Athletes appear healthy according to weight for height and body fat standards. Though athletes appear to be healthy, little is known about their diets. Research states there is a connection between athletic performance and nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the diet quality of 138 collegiate athletes. Data were collected in a laboratory. Demographics were collected via survey. Anthropometrics were assessed using a free standing stadiometer and the BodPod® for body fat assessment. Block 2005 Food Frequency Questionnaire© was used to assess diets. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2005 was used to calculate diet quality scores. The average BMI was 23.2 (2.3) kg/m2 and the average body fat was17.8 % (6.5). The average HEI score was 51.2 (8.8). Higher HEI scores were correlated with higher body fat percentage in this sample. Diets were adequate in: calcium, iron, and vitamin C. Diets were inadequate in: fiber, fruits and vegetables intakes. The athletes had excessive intakes of sodium and total percent fats. These findings demonstrate the need for nutrition education for collegiate athletes.

Many of the world’s children, particularly those living in developing countries, subsist on diets that seldom vary and often do not allow for an adequate intake of the complete range of nutrients required for healthy living. Of concern is the absence of regular consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit that provide vitamin A which, if deficient, impairs children’s growth and development. In South Africa about 21% of children under the age of six years attend crèche facilities on a daily basis. The nutritional state of meals provided to children at many crèches tends to lack micronutrients, particularly vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is the main nutritional problem facing crèche children in South Africa today. Underlying causes are unsatisfactory diets restricted in variety and minimal knowledge of optimal dietary practices, a situation exacerbated by a high incidence of food insecurity. Limpopo is a province seriously affected by vitamin A deficiency. A South African study, based on a quantitative research paradigm, was undertaken (April-September 2007) in Thulamela municipality with the aim of developing and implementing nutrition strategies to improve crèche children’s consumption of vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruit, as advocated by an officially recognised food-based dietary guideline. Through convenience sampling, 100 caregivers from 20 crèches in the study area responded to questionnaires and participated in a game. Ongoing observation continued. Information about the participants, their nutrition knowledge and the meals provided was collected following the triple-A cycle approach (assessment, analysis and action). The research process was structured in three phases. Phase one involved a situational assessment and analysis that provided baseline information. Limitations contributing to the problem under investigation were identified and data showed that the children’s intake of vitamin A from vegetables and fruit at crèches was low. This was found to be due to a lack of knowledge and information about vitamin A, coupled with the unavailability and inaccessibility of food primarily due to non-production and affordability. Food preparation, storage and preservation also posed challenges to caregivers. Using evidence from documented studies and the findings from phase one, nutrition strategies were developed and implemented in phase two. Caregivers were shown how to increase the availability and use of foods rich in vitamin A and were encouraged to grow, and use, both cultivated and non-cultivated vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruit. Furthermore, the concept of the food-based dietary guideline “eat plenty of vegetables and fruits everyday” was introduced to the caregivers and became part of the developed nutrition strategies. Follow-up data collected in phase three showed substantial advancement in caregivers’ knowledge and skills. Access, availability and utilisation of vitamin A-rich vegetables and fruit had improved markedly. Flourishing vegetable gardens, planned menus and well prepared meals were concrete evidence, and vegetables and fruit were more frequently served to children. Implementation of the developed nutrition strategies epitomised the envisaged outcome of this study. Based on the research results, important recommendations are made to enhance the appropriate consumption of vegetables and fruit rich in vitamin A, leading to a reduction in disease and death caused by vitamin A deficiency among children. / Dissertation (MConsumer Science)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

Thesis (M.Sc. (Dietetics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023 / Introduction: Nutritional knowledge is essential for selecting healthy and nutritious meals. However, access to consistent, adequate and nutritious food was unattainable for university students, despite the fact that food was considered a human basic right. Food insecurity is a real issue in South African universities, but it is poorly documented. Numerous studies have used one approach to measure food insecurity rates in various universities, either quantitative or qualitative. There is a scarcity of data on food insecurity among students in institutions of higher learning in Limpopo Province. Food insecure students used a variety of coping mechanisms such as, borrowing money, buying cheap food, skipping meals, sharing food, and reducing portion size in order to cope with food insecurity. The goal of the study was to investigate the level of nutrition knowledge, food insecurity, and coping strategies among students at the School of Health Care Sciences. at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. Methodology: The explanatory sequential mixed-method approach was used in this study. The quantitative survey employed convenience sampling, with 237 undergraduate participants from the Health Care Sciences. Nutritional knowledge was assessed using a multiple-choice questionnaire adapted from the Perlstein study. Food security status was assessed using the eight (8) questions from Food Insecurity Experience Scale. Fourteen purposefully selected in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted to explore life experiences and coping strategies of food-insecure students. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 11.0, Fischer’s exact test to test the association between food insecurity and nutritional knowledge with regards to age, gender and study level and thematic analysis for the qualitative data. Findings: Students were on average 21 years old, in level II and level III years of study. Fifteen percent (n=36) had poor nutritional knowledge, 69% (n=164) had moderate nutrition knowledge, and 14.7% (n=35) had good nutritional knowledge. Both males and females in the current study had a fair amount of dietary knowledge. Twenty-four percent (n=57) experienced moderate food insecurity and 16% (n=37) had severe food insecurity. The rate of food insecurity in the study exceeded the national rate. Lack of budgeting skills, delayed distribution of bursary money, unforeseen costs, and household obligations were among the factors that aided in food insecurity. Food-insecure students applied numerous coping mechanisms, such as borrowing money from friends, sharing food, buying cheap food, and cutting portion sizes. The study found a significant association between a study level and nutrition knowledge with a P-value of 0.02 for both study levels less than and more than two years. Six themes emerged from interviews with food-insecure students i.e., coping strategies, nutrition knowledge, hunger and academic effect, competing expenses, health triangle and contributing factors to lack of money to buy food. Conclusion: This study provided insight into the food insecurity levels and the nutritional knowledge of the students in the Health Care Sciences at the University of Limpopo. It further offered an understanding of how students experienced food insecurity and the various coping mechanisms employed to deal with the situation. The rate of food insecurity in the study exceeded the national rate. Nutrition education programmes and interventions that address food insecurity are important and the strengthening of existing support systems to ensure that students cope and succeed in their studies. Future research is needed to cover a large scale of students.

In light of recent persuasive appeals which promote a food product's health or nutritional benefits in advertisements, this exploratory study investigates the ways in which individuals read and understand health and nutrition-related claims in advertising and make subsequent judgments about the product, brand, and purchase intentions. Using the Elaboration-Likelihood model of persuasion, this study looks at how motivational (e.g., health consciousness, need for cognition) and ability (nutrition knowledge) factors influence attitudes toward three food products following exposure to manipulated advertisements containing a nutrition-related claim. Although the results do not demonstrate much support for the predicted relationships, the findings nonetheless provide researchers useful information that may benefit future studies. / Master of Arts

No description available.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Masters of Applied Science in Food and Nutrition, Durban University of Technology, 2015. / AIM: The aim of the study was to identify the need, develop, implement and determine the effect of a Grade R Nutrition Education Programme (NEP) in order to make recommendations to the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) to include an effective NEP in the pre-primary school education curriculum. OBJECTIVES: The objectives for this study is in two phases, The objective of the baseline study was to assess the need for nutrition education (NE) in Grade R in suburban areas of Durban and identify the most suitable nutrition education tools (NETs) for this age group. For the intervention study the objectives were 1) to develop a nutrition knowledge questionnaire (NKQ) to determine the existing nutrition knowledge of Grade R learners in suburban government and private schools in Durban, 2) to develop a nutrition education programme (NEP) for Grade R based on the South African Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) and the food groups, 3) to implement the NEP in Grade R in a government and private school, 4) to determine the effect of the NEP on the retention of FBDGs (Section one) and food group (Section two) knowledge, and 5) to compare the results between the control group (CG) and the government (EGG) and private (EPG) experimental school groups, and between genders. METHODS: A self-administered nutrition education needs questionnaire was completed by 20 Grade R teachers in Durban suburban schools. Nutrition education material was identified based on the results from the pilot study and a Nutrition education programme developed. The classroom-based intervention study involved 120 Grade R learners in three schools, two experimental schools: government (n=37) and private (n=40), with a control school (n=43), with 35 percent (n= 42) male and 65 percent (n=78) female participants, ranging in age from five to seven years. A validated questionnaire assessed baseline nutrition knowledge of these children. A qualified foundation phase teacher was trained to implement the NEP. The experimental school groups received eight one hour nutrition education (NE) lessons over an eight week period; the control group did not receive any NE. During the lesson firstly theory was covered then the children worked on the related fun activities in the Healthy Eating Activity Book (HEAB) and lastly involved in the nutrition educational games. These included a food group plate puzzles, a NEP board game, a card game and ‘My little story books’. A post-test determined the impact of the intervention. RESULTS: The baseline study confirmed the need for NE in Grade R and identified suitable NETs that were used in the intervention. At pre-test, the nutrition knowledge of Grade R children in the two experimental groups (EG) and one CG was very similar with knowledge of FBDGs greater than knowledge relating to the food groups. Both Grade R EGs showed a significant increase in knowledge for the whole test immediately after the intervention with the CG, achieving similar post-to pre-test results. The intervention had a significant impact on nutrition knowledge of Grade R children in both experimental schools (EGG p=0.004 and EPG p=0.001). The EPG were most knowledgeable regarding FBDGs with no significant difference in knowledge of the EGG. Food group knowledge in all schools was poor at baseline and the NEP resulted in the EGG obtaining the highest post-test results. Post-intervention for the whole test the EGG were marginally (0.80 percent) more knowledgeable than the EPG. The knowledge of boys and girls were very similar in pre-and post-test results. However, the boys were fractionally more knowledgeable than the girls in relation to the whole post-test. In Section two, relating to food group knowledge, girls were slightly more knowledgeable than boys although both genders lacked knowledge in relation to which foods belonged to a particular food group. CONCLUSION: The primary aim of formal NE was met as the statistical significance between the CG and experimental group post-test results was evident in the majority of Section one questions and in all questions in Section two. The NEP resulted in similar increase in knowledge of Grade R learners in the government and private experimental school groups in Durban. In addition, the boys and girls showed a minimal difference in nutrition knowledge.

Text in English with abstracts in English, isiXhosa and isiZulu / Mother’s nutrition knowledge, one of the guiding factors in developing children’s healthy eating patterns, has received relatively little research attention. This study determines the influence of demographic factors on mothers’ nutritional knowledge in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Quantitative, exploratory descriptive survey used group administrative questionnaire. Closed and open ended questions solicited data in 350 purposely and conveniently selected respondents. SSPS 26.0 Version analysed the data and Factor Analysis summarized for easy interpretation. Although SA FBDG are based on the current consumption of locally available foods, respondents were largely unaware of this tool. Mothers receive informal education on Dietary Guidelines from health centres, but no one knows the extent to which they understand and apply the information. There is general lack of correlation between nutrition knowledge and its application. Mothers require nutrition education and practical application of FBDG to improve their and children’s nutrition security. / Luncinane kwaye alukho nzulu uphando olukhe lwenziwa ngolwazi lomzalikazi ngendlela yokondla. Olu lwazi yenye yeenqobo zokukhokela isiqhelo sokutya ngokunempilo. Esi sifundo senziwe eMthatha, kwiMpuma Koloni yoMzantsi Afrika kwaye siqwalasela ifuthe leempawu zesimo soluntu kulwazi lomzalikazi ngendlela yokondla. Uphando lwenziwe ngokuqwalasela ulwazi olufunyenwe kubantu abaninzi ngokunika amaqela abantu uludwe lwemibuzo. Imibuzo enempendulo ethe gca (evalekileyo) okanye enempendulo exhomekeke kwizimvo zomntu (evulekileyo) yabuzwa kubantu abangama-350 ababekhethwe ngobuchule. Iinkcukacha zolwazi zahlalutywa ngokusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe beSSPS 26.0 lwaze uhlalutyo olwaziwa ngokuba yiFactor Analysis lwashwankathela ukuze ulwazi olufunyenweyo lutolikeke lula. Nangona isikhokelo sendlela yokutya esaziwa ngokuba yiSouth Africa food-based dietary guidelines (SA FBDG) sisekelwe kukutya okufumanekayo endaweni, abathathi nxaxheba abaninzi kolu phando babengazi nto ngesi sikhokelo. Abazalikazi bafumana imfundo engekho sesikweni ngesikhokelo sendlela yokutya kumaziko empilo, kodwa akukho mntu waziyo ukuba bayiqonda kangakanani, beyilandela kangakanani loo nto bayifundiswayo. Kukho ukungahambelani okuxhaphakileyo eluntwini phakathi kolwazi ngendlela yokutya nokulusebenzisa olo lwazi. Abazalikazi badinga ukufundiswa ngendlela yokutya nokusebenzisa isikhokelo iFBDG ukuze baphucule indlela yokutya bona nabantwana babo ngokukhuselekileyo. / Lusathole ukunakwa okuncane kakhulu kwezocwaningo ulwazi lukamama mayelana nokudla okunomsoco, okungenye yezinto eziqondisayo ekuthuthukiseni izindlela zokudla okunempilo ezinganeni. Lolu cwaningo luzocubungula futhi luhlonze umthelela wezimo zenhlalo ezigabeni zabantu abahlukahlukene olwazini lomama mayelana nokudla okunomsoco eMthatha esifundazweni saseMpumalanga Koloni eNingizimu Afrika. Ucwaningokuhlola (isaveyi) olukhwantithethivu (olugxile emananini kanye nobuningi) oluhlolisisayo futhi oluchazayo, lwasebenzisa iphephamibuzo eligcwaliswa ngababambiqhaza abayiqembu. Imibuzo evalekile kanye nemibuzo evulekile yasetshenziswa ukuthola idatha kubabambiqhaza bocwaningo abangama-350 ababekhethwe ngabomu ukufezekisa izinhloso zocwaningo. I-SSPS 26.0 Version yahlaziya idatha kanti futhi i-Factor Analysis yafingqa idatha ukuze ihumusheke kalula. Nakuba imihlahlandlela yokudla okunomsoco yaseNingizimu Afrika (SA FBDG) isuselwe ekudliweni kokudla okutholakala kuleli lizwe njengamanje, ababambiqhaza babengenalo ulwazi lokuthi kukhona imihlahlandlela enjengalena. Omama bayafundiswa, ngendlela engahlelekile, ezizindeni zezempilo mayelana neMihlahlandlela Yokudla Okunempilo, kodwake akekho owaziyo ukuthi baluqonda kangakanani ulwazi abaluthola lapho, futhi balusebenzisa kangakanani. Kuvamise ukuthi kungabi khona ukuhambisana nokuxhumana phakathi kolwazi oluphathelene nokudla okunomsoco kanye nokusetshenziswa kwalo. Omama bayakudinga ukufundiswa mayelana nokudla okunomsoco futhi kuqinisekiswe ukuthi imihlahlandlela yama-FBDG isetshenziswa ngendlela ephathekayo futhi ebonakalayo ukuze bakwazi ukwenza ngcono ukutholakala kokudla okunomsoco, kubona omama ngokwabo kanye nezingane zabo. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M.C.S.

Obesity and the number overweight of children are currently major global issues. According to the Regional Office for Europe (2006) obesity has risen three times over the last two decades worldwide. The attention is currently focused on health promotion and disease prevention among the population through comprehensive health education starting in the early age of individuals, aimed to slow down the increasing incidence of obesity and related health issues. This thesis discusses the pedagogical aspects of health, specifically the options on how to shape nutritional habits of elementary and middle school students and how to systematically deepen the required knowledge about healthy nutrition by implementation of nutrition education programs. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between dietary habits and healthy nutrition knowledge of grade nine students in elementary schools from the South Bohemian region in Czech Republic. A validated Nutritional survey and Nutritional knowledge quiz were designed to determine the relationship between knowledge and behavior of grade nine students from South Bohemia elementary schools. The validity of the Nutritional survey and the Nutritional knowledge quiz were tested using analytical analysis of all survey and test items and examining...

With obesity in adolescents becoming a major health problem in the United States, there has been an expansion in the use of nutritional education programs as intervention. Effective nutrition education can decrease the incidence of obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. This dissertation in practice proposes to design a nutrition education program, integrating farm and culinary activities into a nutrition education curriculum. The program is designed as a stand-alone program, but for this practice, implementation integrates the nutrition education program into the Film @ 6 after-school program – a STEM-focused program designed to assist sixth graders in their first year of middle school – at Southeast Middle School in Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina (NC). This experiential nutrition education program will provide instruction and activities in order to increase nutritional knowledge, improve culinary techniques, and increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and minimally processed foods of sixth grade students as a means to address the overweight and obesity risks of middle school children. Children and adolescents are considered the priority population for intervention strategies because 70% of obese adolescents become obese adults and it is difficult to reduce excessive weight once established (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh, & Merchant, 2005).

Life and Consumer Sciences / M.A. (Consumer Science)