ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC CHILDREN

Objectives. This study evaluated retention of the effect of a home-bas ed, practitioner-initiated nutrition education model. Methods. Childre n with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels were randomly assigned to one of two nutrition interventions or to an at-ri sk control group. Intervention effects were evaluated 3, 6, and 12 mon ths postbaseline. Results. The parent-child autotutorial group demonst rated significant increases in knowledge and, along with the counselin g group decreases in total and saturated fat intake. Also, the autotut orial and counseling groups retained a majority of their initial LDL c holesterol decrease. Conclusions: Knowledge of heart-healthful eating and dietary fat intake as well as dietary change can be affected and r etained via home-based, practitioner-initiated nutrition interventions with hypercholesterolemic children, although some form of ongoing int ervention may be necessary to produce lasting decreases in LDL cholest erol levels.