[Achievements and Challenges of a Sakado "Shokuiku (Food and Nutrition Education)" Program Implemented in All Elementary and Middle Schools in Sakado-city, Saitama Prefecture].

Objective　Since 2006, Sakado city in Saitama prefecture, Japan, has been implementing the Sakado "Shokuiku (food and nutrition education)" Program in collaboration with Kagawa Nutrition University. The present study aimed to evaluate the program, and to discuss its achievements and future challenges.Methods　This program targeted all students from the 5th through the 8th grade. Data from surveys conducted with students and teachers during the school year from 2006 through 2014 were to analyze the program's implementation process and to evaluate its impact. For process evaluation, two surveys conducted with teachers were used. Survey A pertained to the status of program implementation and students' reaction towards each lesson conducted at schools. Survey B pertained to school teachers' involvement in the program and changes of teaching content and interest in food and nutrition education after its implementation, to assess their reaction towards the program. For impact evaluation, three surveys conducted with students were used. Specifically, Survey C aimed to confirm the effectiveness of the 4-year program, Survey D assessed the same in each grade, and Survey E examined the attitudes and behaviors of students who completed the 4-year program.Results　More than 70% of the classes were able to implement the program successfully in the fourth year of elementary school and the second year of middle school. Further, 80% of the classes utilized all the educational materials, and more than 50% of the students understood almost all the contents of the program. Teachers in elementary school and male teachers in middle school, who had attended the teacher training program and/or had implemented the program, were more likely to interest in nutrition education. The impact evaluation did not reveal any significant long-term effects on students; however, their dietary attitudes related to Educational Goal 2 ("eat a well-balanced diet considering its health benefits") improved after each year of participation in the program. More than 90% of the 8th grade students answered that they were happy to have participated in this program.Conclusion　The continual implementation of this nutrition program increased teachers' interest in food and nutrition education and improved some dietary attitudes of students. Future challenges include improving program content, promoting continued implementation, and identifying broader approaches to include students' family and significant others from different generations.

The Sakado school-based "shokuiku" food and nutriti education project.

The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data for a school-based food nutrition education on "how snacks should be eaten". The subjects were 704 fifth-graders (371 boys, 333 girls) from all the primary schools in Sakado City who participated in the study in November 2006. They completed a 'Life Habit Questionnaire' and a 'Food Frequency Questionnaire (BDHQ)'. Based on their answers the subjects were classified into three groups. Statistical methods including chi-square test, and one-way layout ANOVA were used to analyze the relations between Rohrer index by gender, lifestyle groups of above each question, and intake of snacks. There was the significant relation between the Rohrer index by sex and 'helping with domestic chores', 'communication with the families' and 'physical exercise'. The variables 'soft beverage drinking', 'physical exercise' 'time spent on TV and video games' and 'less frequent breakfast intake' consume significantly higher amounts of snacks than others groups. 'Helping with domestic chores' was significant associated with 'communication with the families' and 'physical exercise'. The results suggest that guidance should be given on eating breakfast every day, developing exercise patterns and appropriate eating of snacks.

Obesity, bone status and dietary intake of Palauan elderly congregating in a Senior Citizen's Center.

A health survey of obesity and bone density measured by an Achilles Ultrasound bone densitometer (Lunar, USA) and nutritional intake was carried out for 15 male and 30 female Palauan elderly persons congregating in a Senior Citizens' Center. The subjects had high obesity values with mean BMI of 27.0 in males and 28.9 in females, and with mean body fat % of 22.3 in males and 39.8 in females (p < 0.01). The females showed a great decline in bone density from 60 to 70 years of age, with mean Stiffness index of 65.0 compared with that of 80.0 for males of the same age group. The subjects have all undergone a certain acculturation in their dietary habits, influenced by traditional Palauan, East-Asian, and Western food and dietary patterns. While all subjects had high carbohydrate intakes, and males had significantly greater intakes of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1 and niacin than females. To determine the association of nutritional intake with obesity and Stiffness index, principal component analysis was carried out for amounts of intake of each food group. Correlation analysis between the scores of each principal food component and the body fat %, the BMI and the stiffness index was done. The score of the fourth principal component named "greater variety of food intake" was found to have significant positive correlation with body fat %. However, between the nutritional intake and body fat %, only a relationship could be identified. The findings indicate a need develop appropriate nutrition education and, particularly to address the problem of obesity.