Nutritional Concerns among Female International Volunteers Based on the Income and Development Status of Their Country of Service.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of female athlete triad risk factors among female international volunteers based on the development and income status of their country of service. A total of 2164 past volunteers completed a retrospective survey. Countries' income and development statuses were coded using the respective annual United Nations World Economic Situations and Prospects reports. Independent t-tests, ANOVAs, and Pearson's Chi-Squared tests were used to assess group differences; corresponding odds ratios were calculated. Volunteers in nondeveloped (OR = 2.25, CI = 1.85-2.75) and non-high-income (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.75-2.70) countries had over twice the odds of experiencing secondary amenorrhea. More volunteers who served in nondeveloped countries reported an increase in exercise while serving (p = 0.005). Those who served in a nondeveloped (OR = 1.52, CI = 1.16-1.98) or non-high-income (OR = 1.45, CI = 1.08-1.94) country had higher odds of weight loss. However, volunteers serving in nondeveloped (OR = 0.52, CI = 0.44-0.63) and non-high-income (OR = 0.50, CI = 0.4-0.61) countries were less likely to report food insecurity compared to those in developed and high-income countries. Bone mineral density was within the expected range regardless of income and development status. Female volunteers who served in nondeveloped and non-high-income countries experienced higher odds of secondary amenorrhea, which was likely influenced by an increase in exercise and higher odds of weight loss.

Prevalence of Female Athlete Triad Risk Factors among Female International Volunteers and College Age-Matched Controls.

This study retrospectively compared the prevalence of factors related to the female athlete triad (low energy availability, secondary amenorrhea (SA), low bone mineral density (BMD)), and post-study BMD of female college students and female international volunteer missionaries (volunteers). Female college students (21-26 years) completed a survey that retrospectively assessed an 18-month study period (volunteer service or first 18 months of college); Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ III) and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan were optional. One-way ANOVAs and chi-squared distributions assessed group differences. Logistic regression assessed covariates of SA and BMD; corresponding odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.001. 3683 participants (58.8% volunteers, 31.5% non-volunteers, 9.8% others) provided complete survey data; 246 completed the DHQ III, and 640 had a post-study DXA scan. Volunteers had higher metabolic equivalent (MET) hours than non-volunteers and others (p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of food insecurity (p < 0.001) and SA (p < 0.001). Volunteers had higher odds of SA (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.75-2.62) than non-volunteers. Weight loss, body satisfaction, "other" weight loss methods, increased MET hours, and vomiting during the study period increased participants' odds of SA. Participants' average BMD Z-scores were within the expected range at all sites, with no significant group differences. Volunteers' higher MET hours and higher prevalence of food insecurity and SA did not result in significantly lower post-study period BMD.

Motivational Interviewing Confidence and Perceived Competence Among Undergraduate and Graduate Dietetics Students.

BACKGROUND: Motivational interviewing (MI) aligns with the scope of practice and competency standards for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists; however, few dietitians receive adequate training. Furthermore, little is known about MI training within dietetics curricula. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine differences in undergraduate and graduate-level dietetics students' confidence and perceived competence before/after taking a MI course. METHODS: A 38-item pre-postsurvey was completed by students enrolled in a Basic and Advanced MI course at Utah State University. The survey included demographic questions and questions related to confidence and perceived competence using MI techniques. Paired t-tests were used to compare pre/post results and analysis of variance was used to compare groups. RESULTS: Increased confidence and perceived competence were observed for Basic MI students (n = 72) (P < .0001) and Advanced MI students (n = 32) (P < .0001) after course completion. In the presurvey, Advanced MI students had higher confidence in 5 of 14 MI skills, higher competence in 2 of 11 MI skills, and higher overall MI competence scores (P = .008) than Basic MI students. Following completion of the course, Advanced MI students had higher overall MI confidence scores (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Students' confidence and perceived competence with using MI increased after taking a college-level MI course. Incorporating MI courses into dietetics curricula may be an effective way to increase confidence and perceived competence of using MI techniques and therefore improving communication between dietitians and patients.

Knowledge of the female athlete triad, and prevalence of triad risk factors among female high school athletes and their coaches.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine awareness/knowledge of the Triad and its health implications among female high school athletes and their coaches, and to evaluate coaches' Triad screening/intervention practices. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Two high schools in the western United States. PARTICIPANTS: Female athletes from a variety of sports (N = 240) ages 14-18 years and their coaches (N = 10). INTERVENTION: Participants completed surveys that assessed Triad knowledge and athlete Triad risk factors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of responses to Triad knowledge, Triad risk factor, and Triad education/screening procedures questions; athlete summative knowledge score. RESULTS: Half (N = 120) of participants reported menstrual irregularity, and 42% (N = 101) had 2 or more Triad risk factors: past amenorrhea (N = 39), past stress fracture (N = 41), self-reported not eating enough (N = 53), underweight (BMI-for-age < 5(th) percentile) (N = 10), pressure to be a certain weight (N = 143), and wanting to lose >10 pounds when self-reported weight was in a healthy range (N = 34). Average athlete Triad knowledge score was 2.97 ± 1.61 out of 8. Coach Triad knowledge was limited; however, most (9/10) were comfortable discussing menstruation with their athletes. Barriers to Triad screening/education were coaches' insufficient time, knowledge, and educational resources. CONCLUSION: Triad risk factors were prevalent among athletes and coach and athlete Triad knowledge was low. Providing coaches with Triad screening/education training may increase Triad knowledge and decrease Triad risk among high school athletes.

Increased self-efficacy for vegetable preparation following an online, skill-based intervention and in-class tasting experience as a part of a general education college nutrition course.

PURPOSE: Assess the effectiveness of the integration of vegetable demonstration videos and tasting experiences into a college nutrition course to influence students' readiness to change vegetable intake, self-efficacy for vegetable preparation, and usual vegetable intake. DESIGN: Quasiexperimental, preintervention-postintervention comparisons. SETTING: College nutrition course. SUBJECTS: Of the 376 students enrolled in the course, 186 completed the online assessments (145 female, 41 male; mean age, 20 years). INTERVENTION: Participants viewed online vegetable preparation videos and participated in vegetable tasting experiences that featured four target vegetables, one vegetable each month for 4 months. MEASURES: Preintervention and postintervention online surveys determined usual vegetable intake, readiness to change vegetable consumption, and self-efficacy of vegetable preparation. ANALYSIS: Chi-square distribution and paired sample t-tests were used to examine differences preintervention and postintervention. RESULTS: Stage of readiness to change vegetable intake shifted from contemplation toward preparation (p < .001). Self-efficacy of vegetable preparation increased and postintervention self-efficacy was associated with total and target vegetable consumption (p  =  .001 and p  =  .005, respectively). The average intake of asparagus, one of four target vegetables, increased (p  =  .016); similar changes were not observed for target or total vegetable consumption. CONCLUSION: Online vegetable demonstration videos may be an effective and cost-efficient intervention for increasing self-efficacy of vegetable preparation and readiness to increase vegetable consumption among college students. More research is needed to determine long-term effects on vegetable consumption.