Highlights from the July 2008 Journal of the American Dietetic Association

CHICAGO – The July 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. Below is a summary of some of this month's articles. For more information or to receive a media copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.

People looking for ways to manage their weight are often advised to eat slowly, allowing a feeling of fullness to register before they eat too much. A study by researchers at the University of Rhode Island seems to support that weight-control method.

Thirty healthy women were studied on two test visits to compare slow and quick eating rates. The women rated their hunger, satiety (feeling of fullness), desire to eat, thirst and other factors. A slower rate of eating led to significant decreases in food consumption even though the meal duration was approximately 21 minutes longer. For the faster eaters, even though more food was consumed in a shorter period, their level of satiety was significantly lower than the slower eaters.

The researchers conclude that taking small bites, putting down your utensil and thoroughly chewing may work together to slow a person's eating pace and help to maximize satiation. "Thus, these techniques may be recommended to reduce energy intake within meals and therefore manage body weight," the researchers said.

The manner in which parents feed their young children predicts the general parenting style they will adopt as the child grows, according to researchers from Oklahoma State University.

In a study of 239 parents of first-grade children enrolled in rural public schools, the researchers found parenting styles could be determined by how their children are fed. Parents who placed restrictions and pressured their children to eat adopted an "authoritarian" child-raising style, while parents who displayed role modeling, monitoring and perceptions of responsibility were categorized as "authoritative." Low levels of role modeling led to "permissive" parenting styles.

The researchers conclude that, to be successful, dietary change or obesity programs for children implemented by food and nutrition professionals need to take into account complex approaches to behavioral change that include parenting styles and family dynamics. "Interventions that fail to address underlying parenting styles are not likely to be successful."

Additional research articles in the July Journal of the American Dietetic Association include:

• Validation of a Short Questionnaire to Assess Mothers' Perception of Workplace Breastfeeding Support
• Social Ecological Predictors of the Transition to Overweight in Youth: Results from the Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at Schools Study
• The Content of Favorable and Unfavorable Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Found in Commonly Eaten Fish

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.