Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121924

Erica Jackson, PhD, Department of Health, Physical Education and Sport Science, Kennesaw State University, 3052 Convocation Center, 1000 Chastain Road, #0202, Kennesaw, GA 30144, (770) 499-3425, ejacks24@kennesaw.edu, Sofiya Alhassan, PhD, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Hoover Pavilion, Rm. N229, 211 Quarry Road, Palo Alto, CA 94305-5705, and Peter Grandjean, PhD, FACSM, Department of Health & Human Performance, Auburn University, 2050 Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, Auburn University, AL 36849 - 5323.

The US National Cholesterol Education Program supports “therapeutic lifestyle changes” in managing blood lipids, including margarine containing plant stanol ester (PSE) and aerobic exercise (AE). This research was part of a larger study in which PSE and AE interventions improved blood lipid profiles in middle-aged (40-65 years) US adults. Participants were sedentary before the interventions and none used PSE. After the interventions, participants (N=26) completed a questionnaire that assessed attitudes about the interventions and their behavior changes. Participants rated the overall intervention and specific features using a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly dislike to 5=strongly like). The majority of participants reported they liked or strongly liked the PSE intervention (69.2%), the taste (73.1%), texture (69.2%) and smell (59.2%) of the margarine, and ability to incorporate it into food (76%). Most reported changing their diets (76.9%) to use the margarine in compliance with the study. However, the majority reported they would use PSE margarine if it would lower cholesterol (84.6%) and that they preferred PSE margarine over lipid lowering medication (88.5%). Over 80% reported they liked or strongly liked the exercise intervention (80.8%) and the exercise intensity (84.5%), duration (80.8%), and frequency (84.6%). Few participants (7.7%) reported continued use of PSE, but over half of the participants reported regular exercise (65.4%), and 23.1% reported they planned to resume their exercise programs. PSE and AE consistently improve the blood lipid profile. The current findings regarding attitudes toward non-pharmacological intervention further support the use of lifestyle changes in the management of blood lipids.

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