P67 (continued)

A baseline survey amongst 170 randomly selected elderlypeople (�60 years old) indicated poverty, overnutrition,household food insecurity and poor health. The objectiveof this study was to maintain the quality of life and inde-pendence of these older adults by improving health bymeans of weight loss and lowered blood pressure. TheFlorida University “Eat better, move more” programme wasadapted for South African conditions. A screening- andactivity questionnaire were administered at baseline. Mea-surements included height, weight, body fat percentage,MUAC and blood pressure. Data were statistically analysedfor means, standard deviations and correlations after anutrition education and walking programme was imple-mented for a period of three months in 228 subjects attend-ing a care centre (total n � 300). Each subject received apedometer to record monthly distances. The majority(52%) of the subjects were obese (BMI � 30) at baselineand most of the subjects (78%) were at risk of overnutrition(MUAC � 21.7 cm). Hypertension was present in 68% ofthe subjects. The mean distances (�SD) walked were 9.9 �8.6 km, 8.5 � 8.0 km and 8.7 � 8.7 km for the threemonths respectively. A one-tailed Pearson correlationshowed that there is statistical significance between thetotal distance walked (km) and the weight of the respon-dents (� � 0.05), but no significance existed for the totaldistance walked and blood pressure of the respondents. Itcan be concluded that a nutrition education and walkingprogramme is beneficial to the elderly, but it should beimplemented for a longer period for more significantresults.

P68 Resource Needs of Nutrition EducationPrograms Serving Low-income, CulturallyDiverse StudentsJacquelyn Russum, RD, MPH, Health EducationCalifornia Healthy Kids Resource Center (CHKRC), 313West Winton Avenue, Hayward, CA 94544,jrussum@acoe.k12.ca.us; Nancy L. Brown, PhD,Department of Health Services Research, Palo AltoMedical Foundation Research Institute, 795 El CaminoReal (Ames Building), Palo Alto, CA 94301,Brownn@pamfri.org

The Assessment of PreK through Grade 12 Nutrition In-structional Material Use, Development, and Needs surveywas sent to 81 California Nutrition Network 2001-02 LocalIncentive Awardees (LIAs). Sixty-two (76.5%) surveyswere returned representing all 12 Network regions. Theresults indicate the majority of selection, presentation, anddevelopment of nutrition instructional materials were basedon Network guidelines with teams of classroom teachersand dieticians conducting most material selection and de-velopment. Sixty-eight different instructional resources(including 25 LIA-developed materials) were used for PreK

through grade 12 nutrition education with 52% of the LIAsusing materials for grade levels they were not designed.Stand-alone nutrition lessons, food tasting, cooking activ-ities, special events, and demonstrations and discussionswere the most frequently used teaching strategies at allgrade levels. Parent/home linked nutrition lessons, curric-ula that could be integrated into other academic subjects,student assessment tools, cafeteria-linked lessons, and re-sources for low-income audiences were needs identified bymost Network LIAs. Training and technical assistance werealso requested most often in these areas. Based on thesurvey findings teachers, California Dairy Council, Univer-sity of California Cooperative Extension, California De-partment of Health Services, and other school-based edu-cation agencies developed fourteen recommendations topromote the use of high-quality, research-based nutritioneducation resources among Network LIAs. This project wasfunded by the California Nutrition Network, Cancer Pre-vention Nutrition Section, California Department ofHealth Services.

P69 The Problems with “Super Sizing” inAmerican High Schools: A SurveyRakesh Jain, MD, MPH, Mental Health EducationalInitiative (MHEI), 135 Oyster Creek Drive, Suite G,Lake Jackson, TX 77566, drjain_research@hotmail.com;Nick Moore, MHEI, n_moore_13@hotmail.com; SaundraJain, PsyD, MHEI, drsaundrajain@hotmail.com

Statement of Problem: Because of rising national concernregarding high school students’ beliefs and practices con-cerning health and nutrition, we conducted a survey de-signed to anonymously capture student perceptions regard-ing these issues. It is generally believed there is rapiddeterioration in the nutritional practices of this vulnerablepopulation. Identification of appropriate interventions ad-dressing this population is urgently needed. Methodology:183 high school students enrolled in a general health classwere randomly selected and anonymously completed a preand post survey related to health and nutritional beliefs.The intervention utilized was viewing a recently released,popular documentary, “Super Size Me” that addressed theseissues. Data was collected and analyzed using MicrosoftExcel. Results: Mean age 14.6. Research highlights: Ques-tion: “Which is the most important reason you eat fastfood?” 29.5% save time, 6.6% no where else to eat, 10.4%geographic convenience, 1.1% save money and 50.8%don’t want to cook. Question: “Do you believe fast food isaddicting?” Premovie: 12% not at all, 11.5% very little,47.5% somewhat, 15.3% moderately, 13.1% extremely;Postmovie: 2.2%, 5.5%, 27.3%, 27.9%, and 35%. Question:“After watching this movie, I expect to eat fast food” 9.8%never, 50.3% less than now, 33.9% same, 1.1% a littlemore, and 1.6% a lot more. Conclusion: Vast discrepanciesexist between student beliefs and their actual behaviors

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S42 Abstracts