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KA 703. Nutrition Education and Behavior (Eddy County)

Plan Goal

Improve health of Eddy County residents through healthy food choices, food preparation skills and food resource management.

Situation Statement

Good nutrition is essential to improve and maintain health. 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. Low income populations, such as that of Eddy County, 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. Key tools for use in nutrition education by Extension include USDA’s MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), and the Nutrition Facts Label. Diabetes: 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 cost 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 and the New Mexico Department of Health’s Diabetes Control Program, Extension can effectively reach those New Mexicans with or at risk for diabetes.

These statistics are mirrored in Eddy County.

Target Audience and Actions

**Target Audience**
All Eddy County residents, including individuals, families, youth and senior citizens.
Agencies that work with Eddy County residents and their families.
Policy makers
Mass media

**Actions**
ICAN adult series classes (Targets low income adults, focus is on healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food resource management, food safety and physical activity)
ICAN youth series classes (Targets low income youth, focus is on healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food safety and physical activity)
Kitchen Creations Diabetes Cooking Schools series classes (Focus is on healthy food choices including balancing low and high carbohydrate foods and food preparation skills.)
Nutrition programming focusing on healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food safety and physical activity for Extension Clubs, other groups, organizations and individuals as requested.

Short-Term Objectives

60% of participants will increase knowledge of MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels.
60% of participants will increase knowledge of healthy food choices.
60% of participants will increase knowledge of food preparation and meal planning.
60% of participants will increase knowledge of food resource management.
60% of participants will increase knowledge of Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 method.
60% of participants will increase knowledge of medical tests important for diabetes management.
60% 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.
60% of participants will plan to get medical tests important for diabetes management.
60% of participants will plan to increase physical activity

Medium-Term Objectives

30% of participants will use MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Facts Labels to make food choices and plan meals one month after program participation.
30% of participants will increase fruit and vegetable consumption one month after program participation.
30% of participants will control portion sizes one month after program participation.
30% of participants will adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques one month after program participation.
30% of participants will adopt new food resource management techniques one month after program participation.
30% of participants will use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 method.
30% of participants will get medical tests important for diabetes management.
30% of participants will increase physical activity

Long-Term Objectives

20% of participants will sustain adopted practices 3 years after program completion.
20% of participants will decrease their rates of chronic disease (obesity, cancer, heart disease).

Evaluation Plan

Participant knowledge and behavior surveys, diet records and activity logs for short and medium term objectives.