December

December 2001: Highlights from the Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Below are summaries of several nutrition research articles published in the December 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. For more information, or to receive a faxed copy of a JADA article, please call Bridget McManamon 800/877-1600, ext. 4769; or e-mail bmcmana@eatright.org.


Nursing home residents: Tray or buffet?

Although federal and state regulations dictate that nursing homes must provide sufficient nutrition and feeding assistance to residents, the incidence of malnutrition among nursing home residents ranges from 20 percent to 60 percent, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. They conducted a pilot study to determine if a buffet-style dining program would enhance food consumption and nutritional status among nursing home residents. Forty residents were recruited and randomly assigned to either the buffet-style dining program or receive the conventional tray-style meal. Results showed that participants in the buffet-style dinning group consumed 25 percent more energy and protein. Although not part of the assessment, researchers state that the participants' quality of life seemed to be enhanced and that residents looked forward to their meals. Researchers suggest that long-term care facilities should reevaluate their dining strategies to help overcome many of the documented reasons for poor food consumption among nursing home residents.

Postpartum exercise and food intake

Pregnant women often express concern about returning to their pre-pregnancy body weight and shape once they've welcomed their new baby into the family. Why is this challenge to lose weight overcome by some mothers and not others? Researchers from the University of Missouri evaluated 498 women to examine the relationship between "psychosocial" factors and change in exercise and food intake during the first year after delivery. Researchers found that women who developed a plan to get regular physical activity, had social support, were accepting of the fact that they gained weight during pregnancy, were satisfied with their body and were "driven for thinness" experienced increased amounts of exercise and decreased amounts of food intake. Researchers suggest that dietetics professionals should help new mothers set goals for themselves in developing a plan for physical activity and making healthful food choices.