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Title: THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRIGULTURE (USDA) IN PUBLIC HEALTH, A HANDBOOK FOR DEVELOPING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Author
item McCabe Sellers, Beverly
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2004
Publication Date: 5/2/2006
Citation: McCabe Sellers, B.J., Bogle, M.L. 2006. The role of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in public health, a handbook for developing programs and services. In: Edelstein, S., editor. Nutrition in Public Health: a Handbook for Developing Programs and Services. 2nd edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 267-292.

Interpretive Summary: This book chapter provides an overview of the many and important roles that the United States Department of Agriculture plays in public health nutrition. These contributions have often been overlooked in books about public health nutrition in course offerings by American colleges and universities.

Technical Abstract: Providing disease prevention and health promotion advice to older people presents a new challenge for health professions. Recent research has begun to document the benefits of smoking cessation, diet modification, increased exercise, and limited intake of alcohol and drugs for older as well as younger adults. Health promotion strategies can improve function as well as reduce the risk of morbidity and premature death. Greater consideration of quality of life and lifestyle factors are important to nutritionists providing optimal nutrition care to older adults. For those over age 50, health promotion is less about preventing the symptoms of disease and more about preserving function and maintaining independence, productivity, and personal fulfillment. Reasons for geriatric health promotion and disease prevention activities include the following. Aging is a lifelong phenomenon consisting of physiological, psychological, and behavioral processes. Aging occurs at different rates in different people; thus biological age may not be equal to chronological age. Most disabilities of old age are not inevitable, universal, or irreversible. Effective health promotion and disease prevention messages should be directed toward all older people when knowledge justifies such recommendations. Additional guidance and health interventions should be based on individual assessments of health status for those identified as being at high risk for disease or disability. A geriatric assessment should be included as a regular part of health monitoring of older people, in addition to chronic disease screening. Nutrition screening and intervention can and should be a major part of any geriatric assessment.