My ADA

PIPPAH Supplement to the ADA Journal

March 2002

Title: Effects of nutrition education programs on adolescent pregnancy outcomes

A study involving 32 pregnant adolescents (ages 14-19) over three days, to determine the adequate weight gain needed to support pregnancy and growth resulting in a positive pregnancy outcome. Findings included that nutrition educators need to provide information to adolescents on how to eat healthy foods to achieve the recommended pattern and amount of weight gain during pregnancy.

Title: California Project LEAN's Food on the Run: An evaluation of a high school-based student advocacy nutrition and physical activity program

Study involved adolescents (ages 12-19) over one year. The item of interest is that overweight and obese children are an increasingly important public health concern. The study found that education of basic nutrition and physical activity in conjunction with the opportunity to behave on knowledge are important. It is also noted that when the environment supports the behavior, (such as school) individual attempts are more successful.

Title: Impact of An Educational Seminar on High School Students' Knowledge of Folic Acid supplementation and its Role in the Prevention of Birth Defects

The study included six teachers and their classes, from three school districts in Salt Lake City, UT. The premise is that Folic Acid (FA) helps reduce the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defect (NTD). The results suggest that educational modules on FA incorporated into the curriculum increase the students' knowledge of FA and its prevention of NTDs. Follow-up studies should be performed to measure behavior change in adolescents who have received the FA education.

Title: Clueless in the Mall: A Web Site on Calcium for Teens

A Web site was developed and targeted at youth aged 11-15, a critical age, where calcium intake often decreases. The Web site used a scavenger hunt format to test and inform the participants. The study found that input was crucial in all stages of development of the Web site to test cost effectiveness, user friendliness, etc. Educators would like to track student's scores online, and school dietitians use it in a classroom setting to show a connection between school meals and dietary recommendations.

Title: Committed to kids: an integrated, four level team approach to weight management in adolescents.

93 adolescents (13-17) were enrolled in the program for one year. The program has four levels and encourages short-term goals for combating weight management. It was a successful program because it is entertaining to promote initial success; parent training is included; and the program team provides consistent feedback, every three months.

Title: Promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging advocacy among university and high school students

The intervention focused on a group grades 10-12, recruited from health, science and phys. ed classes, announcements and flyers. There were weekly mtgs. established, and several activities during the school year. Advocates were trained on policy change techniques, resulting in changes in vending machines and school lunches. The stronger the club becomes in the school, the more this intervention will be sustained.

Title: Integrating the Food Guide Pyramid and Physical Activity Pyramid for positive dietary and physical activity behaviors in adolescents

An intervention program was designed to integrate practical life skills concerning nutrition and physical activity habits while meeting state regulations for schools. The program introduced 18 lessons to students in five weeks, including puzzles, quizzes, physical activities, etc. Knowledge was increased, but since it was a short study, behavior changes were not expected. This format may produce better results if started at an earlier age.

Title: The Great Beginnings Program: Impact of a nutrition curriculum on nutrition knowledge, diet quality, and birth outcomes in pregnant and parenting teens

In this study, 136 subjects were compared to three control groups. The curriculum did an entry & exit knowledge test, a 24-hour diet recall and a review of birth records as well as classes. As a result, the study found that those enrolled in the Great Beginnings curriculum achieved outcome objectives for healthy teenage childbearing. Participants achieved healthier birth outcomes than those who did not participate.

Title: BODY BASICS: a nutrition education program for adolescents about food, nutrition, growth, body image and weight control

This was a large collaborative nutrition education project implemented at a national level in Australian schools. The goal was to provide teachers and students with information about nutrition as well as develop positive attitudes & behaviors about food. It has been a huge success since its release seven years ago. It has shown improvements in the body image of adolescents, including those who were at risk of developing an eating disorder.

Title: An environmental intervention to improve a la carte foods at middle schools

Middle School Physical Activity and Nutrition (M-SPAN) was designed to enhance the understanding of school environmental interventions. Goals involved: reducing amt. of fat grams sold at schools, as well as increasing physical activity at school. In-service training as well as follow-up visits were conducted. These methods were well received, and many changes have been made, but it is essential that written local and district policies be established, followed and enforced related to providing healthy a la carte food.

Title: The Right Bite Nutrition Program: A nutrition intervention a minority college campus

The study was conducted to address the lack of nutritional knowledge/unhealthy dietary patterns of college students. The program took place from the fall of 1997 to the spring of 2000. Students enrolled in the dietetics program were volunteers, and acted as peer educators, receiving bi-monthly training, and participated in a number of activities to get the student body interested. This included group presentations, a weekly column in the campus newsletter, cafeteria tours, staffing information tables, etc. Results suggest that knowledge was increased but student behavior has not changed. This resulted in the intervention making some changes based on these findings.

Title: Adolescent Growth and Development

This article discusses the different types of growth in adolescents, and the components that make up the different types. The first is physiologic growth, including the Tanner Stages, height attainment, weight gain and body composition and measurement of growth. The second type of growth is based on nutritional requirements, including energy, protein, minerals, calcium, Iron, Zinc, and vitamins. The article also discusses eating behavior, and how this influences an adolescent's growth and development.

Title: Designing Effective Nutrition Interventions for Adolescents

This paper discusses the different steps needed to complete a nutritional intervention with adolescents. The author includes a number of steps, including proximal program objectives, methods and strategies program design, adoption and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

Title: HealthWorks! Weight Management Program for Children and Adolescents

HealthWorks! serves overweight and obese children ages 5-10 and adolescents ages 11-17, using both group and individual treatment. The goals are to improve weight status and adherence to a healthier lifestyle. The program works through a number of phases, involving an initial assessment and follow-up visits. This program is a great career opportunity for pediatric nutritionists. Those on staff work as case mgrs. for families and have primary responsibility for developing the behavioral interventions used in the program.

Title: Strategies for Counseling the Adolescent

It is imperative to understand the internal and external worlds in which adolescents live in order to help counsel them during their adolescent years. Using theoretical models, a personalized counseling philosophy and knowing predictable behaviors will aid the counselor when trying to establish a relationship with an adolescent. There are different tactics one can use, including one-to-one counseling and small group instruction, that will give the counselor different perspectives to working with an adolescent.

Title: Individual and Environmental Influences on Adolescent Eating Behaviors

Even though there is a lot of information about healthy eating for adolescents, their consumption of healthy foods is below what it should be. There are a number of things that may explain this, including individual, social environmental, physical environmental and societal influences. An understanding of how these different influences interact and affect the adolescent is needed to develop effective nutrition interventions.

Title: Assessing the Nutritional Status of Adolescents: A Model Approach

Nutrition screening identifies which adolescents have poor nutritional status, as well as those who are at risk for developing nutrition problems. This paper discusses a number of ways to complete a nutritional screening. Establishing a relationship, setting an agenda, assessing growth and development and initial assessment of dietary intake and physical activity are among the important factors when completing a nutritional screening.