Effects of Nutrition Education and Exercise Intervention on Health and Diet Quality of Middle-Aged Women

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to investigate effects of nutrition education and exercise intervention on health and diet quality of middle-aged women. The subjects were 209 women who wanted to involve in the health promotion program run by Jincheon-Gun Health Center. Nutrition education was given once a week and dance sports were done twice a week for 3 months. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hour recall method and food records. Dietary habits and nutrition knowledge were investigated by self-administered questionnaires before and after the intervention program. Body and blood compositions were measured before and after the program. The nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) was significantly increased in energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B2 and calcium, mean adequacy ration (MAR) was significantly increased (p < 0.05), and also the index of nutritional quality (INQ) was significantly increased in protein (p < 0.01). Percent (%) RIs of protein (p < 0.01) and calcium (p < 0.05) were significantly increased and body weight (p < 0.001), body fat (p < 0.01), soft lean mass (p < 0.01) and BMI (p < 0.001) decreased. Over the 3-month study, there was a significant trend toward higher HDL-C and albumin levels and lower LDL-C level (p < 0.001). The results showed that nutrition education and exercise intervention could improve the body health and the diet quality.