Search

Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between body image perception and weight status as measured by the body mass index among a group of fourth graders in Maryland. Design Cross-sectional data on height, weight, and body image were collected in the classroom. At risk for being overweight and being overweight designations were assigned to participants with body mass index (BMI) percentile values for age and sex of [greater than or equal to]85 to <95 and BMI [greater than or equal to]95, respectively. Students selected a figure (range 1 to 7) to represent their current and ideal images. Subjects The subjects of this study were 524 fourth-grade public school students (54% girls; 61% white; mean age, 9.2 years) from three geographically distinct regions in Maryland (38.6% urban, 30.7% suburban, 30.7% rural). Statistical Analyses [chi square] tests were used to compare weight status with sex, race, geographic location, and body image discrepancy categories. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare BMI and body image scores with sex and race/ethnicity to geographic location. Results Thirteen percent of students were overweight, and 15% were at risk of overweight. There was no association between weight status and race, body image perception, or geographic location. African Americans chose larger figures than whites and other races to represent their current and ideal images and were most satisfied with their body size. Conclusions Perceptions of body image are formed early in life. Dietitians can provide guidance on appropriate weight and body size to children, parents, and school professionals. Dietitians can also use their influence to secure funding for nutrition education programs. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:1080-1085.

The objective of this study was to describe breakfast and lunch consumption patterns of fourth-grade students from selected public schools in Maryland and how they differ by geographic location. Data were collected from a sample of 540 fourth-grade public school children (46% male, 62% white; mean age=9 years) from three geographically distinct regions of Maryland (30% rural, 30% suburban, and 40% urban). Data on breakfast and lunch consumption were collected using an in-classroom questionnaire. [chi square] tests were used to compare skipping meal behavior by geographic location. Twenty percent of fourth-grade students reported skipping breakfast and/or lunch at least three times per week. Urban students were more than twice as likely to skip breakfast and to eat school-prepared meals compared with suburban and rural students. Dietitians in all regions need to explore new ways to encourage regular meal consumption among students in their schools. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004;104:420-423.

Objective To compare infant feeding practices among low-income, urban, African-American women enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) with current recommendations for infant feeding. Design Longitudinal follow-up of women and their infants who participated in a WIC-based breastfeeding promotion project. Women enrolled prenatally at or before 24 weeks of gestation were followed up until 16 weeks postpartum. Subjects/setting Two hundred seventeen African-American WIC participants in an urban area. Methods Data related to infant feeding practices were collected by interviewers who used a structured questionnaire to determine when nonmilk liquids or solids were introduced to the infant. Reported practices were compared with current recommendations. Statistical analysis performed Contingency table analysis, including [Χ.sup.2] tests, and multivariate analysis using logistic regression. Results By 7 to 10 days postpartum, approximately a third of infants were receiving some nonmilk liquids or solids; this escalated to 77% by 8 weeks and 93% by 16 weeks postparturn. Women breastfeeding exclusively (ie, not adding nonmilk liquids or solids) were least likely, and women providing mixed feeding (breast milk and formula) were more likely, than women feeding formula exclusively to introduce nonmilk liquids and solids at each data collection time period. Applications/conclusions WIC participants who receive instruction about infant feeding nutrition are no more likely than mothers who do not participate in WIC to follow infant feeding guidelines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics in regard to the time when solids should be introduced to infants' diet. Our findings suggest the need for WIC to implement more powerful and innovative educational and motivational strategies to help mothers delay the introduction of nonmilk liquids and solid foods until their infants are 4 to 6 months old, as recommended., Until early in the 20th century, breastfeeding was the primary source of nutrients for infants during the first year of life; other foods were seldom offered. During the late 1930s, [...]

Objective To evaluate the relative effects introducing motivational videotapes and/or peer counseling in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics serving African-American women have on breast-feeding duration. Design Experimental intervention study. Pregnant women were enrolled at or before 24 weeks gestation and were followed up until postpartum week 16. Women were interviewed at enrollment, 7 to 10 days, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks postpartum. Subjects/setting One hundred fifteen African-American WIC participants who initiated breast-feeding and who had been enrolled in 1 of 4 clinics. Intervention Two-by-two factorial design, in which 4 clinics were randomly assigned to receive either no intervention, a motivational video package intervention, a peer-counseling intervention, or both interventions. Main outcome measures Breast-feeding duration in weeks and relative risk ratios for breast-feeding cessation before 16 weeks postpartum. Statistical analysis performed Contingency table analysis, including [Χ.sup.3] tests and log-rank tests; multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results A higher proportion of women were breast-feeding at 8 and 16 weeks postpartum in the intervention clinics than in the control clinic. The proportion of women reporting breast-feeding declined at 8 and 16 weeks postpartum, but the rate of decline was slower in the 3 intervention clinics than in the control clinic. Being younger than 19 years of age or older than 25 years of age, having a male infant, and returning to work or school all negatively affected breast-feeding duration, whereas previous breast-feeding experience positively influenced breast-feeding duration. Applications/conclusions WIC-based peer counselor support and motivational videos can positively affect the duration of breast-feeding among African-American women. WIC nutritionists and other health professionals in contact with this population should expand their efforts toward promoting increased duration of breast-feeding., In 1991, 4% of African-American women attending Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in Baltimore, Md, reported breast-feeding at 1 month. The 1992 WIC breast-feeding [...]

The results for 217 nutrition education studies on children and adults are discussed. Studies on preschool children focused on the effects of nutrition education on knowledge and behavior, while those on school-aged children dealt with general food and nutrition issues and behavioral change. Studies on adults included national media campaigns, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the effects of nutrition education.

Because the benefits of breast-feeding for both mothers and infants have become widely recognized, a national health objective has specified that by the year 2,000 the rate of breast-feeding in the US should be 75 percent at hospital discharge and 50 percent at six months after childbirth. However, the rates of initiating breast-feeding have declined from 60 percent in the early 1980s to 54 percent in 1988. Simultaneously, the employment rate of married mothers with infants of one year or less increased from 24 percent in 1970 to 52 percent in 1987. Previous studies do not clarify the relationship between employment plans of a mother and her decision to breast-feed. The effect of a mother returning to work shortly after childbirth on the initiation and continuation of breast-feeding was assessed in a mixed urban population. A group of women were interviewed twice in the first three months following childbirth. There was no relation between planning to be employed within the first six months following childbirth and the initiation of breast-feeding. However, employment shortly after childbirth was associated with the cessation of breast-feeding as early as two to three months. Less than 50 percent of the mothers who returned to work after childbirth were still breast-feeding by the second interview. In contrast, two-thirds of the mothers who were unemployed continued to breast-feed by the second interview. Women who worked 20 hours per week or less were more likely to continue breast-feeding. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Background: The use of digital communication platforms to improve health behaviors has increased dramatically over the last decade. Public health practitioners have adopted digital communication technologies such as text messages, mobile apps, and social media to reach diverse populations. However, the effectiveness of digital communication platforms used by community-serving agencies remains unclear, and patterns of engagement and acceptability of different platforms have not been studied., Objective: This review aimed to identify the types of digital communication strategies used by community-serving organizations to promote healthy behaviors, assess the strength of evidence for health behavioral change, and describe the degree of consumer engagement with and acceptability of these strategies. The study population included low-income pregnant women, parents of young children, and adolescents., Methods: A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and APA PsycInfo, covering research conducted from 2009 to 2022. Studies were included if they examined the use of digital communication (ie, texting, mobile apps, or social media) to promote healthy behaviors in the target population. Risk of bias and strength of evidence were assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Risk of Bias tool and criteria from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, respectively., Results: Twenty-three peer-reviewed research studies published between 2012 and 2022, conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, were included in the review. The sample comprised studies exploring the use of texting (n=12), apps (n=6), social media (n=3), and multiple platforms (n=2; eg, texting and mobile apps). Targeted health behaviors included healthy diet, physical activity, obesity prevention, healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, vaccine use, smoking cessation, and nutrition benefit redemption. The sample included 8 randomized controlled trials, 6 pretest-posttest design, 3 mixed methods studies, 2 pilot studies, 1 feasibility study, 1 prospective cohort study, 1 descriptive study, and 1 cross-sectional study. The median sample size was 77.5. There was no strong evidence to suggest the effectiveness of digital media campaigns in improving health behaviors; however, there were moderate to high levels of engagement and high levels of acceptability across digital platforms., Conclusions: Low-income pregnant women, parents of young children, and adolescents demonstrated moderate levels of engagement with and high levels of acceptability of digital media health campaigns conducted by community-serving agencies. The effectiveness of these strategies in improving health behaviors was inconclusive. Additional rigorous studies with larger sample sizes are required. In addition, more research is required to consistently measure and report participants' engagement with each platform. Digital communication platforms are critical tools for public health practitioners, and future investigations of the effectiveness of these platforms in engaging clients and improving health behaviors will maximize client services., (©Elisabet V Eppes, Marycatherine Augustyn, Susan M Gross, Paris Vernon, Laura E Caulfield, David M Paige. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 03.02.2023.)