Nontraditional nutrition education interventions: the radio ECCA method.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a nutrition education intervention using a radio programme in the Canary Islands. DESIGN: Pre-post quasiexperimental epidemiological study. SETTING: Free living population in the Canary Islands, Spain. SUBJECTS: A sample of 1753 individuals out of 6846 volunteers participating in the educational programme. INTERVENTIONS: A 6-week radio programme consisting of 12 didactic units with supplementary print support material and four optional attendance-based healthy cooking seminars. RESULTS: At 2 months postintervention, an increased consumption of pulses, salads, fruits and juices, cereals and fish, and a decreased consumption of meat, sausages, pastries, French fries, bread and eggs were observed.

[Food consumption and food sources of energy and nutrients in Canary Islands (1997-98)]. / Consumo de alimentos y fuentes alimentarias de energía y nutrientes en Canarias (1997-98).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate food consumption and identify the main food sources of energy and nutrient intake in the Canary Island population (1997-98). DESIGN: Cross-sectional epidemiological study. METHODS: A dietary survey was realised in a representative sample of the Canary Island population (n = 1747; 821 men and 926 women) aged 6 to 75 years. The dietary survey technique utilised consisted of two 24-hour recalls over nonconsecutive days. Spanish Food Composition Tables were used as references. RESULTS: Food composition in the Canary Islands is characterised by typical Canary Island eating patterns, which have lost some of their Central American characteristics and have acquired clearly Mediterranean elements. As such, an acceptable intake of milk was noted (301 g/day) with highly elevated dairy product consumption (71 g/day), high intake of potatoes (143 g/day), moderate meat (red meat 46 g/day) and fish (46 g/day) consumption and low cereal (125 g/day) and legume (27 g/day) intakes. Nut consumption was observed to be fairly low (2 g/day), and average fruit intake (218 g/day) and low vegetable consumption (108 g/day) were also noted, the later being the lowest intake detected in Spain. It is also worth noting the elevated consumption of sweets (49 g/day). An inverse relationship was detected between social class and consumption of potatoes and pulses, and a direct one between vegetables, sausages and cheese. The main sources of energy were cereals and dairy products (21.2% and 18.4%, respectively), as well as the principal sources of saturated fats (5.8% and 28.1%), calcium (6.6% and 67.8%), sodium (27.5% and 18.8%) and riboflavin (6.6% and 41.2%).

[Energy and nutrient intake and risk of inadequate intakes in Canary Islands (1997-98)]. / Ingesta de energía y nutrientes y riesgo de ingestas inadecuadas en Canarias (1997-98).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the consumption of energy and nutrients and to identify the risk of inadequate intakes in the Canary Island population (1997-98). DESIGN: Cross-sectional epidemiological study. METHODS: A dietary survey was conducted in a representative sample of the Canary Island population (n = 1747; 821 men and 926 women) aged 6 to 75 years. Two 24-hour recalls were utilised as the dietary survey instrument, carried out over non-consecutive days. Spanish Food Composition Tables were used and data was adjusted for intraindividual variability. RESULTS: The mean daily intakes were 1760 kcal for energy, 73 g for protein, 228 g for carbohydrates, 15 g for fibre and 62 g for fat (24 g SFA, 25 g MUFA and 8 g PUFA). Energy and nutrient consumption decreased with age excluding vitamins A. C and folate. Nutrient density increased with age, with the lowest intakes seen in children and adolescents. As for social class, decreased calorie intake was observed in the lowest category, with the highest income level showing the greatest intakes for vitamin A, B12, niacin and folate. Noteworthy findings include an overall low calorie intake, and elevated risks of inadequate intakes (percentages of the population with intakes below 2/3 of the RDI) for vitamins D (92.5%), E(87.4%), A(74%), folate(44.7%), iron(30.1%) magnesium (14.9%) and vitamin C (5.4%). Risk for inadequate protein intake was not observed.