Data on body composition and its relation to obesity and chronic diseases in Puerto Rico is lacking. This Curricula, Research and Technology grant supported the purchase and set up of the Bod Pod equipment to evaluate body composition (Fields, D. A. et al. 2002), which is called the “air displacement plethysmography method” or ADP (also known as whole-body air displacement plethysmography). Briefly, the individual is placed inside a capsule wearing light weight clothing. The person enters the chamber and the machine measures the air displaced, which is related to body volume, and from which the body’s fat mass and lean mass is calculated.
After knowing the body composition, three nutrition education interventions will be targeted to prevent or to control nutrition-related risks by promoting change of eating practices. A successful nutrition education program is expected to promote changes in eating practices within 6-12 weekly interventions. (Contento IR et al, 1995; Mitchell RE, Ash SL, McClelland JW, 2006). Considering the need for nutrition assessment to provide adequate nutrition education to reduce obesity and chronic diseases, Project ABC (Assessment of Body Composition) was developed. The aims of this study are: 1) to investigate the body composition of the adults working within the campus community to assess nutrition-related health risks; 2) to provide nutrition intervention; 3) evaluate changes in body composition following nutrition education to reduce health risks factors. The overall goal is to reduce obesity and promote healthy eating practices in the university community. This protocol was approved by the the institutional review board, CIPSHI, #1718-075, on May 24, 2018. The UPR-RP Employee Support Program (PAE), directed by Dr. Olga Bernardy, through the collaboration with Project Director, Dr. Michelle Schelske Santos, and Co-Director, Dr. Nancy J. Correa Matos, will be facilitating the implementation of the ABC Project in the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. As part of the initial collaborative efforts for making this Project viable was the identification of a space for the Nutritional Intervention Laboratory and the recruitment of non-docent UPR-RP employees for the Project.
Group session recruitment was scheduled to begin on March 16th, 2020, when the lockdown order was issued for the University of Puerto Rico. The project is on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, as use of the BodPod is not viable.
References:
Contento, I. R., Balch, G. I., Bronner, Y. L., Lytle, L. A., Maloney, S. K., Olson, S. M., & Swadener, S. S. (1995). Nutrition education for school-aged children. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 27(6), 298–311.
Fields, D. A. et al. (2002). Body-composition assessment via air-displacement plethysmography in adults and children: a review. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(3), 453-67.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016, June 29). Adult Obesity facts. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
Mitchell, R. E., Ash, S. L., & McClelland, J. W. (2006). Nutrition education among low-income older adults: a randomized intervention trial in congregate nutrition sites. Health Education & Behavior, 33(3), 374-392.