The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior podcast on our study on computer-tailored nutrition education

In the upcomming issues of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, a paper by Dr. Kroeze et al is published on an evaluation of computer-tailored nutrition education on saturated fat intake among adults. This evaluation was not based on self-reported intakes, but on biomarkers, i.e. blood lipids. In more detail: a group of more than 400 adults receved either computer-tailored nutrition education about their fat intake levels or not, and cholesterol levels were measured in blood samples to assess if exposure to the nutrition education resulted in better blood lipid levels. However, despite clear favorable changes in self-reported fat intake levels, no effects on blood lipids were found. If you want to learn more about this study, and how these conflicting results should ne interpreted, please listen to a podcast interview with the firts author of our paper (look for 9/8/11).

Dr Anna Timperio gives a seminar on home and family determinants of overweight in children

Yesterday, Dr. Anna Timperio, of the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research of Deakin University gave a seminar on her work on home and family environment determinants of physical activity, eating behaviors, sedentary activities and overweight in children. In her seminar she presented an overview of results of the CLAN and HEAPS studies, two longitudinal studies aiming to unravel why children become overweight or not. Her work shows that family environmental factors, such as example behavior of parents, doing physical acyivities together, and the availability of physical activity equipement in the home, appear to be more important than neighbourhood factors, for children's physical activity.

Home and neighbourhood correlates of weight status among children in low socio-economic neighbourhoods in Australia

Understanding the underlying drivers of obesity-risk behaviours is needed to inform prevention initiatives. People, including children, of lower socioeconomic position groups are more likley to be overweight and obese, and understanding of the drivers of such socio-economic differences in weight status are of special importance. It is very likely that  factors in the home and local neighbourhood environments are of importance. However little research has examined such possible determinants among children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. A study conducted in Victoria, Australia, on this topic was recently published by Prof. David Crawford from the Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition of Deakin University. The study examined home, social and neighbourhood correlates of body mass index in children living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Data were collected from 491 women with children aged 5-12 years living in forty urban and forty rural socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (suburbs) of Victoria. Mothers completed questionnaires about the home environment, social norms and neighbourhood environment in relation to physical activity, healthy eating and sedentary behaviour. Children's height and weight were measured at school or home. The results showed that children who had a television in their bedroom  and whose mothers made greater use of food as a reward for good behaviour had higher body mass index. Increasing efficacy among mothers to promote physical activity, limiting use of food as a reward and not placing TV in children's bedrooms may be important targets for future obesity prevention initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

A new grant to further enrich computer-tailored health education

Computer-tailored health education, i.e. using ICT to provide people with individually tailored feedback and advice to motivate and enable more healthy lifestyles, is a very promising health education technique (see Brug et al for an early overview of the evidence, Oenema et al for a firts study on web-based computer-tailoring, or Kroeze et al for a more recent systematic review). One of the critiques on this form of on-line health education is that it does not include the necessary social interaction to better realise lasting behavior changes. With the development and very fast dissemination of web-based social networks, the distribution of mobile internet, and ever faster and more powerful mobile devices, the possibilities to provide computer-tailored health education where and when it matters, based on objective measures of behavioral patterns, and linking this to social network features become apparant. We have just received notice that we will receive an important research grant, with Dr. Saskia te Velde as the main applicant, in the Partnership programma STW-NIHC-Philips Research“Healthy Lifestyle Solutions” to develop and test such further innovations in computer-tailored health education promoting physical activity among young adults.

Effectiveness of workplace interventions in Europe promoting healthy eating: a systematic review

The worksite is a promising setting for health promotion. A review recently published online in the European Journal of Public Health by professor Lea Maes et al. summarizes the evidence of effect of intervention studies in European countries promoting a healthy diet solely and in combination with increasing physical activity at the workplace. The review included studies published from 1 January 1990 to 1 October 2010; worksite-based interventions promoting a healthy diet solely or in combination with physical activity aiming at primary prevention and measuring anthropometrical or behavioural change among adults (≥18 years old) were included.

Seventeen studies solely focusing on promotion of a healthy diet were identified. Eight of these studies investigated health education intervention, one studie explored the effects of changes in the worksite environment, and eight used a combination of both (i.e. multi-component interventions). None of the interventions was rated as very 'strong'. The reviewed studies showed moderately strong evidence for effects on dietary change.

In conclusion only moderate evidence was found for positive effects of nutrition interventions implemented at the workplace. Effects of workplace health promotion interventions may be improved if stronger adherence to established quality criteria for such interventions is realized.

FUSE (the centre for translational research in public health) strategy meeting

Last Tuesday I attended - as an external member of the FUSE strategy board- a strategy meeting to explore and inform the centre's policy, strategy and tactics for the years to come. The meeting was led by the centre's director, Professor Martin White, and was held after the centre's third anniversary, and two yeard before its firts term ends. FUSE is an inter-university centre for translational research in public health. It is a collaboration between  five universities in the north-east of England - Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside - and works in partnership with the public and in collaboration with the National Health Service, local and regional government and other public, private and voluntary organisations in North East England. FUSE focusses on the translation from research into public health policy and practice, it aims to do practice-based research to improve evidence-based practice, and its main goal is to develop a scalable model for such translation. Such translation of research into policy and practice, and translation of policy and practice issues in research is of of great importance in the field of public health. A lot of research is being conducted but the results certainly do not always find their way into true practice, and much of policy and practice in public health is not evidence-based. In the Netherlands this translation issue is being tackled by so-called academic collaborative centre's. The EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research leads and participates in anumber of such centre's, for example for public health, for youth health care, for occupational health, and mental health.

Impact Factor of the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

This week the new impact factor (IF) of the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity was announced: 3.17.  This is a significant increase from last year's 2.63. This means that on average the papers published in IJBNPA are now cited 3.2 times. This is an impressive IF for such a young journal. The journal was established as part of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) about 10 years ago. The society and the journal have grown into a leading society and journal in the field. Given the fact that nutrition and physical activity are important in the prevention and management of the most important chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers, the ISBNPA and IJBNPA scientific platforms are timely and important.