutrition and healthy lifecourse choices have contributed significantly to the “longevity lunge.”In this community 20% of the residents are 60 years and over. Thoseaged 85 years and over are the fastest growing segment of thepopulation with a 24% increase within the last two decades. Themission of this department is to identify and prioritize the needs ofolder adults, create comprehensive and coordinated plans for meetingthose needs, advocate for responsive policies, programs, actions,legislations and resources on behalf of older adults. To carry out thismission, the Intergenerational College/University Coalition of thisdepartment planned and held a landmark Elderboom Conferenceentitled, “ The Price of Aging: Agenda for Action.” About 800enthusiastic attendees that included caregivers, faculty, seniors andstudents heard a distinguished panel of experts address a variety ofeldercare issues. The attendees took the Priority Pulse, a needsassessment survey that identified their concerns as they grow olderor anticipate becoming caregivers. The department is now actingupon phase 2 of this agenda. It includes the development of caucusesto address care-giving, cultural diversity, employment, elder abuse,health and wellness, housing, long-term care services, incomesecurity, intergenerational, intergovernmental, mental health, andtransportation issues. The department with its coalitions willcontinue to develop and implement this agenda that will help theregion remain an elder friendly community.

FUNDING DISCLOSURE: IBM, Inc.Westchester Business JournalPace University, Fordham UniversityOther Corporate & Private groups

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5

POSTER SESSION: SCIENCE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION/WELLNESS AND PUBLIC HEALTH/RESEARCH AND GRANTS

A-62 / August 2004 Suppl 2—Abstracts Volume 104 Number 8