TY - JOUR
T1 - Literacy, Numeracy, and Portion-Size Estimation Skills
AU - Huizinga, Mary Margaret
AU - Carlisle, Adam J.
AU - Cavanaugh, Kerri L.
AU - Davis, Dianne L.
AU - Gregory, Rebecca P.
AU - Schlundt, David G.
AU - Rothman, Russell L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was also funded with support from the American Diabetes Association (Novo Nordisk Clinical Research Award), the Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative, and the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center (NIDDK 2P60DK020593-29). The funding sources did not play a role in the design, conduct, management or analysis of the study. In addition, they did not play a role in the decision to publish or in the preparation of the manuscript for publication.
Funding Information:
This study was approved for exemption under Title 45 CFR 46.101(b)(2) for surveys or observations where no identifying information is collected. Dr. Huizinga received support from the Vanderbilt Environmental Health Science Scholars Program (NIEHS 1K12ES015855) and the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Scholars Program (NCR 5K12RR023266). Dr. Cavanaugh is supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney (NIDDK) diseases grant 1K23DK080952 and Dr. Rothman by NIDDK grant 5K23DK065294.
Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/4
Y1 - 2009/4
N2 - Background: Portion-size estimation is an important component of weight management. Literacy and numeracy skills may be important for accurate portion-size estimation. It was hypothesized that low literacy and numeracy would be associated with decreased accuracy in portion estimation. Methods: A cross-sectional study of primary care patients was performed from July 2006 to August 2007; analyses were performed from January 2008 to October 2008. Literacy and numeracy were assessed with validated measures (the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and the Wide Range Achievement Test, third edition). For three solid-food items and one liquid item, participants were asked to serve both a single serving and a specified weight or volume amount representing a single serving. Portion-size estimation was considered accurate if it fell within ±25% of a single standard serving. Results: Of 164 participants, 71% were women, 64% were white, and mean (SD) BMI was 30.6 (8.3) kg/m2. While 91% reported completing high school, 24% had <9th-grade literacy skills and 67% had <9th-grade numeracy skills. When all items were combined, 65% of participants were accurate when asked to serve a single serving, and 62% were accurate when asked to serve a specified amount. In unadjusted analyses, both literacy and numeracy were associated with inaccurate estimation. In multivariate analyses, only lower literacy was associated with inaccuracy in serving a single serving (OR=2.54; 95% CI=1.11, 5.81). Conclusions: In this study, many participants had poor portion-size estimation skills. Lower literacy skills were associated with less accuracy when participants were asked to serve a single serving. Opportunities may exist to improve portion-size estimation by addressing literacy.
AB - Background: Portion-size estimation is an important component of weight management. Literacy and numeracy skills may be important for accurate portion-size estimation. It was hypothesized that low literacy and numeracy would be associated with decreased accuracy in portion estimation. Methods: A cross-sectional study of primary care patients was performed from July 2006 to August 2007; analyses were performed from January 2008 to October 2008. Literacy and numeracy were assessed with validated measures (the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine and the Wide Range Achievement Test, third edition). For three solid-food items and one liquid item, participants were asked to serve both a single serving and a specified weight or volume amount representing a single serving. Portion-size estimation was considered accurate if it fell within ±25% of a single standard serving. Results: Of 164 participants, 71% were women, 64% were white, and mean (SD) BMI was 30.6 (8.3) kg/m2. While 91% reported completing high school, 24% had <9th-grade literacy skills and 67% had <9th-grade numeracy skills. When all items were combined, 65% of participants were accurate when asked to serve a single serving, and 62% were accurate when asked to serve a specified amount. In unadjusted analyses, both literacy and numeracy were associated with inaccurate estimation. In multivariate analyses, only lower literacy was associated with inaccuracy in serving a single serving (OR=2.54; 95% CI=1.11, 5.81). Conclusions: In this study, many participants had poor portion-size estimation skills. Lower literacy skills were associated with less accuracy when participants were asked to serve a single serving. Opportunities may exist to improve portion-size estimation by addressing literacy.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.11.012
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.11.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 19285197
AN - SCOPUS:61649123349
VL - 36
SP - 324
EP - 328
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
SN - 0749-3797
IS - 4
ER -