Journal of the American Dietetic Association Online

AND VEGETABLES

AUTHOR(S): L. Paul, Ed.D, RD, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT; J. Johnson, Richland County Extension, Sidney, MT; S. Rosaaen, Richland County Council on Aging, Sidney, MT; T. Rudicil, Richland Health Network, Sidney, MT; D. Blakely, Montana Bureau of Aging Services, Helena, MT; D. Weddle, PhD, RD, Florida International University, Miami, FL

LEARNING OUTCOME: To design a client focused community nutrition program to increase the availability of fruits and vegetables for older adults.

TEXT: Partnerships between state and community agencies facilitate coordination and expansion of nutrition, informational and supportive services for older adults living in rural areas. This report describes a state and rural county partnership that developed an older adult centered program to increase availability of fruits and vegetables. The State University Extension Service provides nutrition expertise for the State Bureau of Aging Services. The county partnership (CP) includes members from Extension, aging, nutrition and health agencies. Nutrition risk factor data identified limited intake of fruits and vegetables in the older adult population as a concern. Focus groups of older adults identified non-traditional nutrition education methods and sites. The CP recruited additional community resources and implemented 3 educational strategies: 1.) Reduced cost coupon packets offered at 3 grocery stores. Each packet contained 3 50-cent coupons and a nutrition information sheet. Over 3 months, 332 coupon packets (996 individual coupons) were distributed and 562 individual coupons (56%) were redeemed; 2.) Fruit and vegetable snacks were served at 2 senior centers during card playing activities. Recipes and information about fruits and vegetables were provided to 75 older adults; 3.) Teen groups worked with 48 older adults at a senior housing site to plan a vegetable garden promoting homegrown produce and provided a Sunday salad bar. Teens also put in planter beds for vegetable gardening at a new assisted living facility for 35 residents. Older adults, when part of the planning process, can identify unique ways to learn about nutrition. Funded by USDA Agreement #97036200-5256.

TITLE: SHAPE YOUR FUTURE…YOUR WEIGH!TM A SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN

AUTHOR(S): T.A. Piemonte, MS, RD, CDE, LDN and J.M. Spahn, MS, RD, FADA. Population Health Support Division, Air Force Medical Operations Agency, Brooks City-Base, TX

LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe a social marketing campaign supported by the United States Air Force (USAF) aimed at preventing weight gain and apply similar techniques to the civilian U.S. population.

TEXT: The USAF is a subset of the U.S. population and as such is experiencing increases in weight gain, similar to the U.S. population. Excess weight impacts personal health, productivity and healthcare costs. Health Promotion Managers (HPMs) report 72% of installations have no base-wide weight gain prevention initiative. A social marketing campaign called Shape Your Future…Your Weigh!TM (SYFYW), packaged and deployed as an electronic tool kit is being developed, tested and released in phases to health promotion functions at 83 USAF installations. Phase one of this toolkit, designed for easy implementation, targets active duty military members and empowers health promotion personnel

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Journal of the American Dietetic Association Online

to brief senior leaders and medical personnel on the role they can play to stop this weight gain epidemic. Complementary mass media components include posters, newspaper articles, email messages and handouts to propel the campaign. A survey of 85 HPMs had a 66% response rate. Greater than 40% have begun implementation within 6 months of release and 35% will begin in the near future. Importance of weight gain prevention and readily available quality materials were top reasons for implementing the campaign. Phase 2 of SYFYW is being pilot tested and targets enhancement of environmental support with an environmental roadmap focusing on eight domains. This tool complements the USAF Community Assessment Survey and new fitness program requirements. Collaboration has made SYFYW a welcome vehicle to enhance impact of multiple community actions targeting improvement in weight and fitness. This multiyear project will reach over 2.4 million beneficiaries.

TITLE: VITAMIN D STATUS AND INTAKE IN HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS

AUTHOR(S): R. Abourizk, MA, MS, RD; L. Graf, BS; A. Zimmerli, RD; E. Shemenski, RD; A. Monette, RD; A. Kenny, MD; K. Prestwood, MD; and J. Kerstetter, PhD, RD. School of Allied Health, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT and the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT

LEARNING OUTCOME: Reduce the risk for bone loss and fractures among older adults by assessing the intake of vitamin D (from both food and supplements) to ensure they achieve desirable intakes of vitamin D to support normal vitamin D status and bone health as intake may be inadequate even among groups of elders who are well educated and financially secure.

TEXT: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem nationwide. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with risk of bone loss and fracture particularly in older adults. The study characterized vitamin D status in a group of healthy elders from a middleclass suburban area. We evaluated baseline information from 317 healthy seniors (77 men, 240 women) who participated in long-term osteoporosis related studies at a medical center. Their average age was 74 ± 5 years. Four-day food records were obtained and analyzed including vitamin D consumed from vitamin supplements. Baseline serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25(OH) vitamin D were measured. Total vitamin D intake (combined food and supplemental sources) in 83% of the subjects was below the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). Sixty-seven percent consumed less than 70% of the DRI (generally considered to be deficient). Based on serum measurements of 25(OH) vitamin D, 10% of the subjects were severely vitamin D deficient (<10 ng/ml), 46% were moderately insufficient (11-25 ng/ml), while 44% had normal serum vitamin D levels. The subjects taking vitamin D supplements had higher levels of serum vitamin D than those not taking supplements (p = 0.001). These data demonstrate that a large percentage of seniors are deficient in vitamin D, as reflected by low serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D. Their low intake of vitamin D from both food and supplements contributes to their poor vitamin D status. Elders, even of high socioeconomic status, need guidance to achieve desirable intakes to support normal vitamin D status and bone health.

TITLE: HEALTHY DINING TEAM: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE NUTRITION HABITS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

AUTHOR(S): R. Dutia, Healthy Dining Team, C. Elliott, Healthy Dining Team, G. Fear, Healthy Dining

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