Poor
Diet: What Can Be Done?
Below
are some examples of how the "spectrum of prevention" approach
might be applied to improving nutrition in San Francisco.
|
Level of Spectrum
|
Examples
|
|
7.
Influencing Policy and Legislation
|
Various neighborhood groups are working
on establishing new farmers' markets in San Francisco (Panhandle
of GG Park, the Fillmore). There are already three large farmers'
markets (Saturdays at Ferry Plaza,
Sundays & Wednesdays at UN Plaza, and Saturdays at Alemany
Boulevard). They increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
|
|
6.
Mobilizing Neighborhoods and Communities
|
DPH Nutritional Services is working in the
Mission (Mission Latino Partnership) to promote increased fruit
and vegetable intake.
San
Francisco Food Systems is engaged in a number of activities
that bridge people to healthy, nutritious, affordable, locally
and regionally grown food. Their actions represent a broad
and diverse approach that includes community research and organizing,
capacity building, promotion of collaborations and partnerships,
policy activities, and advocacy.
|
|
5.
Fostering Coalitions and Networks
|
Physical
Activity & Nutrition: The Department
of Children, Youth, and Families works with the SF
Unified School District and various City Departments (including Public Health)
to increase physical activity & improve nutrition among
SF youth.
Physical
Activity & Nutrition: The SF Community
Clinic Consortium, Kaiser Permanente, and the SF Department
of Public Health are establishing a collaboration that will
prevent diabetes and improve its treatment in the Inner Mission.
|
|
4.
Changing Organizational Practices
|
Physical
Activity & Nutrition: The
inclusion of Body Mass Index (BMI) > 25 on the problem
list of patients' charts might improve communication between
providers and patients.
Nutrition: The San
Francisco Farm to School Report describes a project
that aims to bring locally grown fruits and vegetables into
school meals. |
|
3.
Educating Providers
|
This
website, see also the links to physical
activity and
to obesity.
|
|
2.
Promoting Community Education
|
Health
fairs and health events work on a small scale. Media advocacy
(which requires a newsworthy
story) reaches large numbers of people.
|
|
1.
Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills
|
DPH Nutritional
Services' Feeling Good Project offers multi-lingual classes
and educational materials. In addition, the Feeling Good
Project operates on all levels of this spectrum.
|
Here are some suggested
interventions from the Steps
to a HealthierUS Initiative.
| HHS
Recommendations, Steps to a HealthierUS |
San
Francisco Interventions or Resources |
| Alter
the food environment by making healthy food the easy, less expensive,
and desirable choice. |
|
| Increase
the availability of fruits and vegetables by adding salad bars,
fruits, and vegetables to school and worksite cafeterias, and by
adding fruit to refrigerated vending machines. |
|
| Improve
access to fruits and vegetables by encouraging the establishment
of community and worksite locations for produce stands and sales. |
|
| Encourage
schools and worksites to lower the price of fruits and vegetables
to help promote their purchase. |
|
| Implement
5 A-Day programs. |
|
| Conduct
community-wide media campaigns to promote healthy food choices. |
|
| Provide
“point-of-decision” prompts and supermarket displays to
encourage purchase of healthy food items. |
|
| Help
to establish social support for making healthy nutritional choices. |
|
| Provide
cooking demonstrations on how to prepare foods with less fat, fewer
calories, and of appropriate portion size. |
|
| Encouraging
restaurants to label heart-healthy menu items. |
|
| Implement
hospital and maternity care practices based on the ten steps to
successful breastfeeding. |
|
| Implement
social marketing and media campaigns with positive breastfeeding
campaigns. |
|
| Provide
breastfeeding information and services to create a supportive environment
for breastfeeding women in the workplace. |
|
| Also
see school health |
|
|
Poor
Diet
Overview
Contribution
to overall
disease
burden in SF
Downstream
(health consequences)
Upstream
causes
What can be done?
Web
resources
MEDLINE
strategies |
