Katherine Markwell

Impact of a school-based food garden on attitudes and identification skills regarding vegetables and fruit: a 12-month intervention trial

OBJECTIVE To determine changes in ability to identify specific vegetables and fruits, and attitudes towards vegetables and fruit, associated with the introduction of a school-based food garden. DESIGN A 12-month intervention trial using a historical control (control n 132, intervention n 120), class-based, self-administered questionnaires requiring one-word answers and 3-point Likert scale responses. SETTING A state primary school (grades 4 to 7) in a low socio-economic area of Brisbane, Australia. INTERVENTION The introduction of a school-based food garden, including the funding of a teacher coordinator for 11 h/week to facilitate integration of garden activities into the curriculum. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Ability to identify a series of vegetables and fruits, attitudes towards vegetables and fruit. ANALYSIS Frequency distributions for each item were generated and chi2 analyses were used to determine statistical significance. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to detect major trends in data. RESULTS The intervention led to enhanced ability to identify individual vegetables and fruits, greater attention to origins of produce (garden-grown and fresh), changes to perceived consumption of vegetables and fruits, and enhanced confidence in preparing fruit and vegetable snacks, but decreased interest in trying new fruits. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of this school-based food garden was associated with skill and attitudinal changes conducive to enhancing vegetable and fruit consumption. The ways in which such changes might impact on dietary behaviours and intake require further analysis.

A systematic review of baseline psychosocial characterisation in dietary randomised controlled trials for weight loss

Background/objective:To investigate the extent of baseline psychosocial characterisation of subjects in published dietary randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for weight loss.Subjects/methods:Systematic review of adequately sized (n⩾10) RCTs comprising ⩾1 diet-alone arm for weight loss were included for this systematic review. More specifically, trials included overweight (body mass index >25 kg/m2) adults, were of duration ⩾8 weeks and had body weight as the primary outcome. Exclusion criteria included specific psychological intervention (for example, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)), use of web-based tools, use of supplements, liquid diets, replacement meals and very-low calorie diets. Physical activity intervention was restricted to general exercise only (not supervised or prescribed, for example, VO2 maximum level).Results:Of 176 weight-loss RCTs published during 2008–2010, 15 met selection criteria and were assessed for reported psychological characterisation of subjects. All studies reported standard characterisation of clinical and biochemical characteristics of subjects. Eleven studies reported no psychological attributes of subjects (three of these did exclude those taking psychoactive medication). Three studies collected data on particular aspects of psychology related to specific research objectives (figure scale rating, satiety and quality-of-life). Only one study provided a comprehensive background on psychological attributes of subjects.Conclusion:Better characterisation in behaviour-change interventions will reduce potential confounding and enhance generalisability of such studies.

The role of line managers in creating and maintaining healthy work environments on project construction sites

The focus of this article is healthy work environments in project-based construction work, and particularly a sub-element of the work environment, the food environment. Although it is well accepted that stressful work environments negatively impact on organisational and individual health indices and project construction produces some of the most severe work environments in the modern industrial landscape, the role of line managers in creating these environments is largely unknown. Healthy work environments are explored in this article because they contribute to the development of many ‘behavioral’ diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, both of which are known problems amongst construction workers. Qualitative data were collected from eighty project-based construction workers and mangers on six large civil engineering construction projects in Brisbane, Australia. Unanimous views were expressed by all interviewees that managers should not and do not influence food choices on-site. However, results also revealed clear examples of managers making decisions about food environments, work and time pressures and permitted and discouraged behaviours on-site that impact on food choices. These findings indicate limited awareness of healthy work environments in construction with the impact of management actions being largely unrecognised and unintended. It suggests with more informed management decision-making, eating habits in construction are likely to improve.

Energy Drink Consumption in the Australian Construction Industry: A Risky New Trend?

Construction workforces’ health behaviors have received little attention compared with work injury risks and management. Formulated caffeinated beverage (FCB) (energy drink) consumption is relatively new to construction sites and excessive consumption may have effects on both health and safety owing to known short- and long-term physiological responses. This study contributes to understanding drivers and deterrents of caffeine and FCB consumption in construction. Data were collected from workers at six construction sites in Queensland, Australia, using mixed-method research design involving semistructured interviews (70) and quantitative surveys (n=250). Convergent interviewing underpinned by the theory of reasoned action was used to analyze qualitative interviews. Bivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine determinants of caffeine and FCB consumption. Work hours were associated with caffeine consumption >210  mg/day (β=−0.046, p=0.037). Qualitative results indicate energy drinks are consumed widely and regularly on site, with stress and attempts to manage the pace, timing, and intensity seen as drivers for consumption. In combination, these findings suggest management of FCBs on construction sites requires more attention as a potential health hazard.