title: Changes in nutrient intake of hypertensives during a behavioral weight-control program.
abstract: To evaluate the nutritional adequacy of the diets selected by hypertensive patients participating in a behavioral weight-control program, 26 patients were asked to complete 3-day food records at the start and end of the 8-week program. These records were analyzed using the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Handbook 456 data base. Patients decreased their overall caloric intake by 39% during the course of the program and decreased consumption of all nutrients, but only calcium intake decreased to unacceptable levels. There was, however, a significant increase in the number of individuals consuming less than two thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for thiamin, niacin, calcium, and iron, and a significant increase in the number of patients who were deficient in three or more nutrients. Thus, although average intake in the behavioral weight-control program was adequate, there was a sizeable number of individuals who were consuming poor diets. Inadequate intake occurred primarily in patients eating less than 1000 calories a day. The simple behavior change of adding a cup of skim milk to the unstructured calorie-counting diet would help restore calcium, thiamin, and niacin to adequate levels.
mesh_terms: D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004602:Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004602:Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D002118:Calcium