Nutritional intervention programme among a Japanese-Brazilian community: procedures and results according to gender

• Published in: Public health nutrition 2010-09, Vol.13 (9), p.1453-1461
• Main Authors: Damião, Renata, Sartorelli, Daniela Saes, Hirai, Amélia, Massimino, Flávia, Poletto, Juliana, Bevilacqua, Marselle Rodrigues, Chaim, Rita, Antonio de Salvo, Vera Lúcia Morais, Asakura, Leiko, Ferreira, Sandra Roberta Gouveia, Andreoni, Solange, Gimeno, Suely Godoy Agostinho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; adults; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Blood pressure; Body weight; Brazil - epidemiology; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cardiovascular risk factors; Diabetes; Diet; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Food; food and nutrition programs; Gender; gender differences; Glucose; Health Education; Health Promotion; Humans; Hypertension; Intervention; Interventions; Japan - ethnology; Japanese people; Japanese-Brazilians; Life Style; Lifestyles; Male; Meetings; men; Nutritional epidemiology; Nutritional intervention study; Nutritional Sciences - education; Nutritional status; Nutritionists; Obesity; Program Evaluation; Regression analysis; Research methodology; Risk factors; Sex Factors; Weight control; women
• ISSN: 1368-9800; 1475-2727; 1475-2727
• DOI: 10.1017/S1368980010000935

To describe the results of a nutritional intervention programme among Japanese-Brazilians according to gender. A non-controlled experimental study. The research included three points of clinical, nutritional and physical activity evaluation: at baseline (in 2005), after the first year and at the end of the second year (in 2007). The paired Student t test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate changes in the subjects' profile (clinical, nutritional and physical activity variables). Japanese-Brazilians (n 575) of both genders, aged over 30 years. We verified statistically significant reductions in body weight (0.9 kg), waist circumference (2.9 cm), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (>3 mg/dl) and total cholesterol (>20 mg/dl) and its fractions, in both genders. We also found reductions in intake of energy (among men), protein (among women) and fat (both genders) and increases in intake of total fibre (among women) and carbohydrate (among men). The intervention programme indicated meaningful benefits for the intervention subjects, with changes in their habits that led to a 'healthier' lifestyle positively impacting their nutritional and metabolic profile.