Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Sarah E. Colby, PhD, RD¹, LuAnn Johnson, MS¹, and Lauren A. Haldeman, PhD². (1) ARS/USDA, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, PO Box 9034, Grand Forks, ND 58202, 701-795-8303, scolby@gfhnrc.ars.usda.gov, (2) Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 308 Stone Bldg., Greensboro, NC 27402

The objective of this research was to evaluate the ability to estimate serving sizes by newly arrived Latino youth (8-12 years) and their parents. Fifty-one youth and 28 adults were educated on serving sizes using culturally appropriate food models and standardized hand sizes. Immediately following education, respondents were shown seventeen food models and asked to identify the serving size each model represented. There was no statistical association between a child and their parent's estimation ability. Both children and parents (C/P) underestimated and overestimated portion sizes. When C/P overestimated portions, the mean error was 102% and 34%, respectively; and when portions were underestimated, the mean error was 30% and 22%, respectively. Both C/P more often overestimated portion sizes. Meat/protein was the only food category where more C/P underestimated portions (by 31% and 30%, respectively). Children's over and under estimation error for snacks/sweets was similar (55% vs. 45%, respectively). Fruit was the food group most often correctly estimated; and vegetable was the food group most often incorrectly estimated, by both C/P. The findings of this study indicate the need for health professionals to be aware of over and under estimations of food portions, even with training. When assessing nutritional status of newly arrived Latino immigrants and developing programs/policy, estimation error needs to be considered. Alternative dietary assessment methods that do not rely on an individual's ability to estimate portion size need to be developed and utilized.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize limitations of nutrition assessment methods currently being used to assess the dietary status of newly arrived Latino immigrants. 2.Articulate the potential impact of over and underestimation of food portion sizes on synthesis of results from current methodology. 3.Discuss factors to consider when designing alternative dietary assessment methodology.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation