Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Greater Weight Loss in Obese and Overweight Low-Income Mothers

Objective

To examine if greater nutrition knowledge vs gains in knowledge promote more successful weight loss in low-income, overweight and obese mothers with young children.

Design

A convenience sample of mothers and their children were measured for height and weight; mothers completed demographic and nutrition knowledge questionnaires pre- and postintervention.

Subjects/setting

Participants (N=141) were recruited from government and public health clinics and elementary schools. Inclusion criteria for mothers were: family income <200% federal poverty level; overweight/obese; and Hispanic, African-American, or white race/ethnicity.

Intervention

Eight weekly weight-loss classes emphasizing diet, physical activity, and behavior modification based on Social Cognitive Theory were administered to mothers.

Main Outcome Measures

Improvements in maternal nutrition knowledge and weight loss.

Statistical Analyses Performed

Paired-samples t tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, Pearson correlations, and χ² statistics.

Results

Nutrition knowledge of mothers increased in all areas. Participants with weight loss ≥2.27 kg (responders) had greater knowledge than those who did not; however, the actual net gain was similar for those who lost and did not lose weight. Weight gainers only improved in two areas on the test, whereas weight-loss responders increased knowledge in all six. Responders appeared more cognizant of diet, weight loss, and health information.

Conclusions

Weight-management programs should include a strong component of nutrition education to alleviate knowledge inequalities and promote more effective weight control. In low-income mothers, greater initial knowledge may be more predictive of weight loss than gains in knowledge during an intervention.     

印度亚拉文眼科模式

印度亚拉文医院是世界卫生组织合作单位,创造了“大规模、高质量、低成本”的眼科医疗模式,2005年,医院门诊量达163万多,手术超过22万例,其中白内障手术达16万多例,为世界之最。如何有效地借鉴印度亚拉文的模式为我所用,成为中国眼科界同仁日益热烈讨论的一个话题。本刊特邀印度亚拉文医院的主要负责人就该模式的特点撰文介绍。     

The Psychosocial and Behavioral Characteristics Related to Energy Misreporting

Energy underreporting occurs in 2% to 85% and overreporting in 1% to 39% of various populations. Efforts are needed to understand the psychosocial and behavioral characteristics associated with misreporting to help improve the accuracy of dietary self-reporting. Past research suggests that higher social desirability and greater eating restraint are key factors influencing misreporting, while a history of dieting and being overweight are more moderately associated. Eating disinhibition, body image, depression, anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation may be related to energy misreporting, but evidence is insufficient. This review will provide a detailed discussion of the published associations among psychosocial and behavioral characteristics and energy misreporting.