Bridging Diet Related Attitudes and Behaviors to Reduce Heart Disease Risk

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To identify factors within attitudes toward dietary change as a tool in modifying behaviors in individuals with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Factors impacting an individual's decision to initiate diet-related changes to reduce heart disease risk are poorly understood. The purposes of this study were to identify (1) attitudes toward adoption of a low fat/cholesterol diet and (2) if nutrition counseling changed attitudes and dietary behaviors. Prior to individualized nutrition counseling, seventy-three adults between the ages of 35 and 65 years with total cholesterol levels >200mg/dl were surveyed regarding behaviors consistent with NCEP Step One Diet. Clients also completed a 31 item attitude inventory based on Rogers' Innovation-Decision Model to assess attitudes toward adoption of a low fat diet. Two months after counseling, participants were resurveyed. After counseling, participants held significantly more positive attitudes toward making appropriate dietary decisions. Attitudes were positively associated with adoption of a low fat diet, prior to and after individualized counseling. Confirmatory orthogonal factor analysis using generalized least squares provided the best predictive model of attitudes toward dietary change. The model revealed two factors, one related to difficulty adopting specific food behaviors and issues surrounding compatability of the diet with the individual's lifestyle. It appears that personal attitudes toward dietary change impact the decision to make dietary change and that counseling focusing on specific dietary changes result in positive behaviors reducing the risk for cardiovascular disease. It is apparent that assessment of individuals' attitudes toward making change is an important tool in effective nutrition counseling.