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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296957
Title: Investigation of food acceptability and feeding practices for lipid nutrient supplements and blended flours used to treat moderate malnutrition

Author
item WANG, RICHARD - Washington University School Of Medicine
item TREHAN, INDI - Washington University School Of Medicine
item LAGRONE, LACEY - Washington University School Of Medicine
item WEISZ, ARIANA - Washington University School Of Medicine
item THAKWALAKWA, CHRISSIE - University Of Malawi
item MALETA, KENNETH - University Of Malawi
item MANARY, MARK - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2013
Publication Date: 5/1/2013
Citation: Wang, R.J., Trehan, I., LaGrone, L.N., Weisz, A.J., Thakwalakwa, C.M., Maleta, K.M., Manary, M.J. 2013. Investigation of food acceptability and feeding practices for lipid nutrient supplements and blended flours used to treat moderate malnutrition. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. 45(3):258-263.

Interpretive Summary: This study explores the acceptability and feeding practices of the most common supplementary foods for the treatment of moderate malnutrition in children; a fortified blended flour and to two types of ready-to-use supplementary food were compared. A total of 409 caregivers were surveyed about their feeding practices and supplementary foods acceptability. No differences in the acceptability of food types were found, and children receiving the supplementary food were able to recover with both types of food. Blended flours were more likely than peanut paste-based foods to be shared. Despite the similar acceptability of foods, the feeding practices differed amongst the two types of food; however, in both cases the addition of a supplementary food to the diet was associated with weight gain. These findings are important to doctors and nutritionists dealing with malnutrition.

Technical Abstract: The study objectives were to examine acceptability and feeding practices associated with different supplementary food items and to identify practices associated with weight gain. Caregivers (n = 409) whose children had been enrolled in a trial comparing a fortified corn-soy blended flour (CSB++), soy ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF), and soy/whey RUSF answered a questionnaire administered by health workers in their homes. No significant differences in acceptability of food types were found. CSB++ was more likely than soy RUSF or soy/whey RUSF to be shared (21% vs 3% vs 8%, respectively, P < .001). Children who received soy/whey RUSF were more likely to feed themselves than children who received soy RUSF or CSB++ (11% vs 4% vs 3%, respectively, P < .05). Refusing food was associated with slower weight gain. Despite similar acceptability, feeding practices differed among food types. Increased nonstaple food consumption is associated with weight gain.