Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.

Nutrition Education and Behavior (Colfax County)

Plan Goal

To improve the overall health of Colfax County residents through the selection of healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food safety practices 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 and 12.0% of Colfax County families living below poverty levels (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.

Key tools for use in nutrition education by Extension include USDA’s MyPyramid, Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), and the Nutrition Facts Label.

Of the leading chronic diseases, diabetes is a particular concern in New Mexico and Colfax County. About 130,000 of New Mexicans have diabetes, although half are undiagnosed and do not know they have the disease. A total of 1,047 Colfax County adults (9.5%) were diagnosed with diabetes as shown in 2004 New Mexico Department of Health statistics. Colfax County's large Hispanic population (47.5%) 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, Colfax County can effectively reach those New Mexicans with or at risk for diabetes.

Target Audience and Actions

Colfax County residents including individuals, families, youth, seniors, and the general public will be reached through general nutrition, food safety, and healthy lifestyle presentations, workshops, news articles, and newsletters.

Colfax County limited resources audiences will be reached through I CAN adult and youth series classes focusing on healthy food choices, food preparation skills, food resource management, food safety and physical activity.

Diagnosed diabetics, individuals with risk factors for diabetes and individuals supporting family and friends with diabetes are the target audience for diabetes education through the Kitchen Creations Diabetic Cooking schools, the Joslin Diabetes (On the Road to Living Well With Diabetes)classes and special events, such as the STEPtember - America on the Move event in Colfax County.

Short-Term Objectives

80% of participants will increase their basic knowledge of the USDA MyPyramid, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Nutrition Facts Labels to benefit themselves and their families.

80% of participants will increase their knowledge of healthy food choices, food preparation and meal planning.

80% of participants will increase their knowledge of the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid, the 50/50 plate method, and other methods to help control their overall diabetes condition.

80% of participants will increase their knowledge of the importance of regular physical activity.

60% of participants will plan to control portion sizes, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, adopt new food preparation and meal planning techniques, and practice new food resource management techniques.

Medium-Term Objectives

40% of participants will increase their fruit and vegetable consumption one month after program participation.

40% of participants will control their food portion sizes served as meals and snacks one month after program participation.

40% of participants will adopt new, healthier food preparation and meal planning techniques one month after program participation.

40% of participants wil use the Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid and 50/50 plate method and other methods to help control their overall diabetes condition.

40% of participants will increase regular physical activity.

Long-Term Objectives

30% of participants will sustain adopted nutritional and healthy lifestyle practices 3 years after program completion.

30% of participants will decrease their rates of chronic disease such as obesity, cancer, and heart disease and will maintain good blood glucose control.

Evaluation Plan

Formal participant evaluations and knowledge and behavior surveys will be utilized within the Kitchen Creations Diabetic Cooking Schools, the Joslin Diabetes classes, and the ICAN adult and youth series classes. County and state-wide results will be evaluated.

General adult and youth audiences will complete basic evaluation surveys to access their behavioral changes and knowledge gained after participation in one-time educational programs.