| Sunday, January 15, 2006 |
| Nutrition Education And Weight Loss Among Low-Income Mothers |
Weight-management programs, especially for low-income women, need to include strong nutrition education components to "alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight control," according to researchers at the University of Texas. In a study of 141 overweight or obese women - recruited from schools, Women, Infants and Children clinics and public health clinics - the researchers found "successful weight loss was associated with greater nutrition knowledge."
Eight-week classes for the low-income women emphasized diet, physical activity and behavior modification. The researchers found that, on average, the women who scored highest on nutrition knowledge tests both before and after the classes lost the most amount of weight.
The researchers acknowledge that factors other than nutrition knowledge "may contribute to successful weight reduction in this population," including social support, depression, stress and attitudes toward nutrition and weight loss. Even so, the researchers write: "Information about the Food Guide Pyramid, weight loss, energy nutrients and vitamins/minerals need reinforcement in low-income populations to improve knowledge and promote weight loss."
The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics. With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Based in Chicago, ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at www.eatright.org.
Julia Dombrowski
media@eatright.org
American Dietetic Association
www.eatright.org |
| posted by Jennie Tate @ 4:38 AM |
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