Healthy Eating Practices Research Articles

From Creation to Assessment of Educational Material for Brazilian Preschool Children in the Context of Promotion of Healthy Eating Practices

To describe the process of planning, implementation and assessment of a pedagogical kit on healthy eating for Brazilian preschoolers. The kit consists of games, a musical CD, a book for children, and a teacher's book, and its contents allow the job from the origins of food to the final consumer.

“Move it & lose it” — The impact of a self-monitored weight management program on weight loss and healthy weight loss practices

Two of the Healthy People 2000 nutrition objectives focus on decreasing overweight Americans and increasing the number of overweight adults who adopt sound weight loss practices. To address these objectives, employees of a large insurance company participated in a self-monitored, 8-week weight management program, MOVE IT & LOSE IT, focusing on healthy eating and exercise practices while simultaneously reducing body weight. The program was offered to over 45,000 employees around the United States. Participants chose a weight loss goal using the Suggested Weights for Adults (USDA, HHS, 1990). Participants tracked their progress using a score card included in a 26-page weight management manual. Points were awarded for measuring weekly body weight and completing weekly nutrition and exercise goals. Participants who achieved 100 points (from a total of 110) were awarded a prize. Participants included 3,752 employees (8% of population), 3,264 (87%) women and 488 (13%) men, between the ages of 19 and 68 (mean 43 years). Results indicated that 1,003 completed the program (24%) and lost 8,482 pounds total (an average 8.5 pound weight loss per person). The impact of the program on healthy lifestyle change relating to diet and exercise was studied from a random post-program survey to successful and non-successful participants. Successful (n = 266) and nonsuccessful (n = 299) participants indicated that the program helped them make healthier lifestyle changes (82% and 56% respectively). Success rates for selected weight loss goals were also examined. The most common weight loss goal selected for both genders was 15–16 pounds (37%) over the 8-week period, with these employees being the least successful (28%) in achieving their goal. Employees who set their goal at 6–8 pounds over the 8-week period (24%) were the most successful (46%). In conclusion, the MOVE IT & LOSE IT program demonstrated that large scale, self-monitored weight management programs can promote weight loss, while encouraging healthy eating practices. This program also indicated that adults should be encouraged to choose conservative weight loss goals of .5 – 1.5 pounds per week versus 1.5 to 2 pounds. Finally, exposure to information related to weight loss in the form of healthy eating and exercise can still benefit those that are not successful in losing their target weight loss goals.