Population perspectives on the prevention and treatment of obesity in minority populations

Article Abstract:

Obesity has become a national health problem. It affects a large percent of the population, and increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. The prevalence of obesity in minority populations has been increasing over the last several decades. In some minority groups, black women and Native Americans in particular, obesity is more common than it is compared with the rest of the US population. Different studies have reported rates of obesity for the US population that range from 20 percent to 50 percent. The high incidence of obesity in the US may be related to dietary habits, eating foods high in fat and sugar content, and a lack of physical exercise. Also, social and economic factors may play a role in encouraging obesity. The US social and economic systems have been successful in making an almost unlimited supply of palatable foods available at low cost, and advances in technology have led to the development of machines that reduce the need for human physical labor. These same factors are likely to have contributed to the increase in obesity in minority populations living in the US. Strict control over the advertising of food products requiring accurate labels of package contents and promoting healthy foods may encourage a healthier diet. Differences in rates of obesity among minority populations may be caused by differences in the availability of nutritional education programs, health promotion programs, recreational activities, and treatment services. Minority populations tend to have lower levels of education and income. Previous studies have shown that low socioeconomic status and education levels are associated with higher rates of obesity in minority populations. Although many people try to loose weight, very few are successful. It is concluded that new methods for controlling and preventing obesity are needed. Reducing obesity in minority populations and the US population as a whole should become a public health goal, and nutrition and health education should be promoted. The US food supply may be considered to be a health hazard because it encourages obesity. Attempts to improve the quality of the food supply should be made. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

---

Obesity prevention

Article Abstract:

Obesity affects a large percentage of the US population. Changes in lifestyles that include poor dietary and exercise habits contribute to and promote obesity. The incidence of obesity among minority populations has increased steadily over the last several decades. In fact, the incidence of obesity in some minority populations is greater than that for the entire US population. Because of the established links between obesity and disease, treatment and prevention programs for controlling obesity are needed. Since eating behaviors that are acquired during childhood and adolescence are likely to carry over into adulthood, treatment and prevention of obesity should begin at an early age. Programs for treating and preventing obesity in teenagers should focus on nutrition education, the health hazards of obesity, modifying behaviors associated with obesity, and encouraging behaviors associated with a healthy lifestyle. In attempts to accomplish these goals, treatment and prevention programs have focused on the individual, the family, and the schools. Focusing on the individual and the family has two advantages: treatment can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual and family members can provide extra support and encouragement. The school programs provide education designed to change current attitudes about nutrition and to promote a healthy diet and exercise. Also, environmental changes such as school lunch programs, better labeling of food products with more nutritional information, and advertising designed to promote healthy foods may be helpful. Families, schools, and communities need to provide reinforcement to help teenagers develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Training, Teenagers, Youth, Study and teaching, Nutrition

---

Hypertension prevention trial: do 24-h food records capture usual eating behavior in a dietary change study?

Article Abstract:

The Hypertension Prevention Trial was a large research study of various dietary therapies designed to prevent high blood pressure. Each of the 841 participants was randomly assigned to one of the following diets: sodium restriction, sodium restriction and potassium increase, sodium and calorie restrictions, or calorie restriction (normal weight individuals were not assigned to calorie-restriction diets). Participants learned how to follow their diets in group counseling sessions. Evaluations of weight, food intake, and urine sodium and potassium levels were made every six months over three years. These measurements were used as indicators of how closely participants were following the diets. The subjects' written reports of the foods they ate indicated lower sodium and higher potassium intakes than were indicated by urine analysis; this implies that subjects did not accurately report what they were eating. Some individuals may have exaggerated their adherence to the diet in order to appear more cooperative. Another problem with self-reported intake is that subjects may change their usual eating habits to make recording the diet simpler and easier; foods that are complicated to describe or measure may be avoided even though they are typical of the individual's choices. Issues relating to the accuracy and validity of this method of studying diet are discussed. It is concluded that assessments of diet based on subjects' written food records may not be accurate. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Research, Methods, Evaluation, Hypertension, Measurement, Diet, Diet therapy, Dietetics

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Prevalence of overweight and obesity in US Hispanic populations. Consequences for maternal nutrition of reproductive stress across consecutive pregnancies
• Abstracts: Personality disorder in perspective. Personality disorder and psychiatric illness in general practice. Efficacy of combined antidepressant therapy in resistant neurotic disorder
• Abstracts: Influenza vaccination in the prevention of acute otitis media in children. The causes of hospital-treated acute lower respiratory tract infection in children
• Abstracts: Investigation and management of gout in the young and elderly. Levels of insulin related growth factor 1 in osteoarthritis of the knee
• Abstracts: Colon polyps in acromegaly. Management of pituitary tumors. Malignant polyps: are they sheep in wolves' clothing?

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.