Foods Of Low Nutritional Value Research Articles

Small taxes on soft drinks and snack foods to promote health.

Health officials often wish to sponsor nutrition and other health promotion programs but are hampered by lack of funding. One source of funding is suggested by the fact that 18 states and 1 major city levy special taxes on soft drinks, candy, chewing gum, or snack foods. The tax rates may be too small to affect sales, but in some jurisdictions, the revenues generated are substantial. Nationally, about $1 billion is raised annually from these taxes. The authors propose that state and local governments levy taxes on foods of low nutritional value and use the revenues to fund health promotion programs.

A comparison of mass media techniques and a direct method for nutrition education in Rural Mexico

Summary A pilot study was elaborated to test the effectiveness of mass media techniques as compared to direct methods of education in transmitting the basic concepts of hygiene, health, and an adequate diet. Three different geographical areas were chosen: in one area mass media techniques were used; in a second area teachers used a direct method of nutrition education; and the third served as a control group. The three communities were homogeneous in population size and accessibility of radio, water, drainage, and job resources. The family groups were also homogeneous in age, educational level, and in number and age of children. It was found that nutrition concepts were learned equally well using the direct method of education as with mass media. The direct education group showed a 53% increase in their learning scores. In this group, the mothers increased their knowledge of infant nutritional needs by more than 70%. The mass media group showed similar results. With the mass media techniques the increment in their final learning scores was 54%. A survey to measure the changes in food habits as a result of nutrition education indicated a positive change in the food consumption of both the mass media and direct education groups. An increase in the intake offish, vegetables, and fruits was observed. The control group indicated a negative response by increasing their consumption of popular but low nutritive value foods.