title: "Bread: it's a great way to go". Increasing bread consumption decreases laxative sales in an elderly community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the effects on laxative sales of two methods of promoting increased consumption of wholemeal/wholegrain bread by the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community intervention trials were carried out in two test communities and one control community on the mid-north coast of New South Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small retirement communities with a high proportion of the population aged over 55 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community organisation strategy (COS) involving the media, community activities and social marketing principles using the theme "Bread: It's a Great Way to Go" was compared with a patient education strategy (PES) through local doctors and a control community (CON).
  
  
  METHODS
  Wholemeal/wholegrain bread sales and laxative sales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 49% decrease in laxative sales corresponding to a 58% increase in sales of wholemeal/wholegrain bread in the COS community but no significant changes in either the PES or CON communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests a positive, cost effective approach for increasing fibre intake and improving gastrointestinal problems in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Behavioural Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Newcastle, NSW.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pares
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mowbray
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001939:Bread / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003248:Constipation / Q000517:prevention & control; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D004043:Dietary Fiber