title: Food experiences and eating patterns of visually impaired and blind people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of visually impaired and blind Canadians will rise dramatically as our population ages, and yet little is known about the impact of blindness on the experience of food and eating. In this qualitative study, the food experiences and eating patterns of visually impaired and blind people were examined. Influencing factors were also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2000, nine blind or severely visually impaired subjects were recruited through blindness-related organizations in British Columbia. Participants completed individual semi-structured, in-depth interviews. These were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed to explicate participants' experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants experienced blindness-related obstacles when shopping for food, preparing food, and eating in restaurants. Inaccessible materials and environments left participants with a diet lacking in variety and limited access to physical activity. Seven participants were overweight or obese, a finding that may be related to limited physical activity and higher-than-average restaurant use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study in which the experience of food and eating is described from the perspective of visually impaired Canadians. Nutrition and blindness professionals must work together to reduce the food-related obstacles faced by visually impaired and blind people. Professionals must address both individual skill development and social and structural inequities.
authors.affiliation: Food, Nutrition & Health, Faculty of Land & Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Marie Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bilyk
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sontrop
authors.forename: Gwen E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mamer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001955:British Columbia; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012147:Restaurants; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*