USE OF EATING-PATTERN MESSAGES TO EVALUATE CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIORS IN A WORKSITE CHOLESTEROL EDUCATION-PROGRAM

Objective To determine whether eating-pattern messages can effectively be used in a worksite cholesterol education program to change eating behaviors. Subjects 91 randomly selected participants with initial serum cholesterol levels of 5.2 mmol/L attended the program. Intervention Eating-pattern messages were the focus of a successful 8-week worksite cholesterol education program conducted with city employees of Phoenix, Ariz. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires before and after the intervention that asked them to compare their current eating patterns with those addressed in the program. The majority (n = 84) of the participants attended five or more of eight available sessions, led by registered dietitians, which focused on the skills needed to decrease dietary fat. Statistical analyses performed Parametric and nonparametric statistical tests were used to evaluate the direction and magnitude of changes in eating patterns. Results Participants made statistically significant changes in 11 of 15 eating patterns linked to messages delivered during the intervention. Changes in eating behaviors were related to improvements in blood lipid profiles. Results from a multiple regression analysis indicated that intervention-related changes in total cholesterol were significantly associated with combined eating-pattern message scores, and total cholesterol decreased 0.33 mmol/L for each unit decrease in the combined eating-pattern message score. Applications/conclusions These findings indicate that eating-pattern messages can be used successfully to evaluate changes in fat-related eating behaviors.