Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Soyfoods--Iowa; Older people--Nutrition--Iowa; Older people--Iowa--Attitudes; Older people--Attitudes; Older people--Nutrition; Iowa; Academic theses;
Abstract
Preservation of good health in old age has become significantly important to most older people. Increasing health care costs challenge the majority of the rapidly growing older population. The use of functional foods (i.e., soy foods, oats, and broccoli) to help reduce the risk of chronic disease and relieve physical discomfort is one of the major health care developments in many economically advanced countries. For older people consumption of functional foods is not only cost-effective, but also necessary. Soy-based foods were first identified as a healthy as well as functional food during the last decade of the twentieth century by many scientists and health care professionals. However, soy food is novel to Americans. Thus, the consumption of soy foods in the U.S. is lower than that in other countries. Ironically, the U.S. is a major soybean-producing country, and Iowa is the largest soybean-producing state. People living in this region lack knowledge of the nutritional value of the product they are surrounded with and have limited consumption of it. Promoting locally produced food to the local community is one component of the healthy lifestyle campaign in the new century health care perspective. Especially, because this product has a variety of health benefits, increased consumption of soy-based foods will be a cost-effective strategy for people living in this region. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of a rural older population living in midwest America, a major soybean-producing region, about health benefits of soy and examine the relationship between their knowledge and consumption attitudes toward soy-based foods. Fifty-seven older Iowans who attended senior center meal sites completed a survey. Questions were asked to assess participants' knowledge and acceptance of soy-foods. Statistical analysis was used to determine the level of knowledge and acceptance of soy foods among older Iowans. The association between nutritional knowledge and consumption attitudes was examined using Pearson Correlation test. The findings of this study indicated that older Iowans had very limited knowledge of soy-based products. However, they did have a positive perception of the health benefits of soy foods. The majority of older Iowans favored the consumption of soy foods. It was concluded that the more knowledgeable older Iowans were about the health benefits of soy foods the more they were likely to consume soy foods. Older Iowan 's showed an interest in learning more about soy-based products and related nutritional information. This finding suggests that health promotion professionals and senior health care providers should consider adding education about soy foods to nutrition interventions and programs. The use of soy foods as functional foods in health care, particularly for older people, should be encouraged.
Year of Submission
2006
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services
First Advisor
Oksana Matvienko
Second Advisor
Sue Joslyn
Third Advisor
Dennis Cryer
Date Original
2006
Object Description
1 PDF file (97 leaves)
Copyright
©2006 Li Chuan Chen
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Chen, Li Chuan, "The Relationship Between Nutritional Knowledge and Consumption Attitudes Toward Soy-Foods Among a Midwest Rural America Older Population" (2006). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2329.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2329
Comments
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