B. Underwood, ,Nutrition Intervention Strategies in National Development (1983) From Academic...

1
ancestors and because it is a food that white people do not eat. The second study looks at the food habits and network dynamics of black and of white households in a North Carolina community. I particularly liked the conceptual framework of food be- havior developed for this study. It suggested that food behavior not be viewed simply as "food habits" but as part of a paradigm of systemic relation- ships that include ecohistorical and sociocultural determinants of Behav- ioral patterns that have cultural mean- ing. The third study looks at two Italian- American communities and the degree to which food influences social organiza- tion, and religious and health beliefs. This well-researched well-edited work should be of interest to nutritionists, anthropologists, folklorists, culinary his- torians, and food policy makers. Joseph M. Carlin, M.S., RD., Nutri- tionist, Administration on Aging, JFK Federal Bldg., Boston, MA 02203. .·_ ... ...... 1 ............ _ .. : J 1 I LI '---____ .... -...l.l' : Food Science and Nutritional Health: An introduction, Labuza, T., and J. Erdman, 1984. From West Publishing Co., 50 West Kellogg Blvd., Box 43526, St. Paul, MN 55164, 558 pp., soft cover, $19.95. This book's stated purpose is to "provide a reliable source of information on the connection between food and health" to students enrolled in a survey course [for nonmajors). The basic con- cepts of food scierice and nutrition are covered along with the cumulative changes occurting in both fields in recent years. The first half of the book covers normal nutrition and the remaining half is concerned with issues in food science. Generally, in a nutrition textbook, the phases of the life span, food habits, the food group system, etc., are covered, but this text substitutes food science topics such as cold preservation, food legisla- tion and regulation, food safety, and VOLUME 17 NUMBER 3 1985 BOOKS additives. These topics may have added appeal and interest for audiences con- taining cross sections of the student population as compared to audiences consisting primarily of students major- ing in nutrition. Each chapter has a limited bibliog- raphy and provides multiple-choice questions, some essay study questions, and a list of "things to do." The appendix contains the standard table of food composition for the 615 common foods listed in the Home ond Garden Bulletin no. 72 plus nutritional analyses for many fast-food products. Although the broad focus of this text necessitates superficial treatment of most topics, consumer concerns are addressed, and these topics may provoke stimulating class discus- sions and interest. Margarette Harden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of Food and Nutrition, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX 79409. Nutrition Intervention Strategies in Na- tional Development, Underwood, B., 1983. From Academic Press, 6277 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando, FL 32821, 419 pp., softcover, $58. I began reading this book enthusias- tically, hoping to find a successor to the inimitable but now somewhat outdated Nutrition Factor. For the most part, the book contains well-written chapters on important topics. Its strengths include nimble summaries of the following topics: the economics of nutrition inter- vention, maternal dietary supplementa- tion, nutrition and infection, iron fortifi- cation, and the prevention of goiter and of vitamin A deficiency. Despite such strengths, I was dis- appointed. Although this book is a joint project of the U.S. and Chilean Nutrition Foundations, it devotes half of its space to interventions undertaken in those countries. And there is no editorial guidance on what implications the U.S. WIC program or Chile's $1000 per child nutrition rehabilitation program may have for countries with more severe nutrition problems. Perhaps, in part, reflecting a gen- eral malaise affecting the field of international nutrition today, only the chapter on nutrient-specific interven- tions seemed inspiring. Innovative ap- proaches are not the book's strong point. Nor does it cover its subject thoroughly. For example, little mention is made of nutrition in primary health care or in rural development. and no attention is given to breastfeeding or' weaning foods interventions. This book contains much useful information and may be particularly valuable for those concerned with nutrition in the wealthier Latin American countries. But most readers interested in nutrition intervention strategies for de- veloping countries will probably not find it a valuable enough resource to justify its high price. Ted Greiner, Ph.D., Advisor in Nutri- tion Planning, Ministry of Health, Box 1330, Sana'a, Yemen Arab Republic. Pregnancy, Diabetes and Birth: A man- agement guide, Hollingsworth, D., 1984. From Williams and Wilkins, 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202, hard- cover, 166 pp., $34. This book is just what the title indicates: A management guide for the practitioner who treats diabetes in pregnancy. It is a concise, well-refer- enced book that draws upon the author's knowledge-gained over the years as a practicing physician-and reflects her personal philosophy with regard to health care of the pregnant woman. The book is divided into twelve sections. There is an in-depth discussion of the classification of carbohydrate intolerance in pregnant women and of the metabolic changes in normal and diabetic pregnancies. These sections are valuable to those who are developing screening programs to detect diabetes in pregnant women, as well as to those who are developing criteria for diagnosis. When discussing treatment and overall man- agement, the author clearly differentiates among type I. type II, and gestational diabetes. In discussing diet therapy, she recom- mends the modified high-carbohydrate, high-fiber, low-fat diet developed at the clinical research center where she works. Other sections discuss, in detail. treatment methods, types of insulin, and various methods of delivery. The tables and the photographs of available equip- ment are especially useful for teaching purposes. Physicians may be interested in the information on the timing and management of labor and delivery. The section on the infant contains actual case history reports of macrosomic infants, discussion of congenital malformations, and perinatal complications. The final section is on postpartum care, an important phase that is often ignored in practice. I highly recommend this book to medical students, physicians, dietitians, and nurses interested in pregnancy, diabetes, and birth. It is a timely JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION 109

Transcript of B. Underwood, ,Nutrition Intervention Strategies in National Development (1983) From Academic...

ancestors and because it is a food that white people do not eat.

The second study looks at the food habits and network dynamics of black and of white households in a North Carolina community. I particularly liked the conceptual framework of food be­havior developed for this study. It suggested that food behavior not be viewed simply as "food habits" but as part of a paradigm of systemic relation­ships that include ecohistorical and sociocultural determinants of Behav­ioral patterns that have cultural mean­ing.

The third study looks at two Italian­American communities and the degree to which food influences social organiza­tion, and religious and health beliefs.

This well-researched well-edited work should be of interest to nutritionists, anthropologists, folklorists, culinary his­torians, and food policy makers.

Joseph M. Carlin, M.S., RD., Nutri­tionist, Administration on Aging, JFK Federal Bldg., Boston, MA 02203.

.·_ ... w· ...... 1 ............ _ .. :

J

1

I LI

'---____ ....-...l.l' :

Food Science and Nutritional Health: An introduction, Labuza, T., and J. Erdman, 1984. From West Publishing Co., 50 West Kellogg Blvd., Box 43526, St. Paul, MN 55164, 558 pp., soft cover, $19.95.

This book's stated purpose is to "provide a reliable source of information on the connection between food and health" to students enrolled in a survey course [for nonmajors). The basic con­cepts of food scierice and nutrition are covered along with the cumulative changes occurting in both fields in recent years. The first half of the book covers normal nutrition and the remaining half is concerned with issues in food science. Generally, in a nutrition textbook, the phases of the life span, food habits, the food group system, etc., are covered, but this text substitutes food science topics such as cold preservation, food legisla­tion and regulation, food safety, and

VOLUME 17 NUMBER 3 1985

BOOKS

additives. These topics may have added appeal and interest for audiences con­taining cross sections of the student population as compared to audiences consisting primarily of students major­ing in nutrition.

Each chapter has a limited bibliog­raphy and provides multiple-choice questions, some essay study questions, and a list of "things to do." The appendix contains the standard table of food composition for the 615 common foods listed in the Home ond Garden Bulletin no. 72 plus nutritional analyses for many fast-food products. Although the broad focus of this text necessitates superficial treatment of most topics, consumer concerns are addressed, and these topics may provoke stimulating class discus­sions and interest.

Margarette Harden, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Dept. of Food and Nutrition, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX 79409.

Nutrition Intervention Strategies in Na­tional Development, Underwood, B., 1983. From Academic Press, 6277 Sea Harbor Dr., Orlando, FL 32821, 419 pp., softcover, $58.

I began reading this book enthusias­tically, hoping to find a successor to the inimitable but now somewhat outdated Nutrition Factor. For the most part, the book contains well-written chapters on important topics. Its strengths include nimble summaries of the following topics: the economics of nutrition inter­vention, maternal dietary supplementa­tion, nutrition and infection, iron fortifi­cation, and the prevention of goiter and of vitamin A deficiency.

Despite such strengths, I was dis­appointed. Although this book is a joint project of the U.S. and Chilean Nutrition Foundations, it devotes half of its space to interventions undertaken in those countries. And there is no editorial guidance on what implications the U.S. WIC program or Chile's $1000 per child nutrition rehabilitation program may have for countries with more severe nutrition problems.

Perhaps, in part, reflecting a gen­eral malaise affecting the field of international nutrition today, only the chapter on nutrient-specific interven­tions seemed inspiring. Innovative ap­proaches are not the book's strong point. Nor does it cover its subject thoroughly. For example, little mention is made of nutrition in primary health care or in rural development. and no attention is given to breastfeeding or' weaning foods interventions.

This book contains much useful information and may be particularly valuable for those concerned with nutrition in the wealthier Latin American countries. But most readers interested in nutrition intervention strategies for de­veloping countries will probably not find it a valuable enough resource to justify its high price.

Ted Greiner, Ph.D., Advisor in Nutri­tion Planning, Ministry of Health, Box 1330, Sana'a, Yemen Arab Republic.

Pregnancy, Diabetes and Birth: A man­agement guide, Hollingsworth, D., 1984. From Williams and Wilkins, 428 E. Preston St., Baltimore, MD 21202, hard­cover, 166 pp., $34.

This book is just what the title indicates: A management guide for the practitioner who treats diabetes in pregnancy. It is a concise, well-refer­enced book that draws upon the author's knowledge-gained over the years as a practicing physician-and reflects her personal philosophy with regard to health care of the pregnant woman.

The book is divided into twelve sections. There is an in-depth discussion of the classification of carbohydrate intolerance in pregnant women and of the metabolic changes in normal and diabetic pregnancies. These sections are valuable to those who are developing screening programs to detect diabetes in pregnant women, as well as to those who are developing criteria for diagnosis. When discussing treatment and overall man­agement, the author clearly differentiates among type I. type II, and gestational diabetes.

In discussing diet therapy, she recom­mends the modified high-carbohydrate, high-fiber, low-fat diet developed at the clinical research center where she works.

Other sections discuss, in detail. treatment methods, types of insulin, and various methods of delivery. The tables and the photographs of available equip­ment are especially useful for teaching purposes. Physicians may be interested in the information on the timing and management of labor and delivery. The section on the infant contains actual case history reports of macrosomic infants, discussion of congenital malformations, and perinatal complications. The final section is on postpartum care, an important phase that is often ignored in practice.

I highly recommend this book to medical students, physicians, dietitians, and nurses interested in pregnancy, diabetes, and birth. It is a timely

JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION 109