Assuntos
Dietética/normas , Desnutrição/diagnóstico , Desnutrição/terapia , Sociedades Científicas/normas , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Índice de Massa Corporal , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Avaliação Nutricional , Estado Nutricional , Nutricionistas , Projetos Piloto , Estudos Prospectivos , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
Using food labels can be an important component of maintaining healthy weight, but young adolescents are unlikely to have the requisite skills to make use of food labeling information. Our objectives were to determine knowledge about calories and comprehension and use of the Nutrition Facts Panel among a group of inner city African-American and Hispanic middle school students, and to engage the students in refining a Calorie Converter energy expenditure food label. We used quantitative and qualitative methods including questionnaires, focus groups, and hands-on graphic design activities. Correctly defining the word "calorie" was associated with correct answers to three of four questions requiring interpretation of the Nutrition Facts Panel [χ(2)(1, 138, p < .05) = 4.56, 4.14, and 5.61.] We incorporated students' design and content modifications for the Calorie Converter label, and the majority indicated that the energy expenditure label would influence their food selection practices.