Dietary risk assessment of Discovery Health Medical Aid’s vitality members in South Afric

• Main Author: Till, Anne
• Other Authors: Du Plessis, L. M.
• Format: Others
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2014
• Subjects: Dissertations > Human nutrition; Theses > Human nutrition; Diet > South Africa > Evaluation; Discovery Health (South Africa); Health promotion > South Africa; UCTD
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/86308

Thesis ( Mnutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: The rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) is cause for concern. Improving dietary quality is a key health promotion strategy aimed at reducing NCD morbidity and mortality. Assessments that quantify “risky” dietary behaviours are worthwhile, and may help to identify high risk individuals, that would benefit from targeted interventions. Purpose: Discovery Vitality is a wellness incentive business associated with Discovery Health medical aid in South Africa. This study developed a Dietary Behaviour Score (DBSPHR) that measured degrees of compliance of Discovery Vitality members with the “spirit of dietary guidance”. It further categorized scores and identified members who may be at risk for developing NCDs due to poor dietary compliance. Methods: The DBSPHR included proportionally weighted components related to the consumption of fruit, vegetables, low fat dairy, whole-grain foods, lean meat, chicken and discretionary fat. The study population included adult South African members of Discovery Vitality, who had completed the programme’s on-line health risk assessment (PHR) between the 1st February 2010 and 31st January 2011. Stratified random sampling was used (n=1600). Half the sample included members who participated in Vitality’s HealthyFoodTM benefit (HFB) programme. The different Vitality Status groups were equally represented, and reflect degrees of engagement with the programme. Genders were equally represented. DBSPHR data were categorized as: Poor (Score 0-18), Inadequate (18.5-22.5), Fair (23-26), Good (26.5-29), Excellent (29.5-36). DBSPHR data was analyzed for variables: Vitality status, HFB participation, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), age and gender. The relationships between continuous response variables and nominal input variables were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). When ordinal response variables were compared versus a nominal input variable, non-parametric ANOVA methods were used. Further, the Mann-Whitney test or the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. A p-value of p < 0.05 was considered to represent statistical significance, and 95% confidence intervals were used to describe the estimation of unknown parameters. Results: Of the sample, 67.13% of members had DBSPHRs that were considered “poor” or “inadequate”. The mean DBSPHR of the sample was 20.47 points. Women achieved better DBSPHRs than men (p<0.01). Greater engagement with the Vitality programme was associated with better DBSPHRs (p<0.01). There was no significant difference between the mean DBSPHR of members participating in the HFB and Non-HFB members, however the HFB was not assessed as an intervention. Members with “risky” lifestyle behaviours such as; inactivity, smoking and consuming alcohol excessively, demonstrated lower DBSPHR than members without these risks. Obese members achieved significantly lower DBSPHRs than normal weight and overweight members (p<0.01). Conclusions: It is concerning that Discovery Vitality members did not perform better than the general global standard of inadequate compliance with the “spirit of dietary guidance”. Engagement with the Vitality programme seems to positively impact on dietary compliance. Members at an increased risk for NCD morbidity and mortality due to; aging, obesity, smoking, inactivity or non-compliance with alcohol consumption guidelines, demonstrated lower DBSPHRs compared to members without these risks. Targeted interventions aimed at addressing “risky” dietary and lifestyle behaviours may benefit these members. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Die styging in voorkoms van nie-oordraagbare siektes (NOS) is rede tot kommer. Verbetering van dieetkwaliteit is ‘n sleutel gesondheidsbevordering strategie gemik daarop om NOS morbiditeit en mortaliteit te verminder. Assesserings wat “riskante” dieetgedrag kwantifiseer is waardevol en mag help om hoë risiko individue te identifiseer wat sal baatvind by geteikende intervensies. Doel: Discovery Vitality is ‘n welwees motiveringsbesigheid wat geassosieer is met Discovery Health mediese fonds in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie het ‘n dieet-gedragstelling (“Dietary Behaviour Score - DBSPHR”) ontwikkel wat die graad van nakoming van Discovery Vitality lede gemeet het aan die “gees van leiding oor dieet”. Dit het verder tellings gekategoriseer en lede geïdentifiseer wat ‘n verhoogde risiko vir die ontwikkeling van NOS mag hê as gevolg van swak nakoming van dieet. Metodes: Die DBSPHR het proporsioneel geweegde komponente bevat, verwant aan die inname van vrugte en groente, laevet suiwelprodukte, volgraan voedsels, maer vleis, hoender en diskresionêre vet. Die studiepopulasie het volwasse Suid-Afrikaners ingesluit wat lede van die Discovery Vitality program was en wat die program se aanlyn gesondheidsrisiko assessering tussen 1 Februarie 2010 en 31 Januarie 2011 voltooi het. Gestratifiseerde, ewekansige steekproeftrekking was gebruik (n=1600). Helfte van die steekproef het lede ingesluit wat aan Vitality se HealthyFoodTM voordeel program deelgeneem het. Die verskillende Vitality Status groepe was gelyk verteenwoordig en reflekteer verskillende grade van interaksie met die program. Geslagte was gelyk verteenwoordig. DBSPHRs data was gekategoriseer as: Swak (Telling 0-18), Onvoldoende (18.5-22.5), Matig (23-26), Goed (26.5-29), Uitstekend (29.5-36). DBSPHR data was vir die volgende veranderlikes geanaliseer: Vitality status, deelname aan die HealthyFoodTM voordeel, rook, fisiese aktiwiteit, alkohol inname, liggaamsmassa indeks (LMI), ouderdom en geslag. Die verhouding tussen aaneenlopende reaksie veranderlikes en nominale inset veranderlikes was geanaliseer deur die gebruik van analise van variansies (ANOVA). Wanneer ordinale reaksie veranderlikes vergelyk was teenoor ‘n nominale inset variansie, was nie-parametriese ANOVA metodes gebruik. Verder was die Mann-Whitney toets of die Kruskal-Wallis toets gebruik. ‘n P-waarde van p < 0.05 was gesien as verteenwoordigend van statistiese beduidendheid en 95% sekerheidsintervalle was gebruik om die skatting van onbekende parameters te beskryf.Resultate: Van die studie monster het 67.13% van die lede DBSPHRs getoon wat gereken was as “swak” of “onvoldoende”. Die gemiddelde DBSPHR van die steekfproef was 20.47 punte. Vroue het beter DBSPHR as mans behaal (p<0.01). Meer interaksie met die Vitality program was geassosieer met beter DBSPHRs (p<0.01). Daar was geen beduidende verskille tussen die gemiddelde DBSPHR van lede wat aan die HealthyFoodTM voordeel program deelneem en die lede wat nie aan die program deelneem nie, alhoewel die HealthyFoodTM voordeel nie geëvalueer was as ‘n intervensie nie. Lede met “riskante” lewenstyl gedrag soos onaktiwiteit, rook en hewige alkoholinname het laer DBSPHR getoon as lede sonder hierdie risiko’s. Vetsugtige lede het laer DBSPHR behaal as normale gewig en oorgewig lede (p<0.01). Gevolgtrekking: Dit is ‘n bron van kommer dat Discovery Vitality lede nie beter vertoon het as wat blyk ‘n algemene globale standaard van gebrekkige nakoming van die “gees van leiding oor dieet” te wees nie. Interaksie met die Vitality program blyk ‘n positiewe impak te hê op dieet nakoming. Lede wat ‘n verhoogde risiko gehad het vir NOS morbiditeit en mortaliteit as gevolg van veroudering, vetsugtigheid, rook, onaktiwiteit of verontagsaming van alkohol inname riglyne het ook laer DBSPHRs getoon in vergelyking met lede sonder hierdie risiko’s. Geteikende intervensies gemik op die aanspreek van riskante dieet en lewenstyl gedrag mag tot voordeel van hierdie lede wees.