Assessment of Whole Grain Intake and Health Correlates in an Aging Population

Author(s)

Alexis Howard, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Date

5-2006

Comments

CONTRIBUTOR: Fey-Yensan, Nancy [faculty advisor, Department of Nurition and Food Sciences] DATE: 2006 SUBJECT: Health care FORMAT: Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, 7,734,784 bytes FORMAT: Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, 6,820,864 bytes FORMAT: Microsoft Word document, 45,568 bytes FORMAT: Microsoft Word document, 34,304 bytes FORMAT: Microsoft Word document, 106,496 bytes FORMAT: Microsoft Word document, 35,328 bytes 2006 URI Senior Honors Project Unable to access four (4) "newsletter" files.

Keywords

whole grains; nutritioneducation intervention; older adults; nutrition research; dietetics; community nutrition; nutrition education materials; whole grain recipies

Abstract

Research suggests that whole grain intake may decrease the risk of heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and many types of cancer. The overall goal of this work is to increase the health status of an older adult population through comprehensive nutrition risk assessment and exposure to tailored nutrition education interventions. This project involved assisting in baseline and post-intervention assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and intake of whole grain foods within a convenience sample of fifty-eight older adults residing in low-income housing sites across Rhode Island. Anthropometry, including height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure was measured, along with an onsite finger stick blood sampling measuring total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and blood glucose. Analysis of baseline data revealed multiple nutrition risk factors associated with debilitating, chronic disease indicating that subjects would benefit from tailored whole grain nutrition education interventions. Two different community-based nutrition interventions were compared. The first included a home-mailing of four monthly newsletters focused on the topic of whole grains. The second combined the newsletter approach with face-to-face nutrition education workshops and food demonstrations. Impact evaluation of these interventions was assessed by improvements in bio-markers and risk factors related to disease, along with positive changes in behavior, attitude, and knowledge concerning whole grain intake in the sample population.