INDICATORS OF POOR DIETARY HABITS IN A HIGH-RISK POPULATION

Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether individuals a ttending an urban outpatient clinic met the National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention nutritional objectives and to assess factors as sociated with poor dietary habits. Methods: Individuals who attended t he general medicine outpatient clinic at the State University of New Y ork Health Science Center in Syracuse were interviewed using an expand ed version of the Health Habits and History Questionnaire. Usual dieta ry intake, medical history, occupation, stress, physical activity, tob acco use and other life-style factors were recorded. Of particular int erest were the percentage of calories from fat in the diet and whether individuals consumed the daily requirements of the base-foods in the USDA Pyramid (grains, vegetables and fruits). Unconditional logistic r egression was used to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence in tervals for variables associated with high fat consumption and low con sumption of vegetables, fruit and high-fiber grains. Results: None of the patients met the minimal recommended daily servings for the three base-food categories combined (grains, vegetables and fruits) and 84% of subjects had fat intakes which constituted over 30% of daily energy intake. Individuals with less education, who were disabled or unemplo yed, and who participated in little physical activity were twice as li kely to have poor dietary habits (i.e. low consumption of vegetables, fruit, and/or high-fiber grains) as other subjects (p < 0.05). Younger patients (20-49 years of age), especially those who were nonsmokers a nd who reported little physical activity were more likely to consume f at and less likely to consume fruit than older patients (greater than or equal to 50 years of age). Nonwhite subjects were less likely to co nsume high-fiber grains and whole-wheat breads than white patients (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Nutritional screening should be considered for a ll patients attending similar inner-city general medicine clinics, reg ardless of the primary diagnosis in order to provide early dietary int ervention. In particular, young adults, the unemployed, and the disabl ed should not be overlooked.