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KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Los Alamos County)

Plan Goal

Improve the health of Los Alamos County residents through education on making healthy food choices, food safety, food preparation skills, and the proper management of food resources.

Situation Statement

Good nutrition is essential in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Adopting good nutrition practices is essential to a healthy lifestyle.

New Mexico Health Related Data:

Five of the leading causes of death including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and hypertension have links to diet. Obesity and overweight now affects 57% of New Mexico adults. These individuals are at increased risk of illness from hypertension, lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and respiratory problems, and certain cancers. The total costs attributable to obesity-related disease nationally approaches $13 billion annually (NIH). In New Mexico, it is estimated that $324 million are spent annually on adult obesity attributable medical expenditures (New Mexico Department of Health). New Mexico has one of the highest rates of poverty in the nation with 18.4% of New Mexicans living below poverty (US Bureau of the Census, 2000). Low income populations face numerous problems associated with inadequate nutrition. In some cases, children do not eat enough to sustain health and to grow and develop at optimal levels. Even more commonly, individuals make poor food choices, which can lead to chronic disease problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Although benefits such as Food Stamps and WIC provide vital resources to some of those in need of food assistance, this resource is often not maximized. This is often due to recipients’ lack of knowledge of the relationships between health and four areas: basic nutrition, food safety, food preparation, and food resource management. In addition, many limited-resource individuals do not receive the encouragement and reinforcement needed to put such knowledge into practice. Education can help low income families and individuals maximize their resources to improve their nutritional status.

Youth as well as adults should be targeted so nutrition related disease and obesity can be prevented. Nationally, overweight in children has tripled in the last 20 years. In New Mexico, 24% of high school students are overweight or at risk for overweight and 22% of low-income children between 2-5 years of age who participate in federally-funded nutrition programs are overweight or at risk for overweight (New Mexico Department of Health). Approximately 25% of New Mexico children below the age of 18 live in poverty. This number has grown over the last 10 years. Reaching New Mexico youth early in life with effective nutrition education will promote the adoption of healthy eating and food management practices. Establishing healthy habits early in life can have life long benefits in optimal health and disease prevention. Further, children are an ideal target for nutrition education in terms of habits being more amenable to change than later in life.

Of the leading chronic diseases, diabetes is a particular concern in New Mexico. About 130,000 of New Mexicans have diabetes, although half are undiagnosed and do not know they have the disease. Native Americans are three times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and Hispanics are two times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. If left untreated and uncontrolled, diabetes can result in serious complications: blindness, amputations, kidney disease, stroke, heart disease and death. In 2002, the direct and indirect costs of diabetes in New Mexico was approximately $1 billion, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be controlled and complications can be prevented or at least delayed. Simple changes, such as healthier food choices and adding regular physical activity can have a significant effect on the health and well-being of people with diabetes. Extension has long taught these principles to the general population. Because of the current collaboration between Extension, New Mexico Department of Health’s Diabetes Control Program and the Joslin Diabetes Center, Extension can effectively reach those New Mexicans with or at risk for diabetes.

Los Alamos County Health Related Data:

The office of New Mexico Vital Records and Health Statistics cites in the Los Alamos 2003 County Health Profile that the leading causes of death for all Los Alamos County residents 20 years and older for 1996-2000 average are: malignant neoplasm, diseases of the heart, cerebrovascular disease, accidents and chronic lower respiratory diseases. The leading causes of death for Los Alamos County residents 65 years and older were diseases of the heart, malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular diseases, chronic lower respiratory diseases and influenza and pneumonia. Los Alamos death rates are lower than the New Mexico state average by 22% in 1990, by 37% in 1995 and by 18% in the year 2000.

Program tools for use in nutrition education include: The USDA MyPyramid Guidance System for both adults and youth, Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), USDA Food Safety Information, the Nutrition Facts Label, Kitchen Creations participant manual and related educational materials, and educational materials provided by NMSU specialists.

Target Audience and Actions

Target Audience:
1. Los Alamos County consumers including, individuals, youth, adults, seniors and families of Los Alamos County.
2. Kitchen Creations program registrants
3. StrongWomen and Men Growing Stronger Program Participants
4. Los Alamos County community health related organizations who work with Los Alamos County consumers and families.
5. Mass Media
6. Los Alamos County Extension Association of New Mexico Members.

Actions:
1. Organize and facilitate at least two Kitchen Creations Diabetes Cooking Schools.
2. Organize and instruct a Men Making Meals program.
3. Organize and instruct a Heart Healthy Cooking Series.
4. Conduct community educational seminars requested by local groups and organizations.

Short-Term Objectives

• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels.
• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of healthy food choices.
• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of food preparation and meal planning
• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of food resource management
• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 method.
• 80% of participants will increase knowledge of importance of physical activity
• 60% of participants will plan to use MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels to make food choices and plan meals
• 60% of participants will plan to increase fruit and vegetable consumption.
• 60% of participants will plan to control portion sizes.
• 60% of participants will plan to adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques.
• 60% of participants will plan to adopt new food resource management techniques.
• 60% of participants will plan to use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 method.
• 80% of participants will plan to increase physical activity

Medium-Term Objectives

• 30% of participants will use the MyPyramid, the Dietary Guidelines and the Nutrition Fact Labels to make healthy food choices.
• 30% of participants will learn how to measure and consume recommended portion sizes.
• 30% of participants will use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and the 50/50 method.
• 30% of participants will increase their physical activity by adopting one physical activity.

Long-Term Objectives

30% of participants are still practicing eating practices.

Evaluation Plan

For short and medium-term objectives results will be documented through the use behavior surveys, program evaluations, pre and post testing, verbal feedback. Type of evaluation utilized will be dependent upon specific program.