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Title: We can! Louisiana: adapting the dietary guidelines for all Americans

Author
item MCGEE, BERNESTINE - Southern University And A & M College
item JOHNSON, GLENDA - Southern University And A & M College

Submitted to: Louisiana Agriculture
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/15/2013
Publication Date: 12/3/2013
Citation: McGee, B.B., Johnson, G. 2013. We can! Louisiana: adapting the dietary guidelines for all Americans. Louisiana Agriculture. Available: http://www.lsuagcenter.com/en/communications/publications/agmag/Archive/2013/Fall/WeCanLouisianaAdaptingtheDietaryGuidelinesforAllAmericans.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) was culturally tailored in order to increase adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), as the vehicle for preventing childhood overweight and obesity in Louisiana families. We Can! Louisiana is an educational program aimed at promoting adherence to the healthful food and physical activity recommendations set forth in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the resulting effect on reducing weight gain and the risk factors for obesity-related chronic disease in parents and children in rural Louisiana communities. The education program was designed with input from community representatives. Culturally tailoring the national We Can! Program included adding pictures to the front cover of the parents' handbook, and also foods and physical activities that were not included on the Dietary Guideline's food and physical activity lists that captured the ethnicity of the target population. To ensure that the materials were at the appropriate grade level for the audience's ability to comprehend the information, the researchers employed several measures for developing print materials for low literate readers. The nutrition education program was delivered by a baccalaureate level healthy lifestyle promoter who received comprehensive training for implementing the culturally tailored curriculum. The We Can! Louisiana weekly parent sessions included food preparation instructions, physical activity, and a gardening component to encourage adoption of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Biweekly sessions were held with the children to reinforce the parental instructions. Parents and children demonstrated sustained interest in weekly nutrition and physical activities and offered suggestions for making the program interesting. Empowering parents and caregivers to make behavioral choices that support a healthy lifestyle can help children and families attain and maintain a healthy weight; reduce their risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health.