Recent research coming soon American Heart Association (AHA) Science Session 2022*, researchers evaluated the dietary patterns of adults seeking weight loss and living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Background
Most adults in the United States (US) try to lose weight each year by increasing their consumption of salads, fruits and vegetables. important for
The 2021 Dietary Advice from the AHA (American Heart Association) included: Consume a variety of vegetables and fruits. Whole grains instead of refined grains. Choose healthy protein sources. Replace full-fat dairy products with low-fat and fat-free versions. Prefers lean meat (for meat eaters). Replace animal fats and tropical oils with liquid vegetable oils. Choose minimally processed foods over ultra-processed foods. Minimize intake of foods and beverages containing sugar. Eat foods with little or no added salt and avoid or limit alcohol consumption.
About research
In this study, researchers evaluated dietary intake in adult Pittsburgh residents seeking weight loss.
The study consisted of 116 individuals between the ages of 35 and 58 who used the Fitbit application to track all solid and liquid food consumed daily for one year after individual dietary discussions with a nutritionist. Did. Additionally, they weighed him daily and tracked his PA (physical activity) levels using a wearable Fitbit device.
For all participants, a HEI (Healthy Eating Index) score was calculated at the start and end of the analysis based on self-reported food consumed, dietary patterns, and the U.S. government. Higher HEI scores indicated healthier eating habits.
All individuals’ 24-h food record data for 2 days at each time interval were analyzed. Diet quality was self-rated by participants at the beginning and end of the analysis. The difference between the starting and final scores was considered the perceived dietary change. Her ≤6.0 point difference between her HEI score calculated by the investigator and the perceptual score determined by the participant was considered to be in good agreement.
result
The average age of study participants was 52 years, and most participants (79%) were female and Caucasian (84%). Participants who changed their diet to lose weight were more likely to overestimate the healthiness of their diet. In addition, self-perception of dietary improvement over 12 months was often inaccurate, as the perceived score did not match his HEI score for dietary quality improvement. At the end of the analysis, 25% of study participants (her 1 in 4) had good agreement between her HEI scores and self-perception scores (score difference between -45 points and 30 points). did).
The average perceptual and HEI scores were 68 and 56, respectively. Good concordance was observed in only 10% (n=1) of study participants between changes in self-perception scores compared to changes in HEI scores when judging changes in diet scores over the course of a year. At the end of the analysis, participants perceived an 18-point improvement in diet quality, although HEI scores indicated a 1-point improvement in individual diet quality.
Study author Jessica Cheng, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in general medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and in epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chang School of Public Health in Boston, said:People generally know that fruits and vegetables are healthy, but what researchers and medical professionals consider to be a healthy, balanced diet and what the general public thinks is healthy. We have found that there may be a disconnect between what we consider to be a balanced diet.”
Conclusion
Overall, the study results showed that adult Pittsburgh residents seeking weight loss overestimate the healthiness of their eating patterns. According to Dr. Deepika Laddu, chair of the AHA’s Health Factors Improvement Council, the perceived healthiness of dietary intake by individuals is overrated. It can lead to weight gain, frustration from not being able to meet an individual’s weight loss goals, and reduce the likelihood that an individual will adopt healthy eating habits.
Future research on gender parity and ethnicity representation should focus on dietary perceptions and realities to improve eating patterns. The findings support the need for more frequent counseling interventions by HCPs, such as health coaches, nutritionists and nutritionists, to address the gap between perceptions and objectively measured nutritional improvement. , which strengthens long-term healthy eating habits.
*Important Notices
Research statements and conclusions presented at an American Heart Association scientific conference are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the association. The Association makes no representations or warranties as to their accuracy or reliability. Abstracts presented at the Society’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed. Rather, they are curated by an independent review board and considered on the basis of their potential to add to the diversity of scientific issues and views discussed at the conference. Findings are considered preliminary until publication as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
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