The Relationship between Physical Activity and DASH Diet Adherence

<p>Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been shown to be effective in adolescents as a non-pharmacological treatment for elevated blood pressure. Other factors that influence adoption and adherence of the DASH diet are not yet fully understood. </p><p>Objective: To determine the relationship between physical activity and diet adherence in hypertensive adolescents receiving DASH education by evaluating the DASH Score, DASH Component Scores, and minutes of physical activity per week.</p><p>Methods: Seventy six adolescents between 11-18 years with diagnosis of prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension received initial counseling by a registered dietitian on the DASH diet. Dietary intake was assessed through three 24-hour recalls and physical activity data through a 7-day recall, both at baseline and after 6 months. DASH diet adherence was determined by computing a DASH score (0-80) based on the participants’ intakes of each DASH component.</p><p>Results: In characterizing their physical activity levels at the 6 month assessment, 52 participants did not meet national physical activity standards compared to 24 that met or exceeded these recommendations. Adolescents that met or exceeded the recommendations tended to have a higher average overall DASH score (44.09 vs. 40.22, p=0.09). The component scores with the strongest correlations to physical activity were vegetables (beta=0.264, p=0.023), total dairy (beta=0.305, p=0.006), and low-fat dairy (beta=0.208, p=0.021). Physical activity tended to be negatively associated with oils (beta=-0.199, p=0.092) although the trends did not reach statistical significance.</p><p>Conclusions: Participants who were more physically active tended to have higher total DASH scores, representing better diet adherence, than those participants with lower levels of physical activity.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Allied Health Sciences: Nutrition

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Van Oss, Jennifer

Contributors dc:contributor

• Peairs, Abigail

• Nutrition
• DASH Diet
• Physical Activity
• Adolescents

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1353342272

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1353342272