Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics / Junehee Kwon / The purpose of this study was to assess the food choices and consumption of soldiers and their satisfaction with current and initial military training (IMT) menu standards through a survey and analysis of food selection and consumption. Participants were recruited during lunch periods before and three weeks after implementing IMT menu standards, which are healthier than current menu standards, in an Army dining facility (DFAC). Direct observations, digital photography, and plate waste methods were used to assess soldiers’ food selection and consumption. A survey was also administered to determine soldiers’ attitudes toward health, nutrition knowledge, reported food selection and consumption behaviors, and overall satisfaction with meals served under the two menu standards. Food selection and consumption were evaluated using the Army’s Go for Green Nutrition Labeling Program and the Military Dietary Reference Intakes (MDRIs). Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated to summarize and compare data, and to identify potential associations among variables. A total of 172 and 140 soldiers participated before and after the menu change, respectively. Soldiers’ food selection patterns were similar to the proportion of green-, yellow-, and red-labeled items offered in the DFAC under both menu standards and significantly improved after the intervention (p<0.001). Soldiers consumed 886 kcal (38.6% from total fat and 11.2% from saturated fat) and 1784 mg of sodium before the menu change. Three weeks after the change, all figures improved (705 kcals, 31% of kcals from total and 9% from saturated fat, and 1339 mg of sodium) (p<0.01). Overall satisfaction and meal acceptability before and after the intervention were not different, and “food appeal” ratings actually improved. With the exception of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, attitudes toward health were significantly associated with all reported food behaviors (p<0.01) but not with actual behaviors (p>0.05). Nutrition knowledge significantly influenced some but not all aspects related to attitudes toward health. Perceived hunger levels were positively associated with intakes of calories, protein, total fat, sodium, and cholesterol (p<0.05). Findings suggest that implementing the IMT menu standards in non-trainee Army DFACs is feasible and has the potential to improve the overall healthfulness of soldiers’ food selection and consumption.

Consumers have increasing choice in food products and within the social environment of today's consumer, the factors of demand are increasingly complex. Food is no longer simply a primary necessity for survival, it is a leisure and family activity, the participation in which, takes up a considerable amount of time. Today, food is a social and a political issue - something about which people have opinions, be it food quality, healthiness, or the food supply itself. It is also central to consumer's self-image. There is a large sector of the economy which supplies food demand, and this sector is itself now under considerable scrutiny from the consumer. This thesis examines consumer behaviour and attitudes towards food, with particular reference to the health aspects of food issues. It describes a programme of qualitative and quantitative research - group discussions, personal interviews and postal questionnaires. The programme examines milk (particularly low fat milk) as a diet and health case study; knowledge about food; attitudes towards food; the food industry and related issues; shopping behaviour and eating habits. It is important to both the consumer and the supplier of food, that consumer behaviour and attitudes are understood as fully as possible. This research highlights the misunderstandings between consumer and producer, emphasises the mistrust of the consumer for the producer and concludes with the need for communication between them. The thesis discusses the background to diet and health as an issue, describes the development of the current consumer environment and gives a profile of today's consumer. It then goes on to detail the research - two quantitative surveys, each undertaken over two years and a series of group discussions. The final section summarises the findings of each individual piece of the programme as a whole for various groups: food Oroducers; food manufacturers; food retailers; advertisers; the media; health professionals; the consumer; consumer organisations and government.

abstract: ABSTRACT This study evaluated the LoseIt Smart Phone app by Fit Now Inc. for nutritional quality among users during an 8 week behavioral modification weight loss protocol. All participants owned smart phones and were cluster randomized to either a control group using paper and pencil record keeping, a memo group using a memo function on their smart phones, or the LoseIt app group which was composed of the participants who owned iPhones. Thirty one participants completed the study protocol: 10 participants from the LoseIt app group, 10 participants from the memo group, and 11 participants from the paper and pencil group. Food records were analyzed using Food Processor by ESHA and the nutritional quality was scored using the Healthy Eating Index - 2005 (HEI-2005). Scores were compared using One-Way ANOVA with no significant changes in any category across all groups. Non-parametric statistics were then used to determine changes between combined memo and paper and pencil groups and the LoseIt app group as the memo and paper and pencil group received live counseling at biweekly intervals and the LoseIt group did not. No significant difference was found in HEI scores across all categories, however a trend was noted for total HEI score with higher scores among the memo and paper and pencil group participants p=0.091. Conclusion, no significant difference was detected between users of the smart phone app LoseIt and memo and paper and pencil groups. More research is needed to determine the impact of in-person counseling versus user feedback provided with the LoseIt smart phone app. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2011

The thesis is focused on Sportsmen´s nutrition quality assessment and energy balance centred on athletics and swimming at sports grammar school GON České Budějovice. The thesis aims to analyse what are the board habits of young sportsmen who study at sports grammar school GON České Budějovice oriented to athletics and swimming. Found out energy food intake and expenditure of energy, quality of nutrition with help of questionary and compare the differences between this sports branch.

<div>The goal of this research was to improve crop yield and quality and enhance nutrient use efficiency of aquaponics for the development of sustainable aquaponic production system. Aquaponics is the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics by recirculating water and residual nutrients resulting from aquaculture wastewater into hydroponic crop production. The project had four objectives. The first objective was to characterize nutrient composition and accumulation in recirculating water and plant parts of tomato, basil, and lettuce grown in aquaponic systems, and to compare their growth and yield with those grown in hydroponic systems. The second objective was to determine the effects of feeding management regime on water quality, crop yield and quality, and N use efficiency for vegetable and herb production in recirculating aquaponics in comparison to hydroponics. The third objective was to optimize water-flow rate for efficient aquaponic system for maximum crop yield. The fourth objective was to investigate and compare the N and P mass balance between aquaponics and hydroponics. Four conclusions were determined that 1) Aquaponic solution was deficient in Ca and/or Mg leading to plant nutrient deficiency but sufficient or high in P; And luxuriant nutrient profiles in hydroponics are not necessary to enhance crop yield in aquaponics as long as key factors affecting crop yield are identified and properly addressed. 2) Uniform feeding regime improved water quality by reducing toxic ions and enhancing initial nutrient availability and considerably increased the yield, quality and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops in aquaponics as close or similar to those in hydroponics. 3) Flow rate is an important factor affecting water quality parameters and optimizing flow rate is essential to maximize aquaponic crop production and improve energy efficiency; High hydraulic loading rate at 3.3 m3/m2-day improved performance and yield of all crops in an aquaponics system regardless of their growth rate, but the water hydraulic loading rate for fast-growing and medium-growing crops can be reduced to 2.2 m3/m2-day without production reduction. 4) Plant species had significant influence on N and P removal and mass balance in aquaponics and hydroponics; Fruity vegetables showed better growth adaption in aquaponic system, while yields of leafy vegetables may be reduced when grown in aquaponics than hydroponics; Aquaponics is more efficient than hydroponics releasing less environmental wastes, however, N and P use efficiency in aquaponics and hydroponics can be further improved via proper management.</div><div>The important findings obtained from this research will fill the knowledge gap in aquaponic research and provide new management strategies to improve quantitative study of aquaponic crop production and new management strategies for cultivating crops in aquaponics. The findings will also greatly contribute to the commercial aquaponic development, and ultimately improve food security and resource use efficiency in the US and global agricultural production.</div>

O objetivo central desta tese foi o de testar a hipótese de que o custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher brasileira, afeta positivamente o consumo de alimentos de fácil e rápido preparo e negativamente, o consumo dos alimentos "tempo intensivos". Os dados utilizados no estudo são oriundos da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares - (POF) 2002-2003, realizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística - IBGE. Foram utilizados tanto os microdados quanto as publicações da referida pesquisa. Com base na Teoria da Produção Domiciliar, e por meio da utilização de um modelo econométrico - o procedimento em dois estágios de Heckman, buscou-se avaliar a influência do custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher e de alguns outros fatores como: o nível de renda domiciliar, a composição familiar, a urbanização entre outros, sobre o consumo domiciliar de um grupo selecionado de alimentos - feijão, arroz, batata, mandioca, carnes, farinha de trigo, alimentos prontos, pão, iogurte e refrigerantes e sucos - e sobre o consumo de alimentação fora do domicílio. Os principais resultados mostram que houve uma significativa mudança nos padrões de consumo alimentar das famílias brasileiras desde a década de 1970. Como exemplo cita-se a redução de 46% no consumo domiciliar de arroz polido e 37% no consumo de feijão e, um aumento de 490% no consumo de refrigerantes de guaraná e 216% de alimentos preparados. Os principais indicadores socioeconômicos dão conta de uma intensificação no processo de urbanização no Brasil, ou seja, atualmente 83% da população brasileira vive em áreas urbanas, enquanto em 1970 esse percentual era de apenas 56%. Além disso, 54% das mulheres brasileiras, que são chefe de família ou cônjuges, trabalham e 26% dos chefes de família hoje no Brasil são mulheres. No que se refere aos fatores que afetam os padrões de consumo, verificou-se que, o custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher, está diretamente relacionado a um aumento na probabilidade de consumo e no gasto domiciliar com os alimentos que demandam um menor tempo de preparo, como por exemplo, os alimentos prontos, o pão, refrigerantes e sucos, iogurtes e alimentação fora do domicílio e, uma redução, tanto na probabilidade de consumo quanto no gasto familiar, com os "alimentos tradicionais", feijão, arroz, mandioca, carnes e farinha de trigo que, em geral, demandam um maior tempo de preparo. Todas as variáveis, custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher, nível de renda, urbanização e composição familiar, foram altamente significativas e importantes na determinação dos padrões de consumo de alimentos no Brasil. / The main objective of this thesis was to test the hypothesis that the woman’s opportunity costs of time affects positively the consumption of foods that are easy and quick to prepare and negatively the consumption of foods that are time intensive. This study uses micro data from the "Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares" - Family Budget Research (POF) 2002- 2003, carried out by the "Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística" - IBGE - the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Based on the theory of Household Production and making use of an econometric model - Heckman two stages procedure, it was aimed to evaluate the influence of the woman’s opportunity costs of time and other factors such as the level of household income, the family formation, urbanization, among others, on the household consumption of a distinct group of foods - bean, rice, potato, cassava, meat, wheat flour, readymade foods, bread, yogurt, soft drinks and juices - and on the consumption of foods eaten outside the home. The main results show that there has been a significant change in the standards of eating habits of the Brazilian families since the 1970’s. As an example, it was cited the reduction of 46% in household rice consumption and 37% in the bean consumption and, an increase of 490% in the soft drinks consumption and 216% in the ready-made foods. The main socioeconomic indicators show intensification in the urbanization process in Brazil, that is, currently 83% of the Brazilian population lives in urban areas, while in 1970 this percentage was only 56%. Besides that, 54% of the Brazilian women that are the head of the family or spouse are working and 26% of the heads of families in Brazil nowadays are women. As for the factors that affect the standards of consumption, it was verified that the woman’s opportunity cost of time is directly related to an increase in the probability of consumption and of the household expenses on foods that demand a shorter time to be prepared, for example, the ready-made foods, bread, soft drinks and juices, yogurt and foods eaten outside the home and, to a reduction, in the probability of consumption as well as in the household expenses, on "traditional foods" such as bean, rice, cassava, meat and wheat flour that, in general, demand a longer time to prepare. All the variables, woman’s opportunity costs of time, income level, urbanization and family formation were highly significant and important to determine the standards of food consumption in Brazil.

O objetivo central desta tese foi o de testar a hipótese de que o custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher brasileira, afeta positivamente o consumo de alimentos de fácil e rápido preparo e negativamente, o consumo dos alimentos “tempo intensivos”. Os dados utilizados no estudo são oriundos da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares - (POF) 2002-2003, realizada pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística – IBGE. Foram utilizados tanto os microdados quanto as publicações da referida pesquisa. Com base na Teoria da Produção Domiciliar, e por meio da utilização de um modelo econométrico – o procedimento em dois estágios de Heckman, buscou-se avaliar a influência do custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher e de alguns outros fatores como: o nível de renda domiciliar, a composição familiar, a urbanização entre outros, sobre o consumo domiciliar de um grupo selecionado de alimentos – feijão, arroz, batata, mandioca, carnes, farinha de trigo, alimentos prontos, pão, iogurte e refrigerantes e sucos – e sobre o consumo de alimentação fora do domicílio. Os principais resultados mostram que houve uma significativa mudança nos padrões de consumo alimentar das famílias brasileiras desde a década de 1970. Como exemplo cita-se a redução de 46% no consumo domiciliar de arroz polido e 37% no consumo de feijão e, um aumento de 490% no consumo de refrigerantes de guaraná e 216% de alimentos preparados. Os principais indicadores socioeconômicos dão conta de uma intensificação no processo de urbanização no Brasil, ou seja, atualmente 83% da população brasileira vive em áreas urbanas, enquanto em 1970 esse percentual era de apenas 56%. Além disso, 54% das mulheres brasileiras, que são chefe de família ou cônjuges, trabalham e 26% dos chefes de família hoje no Brasil são mulheres. No que se refere aos fatores que afetam os padrões de consumo, verificou-se que, o custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher, está diretamente relacionado a um aumento na probabilidade de consumo e no gasto domiciliar com os alimentos que demandam um menor tempo de preparo, como por exemplo, os alimentos prontos, o pão, refrigerantes e sucos, iogurtes e alimentação fora do domicílio e, uma redução, tanto na probabilidade de consumo quanto no gasto familiar, com os “alimentos tradicionais”, feijão, arroz, mandioca, carnes e farinha de trigo que, em geral, demandam um maior tempo de preparo. Todas as variáveis, custo de oportunidade do tempo da mulher, nível de renda, urbanização e composição familiar, foram altamente significativas e importantes na determinação dos padrões de consumo de alimentos no Brasil. / The main objective of this thesis was to test the hypothesis that the woman’s opportunity costs of time affects positively the consumption of foods that are easy and quick to prepare and negatively the consumption of foods that are time intensive. This study uses micro data from the “Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares” - Family Budget Research (POF) 2002- 2003, carried out by the “Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística” – IBGE – the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Based on the theory of Household Production and making use of an econometric model – Heckman two stages procedure, it was aimed to evaluate the influence of the woman’s opportunity costs of time and other factors such as the level of household income, the family formation, urbanization, among others, on the household consumption of a distinct group of foods – bean, rice, potato, cassava, meat, wheat flour, readymade foods, bread, yogurt, soft drinks and juices - and on the consumption of foods eaten outside the home. The main results show that there has been a significant change in the standards of eating habits of the Brazilian families since the 1970’s. As an example, it was cited the reduction of 46% in household rice consumption and 37% in the bean consumption and, an increase of 490% in the soft drinks consumption and 216% in the ready-made foods. The main socioeconomic indicators show intensification in the urbanization process in Brazil, that is, currently 83% of the Brazilian population lives in urban areas, while in 1970 this percentage was only 56%. Besides that, 54% of the Brazilian women that are the head of the family or spouse are working and 26% of the heads of families in Brazil nowadays are women. As for the factors that affect the standards of consumption, it was verified that the woman’s opportunity cost of time is directly related to an increase in the probability of consumption and of the household expenses on foods that demand a shorter time to be prepared, for example, the ready-made foods, bread, soft drinks and juices, yogurt and foods eaten outside the home and, to a reduction, in the probability of consumption as well as in the household expenses, on “traditional foods” such as bean, rice, cassava, meat and wheat flour that, in general, demand a longer time to prepare. All the variables, woman’s opportunity costs of time, income level, urbanization and family formation were highly significant and important to determine the standards of food consumption in Brazil.

Políticas de governo, nos seus vários níveis, abordam o tema da alimentação e nutrição ressaltando sua importância para a melhora da qualidade da saúde da população. Nas últimas décadas as Doenças Crônicas Não Transmissíveis (DCNT) passaram a liderar as causas de óbito no Brasil, ultrapassando as taxas de mortalidade por doenças infecciosas e parasitárias da década de 80. As DCNTs se caracterizam por ter uma etiologia incerta, múltiplos fatores de risco, longos períodos de latência, curso prolongado, origem não infecciosa e por estar associadas a deficiências e incapacidades funcionais. A experiência de diversos países mostra que o sucesso das intervenções de saúde pública, no que se refere aos fatores de risco e à redução da prevalência das DCNTs, tem sido atribuído ao enfoque na vigilância de fatores comuns de risco e na promoção de modos de viver favoráveis à saúde e à qualidade de vida, tendo um custo menor do que as abordagens para as doenças específicas. Em 2005, o Ministério da Saúde apresentou como uma de suas prioridades, implementar políticas promotoras de modos de viver saudáveis, enfatizando as diretrizes da Estratégia Global de Alimentação Saudável, Atividade Física e Saúde (EG) proposta pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e a prevenção do tabagismo. Essas prioridades foram abordadas na Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde (PNPS), publicada em 2006 que objetiva especificamente contribuir para a mudança do modelo de atenção do sistema de maneira a ampliar e qualificar as ações de promoção da saúde. O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta de intervenção nutricional para uma amostra de funcionários não docentes da USP, que foram previamente avaliados e apresentaram alta incidência de sobrepeso e obesidade. Esse modelo baseia-se nas diretrizes propostas pela PNPS e usa a educação nutricional como principal instrumento de intervenção. / Government policies, in its levels, addressing the topic of food and nutrition emphasizing its importance to improving the quality of health. In recent decades the Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) are now leading causes of death in Brazil, surpassing the rates of mortality from infectious and parasitic diseases of the 80s. The NCDs are characterized by an uncertain etiology, multiple risk factors, long latency periods, a prolonged, non-infectious origin and be associated with functional impairment and disability. Experience in several countries shows that the success of public health interventions, with regard to risk factors and reduce the prevalence of NCCD, has been assigned to focus on surveillance of common risk factors and promote ways of living favorable to health and quality of life, having a lower cost than the approaches to specific diseases. In 2005, the Ministry of Health (MS) presented as one of their priorities, implementing policies that promote healthy ways of living, emphasizing the guidelines of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (GS) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and smoking prevention. These priorities have been addressed in the National Policy for Health Promotion (PNPS), published in 2006 that aims specifically to bring about change in the attention system in order to widen and improve the actions of health promotion. This paper presents a proposal for nutritional intervention for a sample of non-teaching staff of the University of São Paulo (USP), which were previously evaluated and showed a high incidence of overweight and obesity. This model is based on the guidelines proposed by PNPS and use nutrition education as the main instrument of intervention.

Políticas de governo, nos seus vários níveis, abordam o tema da alimentação e nutrição ressaltando sua importância para a melhora da qualidade da saúde da população. Nas últimas décadas as Doenças Crônicas Não Transmissíveis (DCNT) passaram a liderar as causas de óbito no Brasil, ultrapassando as taxas de mortalidade por doenças infecciosas e parasitárias da década de 80. As DCNTs se caracterizam por ter uma etiologia incerta, múltiplos fatores de risco, longos períodos de latência, curso prolongado, origem não infecciosa e por estar associadas a deficiências e incapacidades funcionais. A experiência de diversos países mostra que o sucesso das intervenções de saúde pública, no que se refere aos fatores de risco e à redução da prevalência das DCNTs, tem sido atribuído ao enfoque na vigilância de fatores comuns de risco e na promoção de modos de viver favoráveis à saúde e à qualidade de vida, tendo um custo menor do que as abordagens para as doenças específicas. Em 2005, o Ministério da Saúde apresentou como uma de suas prioridades, implementar políticas promotoras de modos de viver saudáveis, enfatizando as diretrizes da Estratégia Global de Alimentação Saudável, Atividade Física e Saúde (EG) proposta pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e a prevenção do tabagismo. Essas prioridades foram abordadas na Política Nacional de Promoção da Saúde (PNPS), publicada em 2006 que objetiva especificamente contribuir para a mudança do modelo de atenção do sistema de maneira a ampliar e qualificar as ações de promoção da saúde. O presente trabalho apresenta uma proposta de intervenção nutricional para uma amostra de funcionários não docentes da USP, que foram previamente avaliados e apresentaram alta incidência de sobrepeso e obesidade. Esse modelo baseia-se nas diretrizes propostas pela PNPS e usa a educação nutricional como principal instrumento de intervenção. / Government policies, in its levels, addressing the topic of food and nutrition emphasizing its importance to improving the quality of health. In recent decades the Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) are now leading causes of death in Brazil, surpassing the rates of mortality from infectious and parasitic diseases of the 80s. The NCDs are characterized by an uncertain etiology, multiple risk factors, long latency periods, a prolonged, non-infectious origin and be associated with functional impairment and disability. Experience in several countries shows that the success of public health interventions, with regard to risk factors and reduce the prevalence of NCCD, has been assigned to focus on surveillance of common risk factors and promote ways of living favorable to health and quality of life, having a lower cost than the approaches to specific diseases. In 2005, the Ministry of Health (MS) presented as one of their priorities, implementing policies that promote healthy ways of living, emphasizing the guidelines of the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (GS) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and smoking prevention. These priorities have been addressed in the National Policy for Health Promotion (PNPS), published in 2006 that aims specifically to bring about change in the attention system in order to widen and improve the actions of health promotion. This paper presents a proposal for nutritional intervention for a sample of non-teaching staff of the University of São Paulo (USP), which were previously evaluated and showed a high incidence of overweight and obesity. This model is based on the guidelines proposed by PNPS and use nutrition education as the main instrument of intervention.