What do You Know?And How do You Know It?

Presented by:

Melanie Hall M.S., R.D.

Sources of Nutrition Information

• Shopping for Health 2001 – Magazines 75% – Books 72%– Health Care Professionals 63% – Friends or Family 58%– Newspapers 51% – Television 49%– Nutritionists or Dietitians 25%

2005 Media Trends

• Obesity was/is a hot topic

• Context is missing

• Increase in the citation of scientific research to support an assertion of harm or benefit– "studies show”, "research suggests"

• Functional Foods

How Does the Average Person See Nutrition and Health?

• Revolutionary studies

• Confusing and inaccessible

• Focus on obesity

• Lack of connection with chronic disease

Print Media/Television

• Advertising for miracle foods

• Advertising for quick fix products

• Books with gimmicks

• Stories that are out of context

Internet

• Questionable sources

• Questionable intentions

• Valuable information not always consumer friendly

Food Packaging

• Misleading messages

• The valuable information is the hardest for consumers to understand

How Do You Know What You Know?

• Ask Questions

• Build on Sound Knowledge

• Investigate the Intentions of the Source

How Can You Effectively Convey that Case Knowledge to Others?

Scenarios

• Dove Vitalize- Food Packaging

• Gastric Bypass Study- Jet Magazine Story

• Vitamin Supplement Web Site- Internet

• Monique- Television Interview

Being a Change Agent

• Pre contemplation

• Contemplation

• Planning

• Action

• Maintenance

• Relapse

Planning

Precontemplation Maintenance

ActionContemplation

Stages of Change