Evaluating Nutrition Education in
Under-Resourced Communities

summary

The Noakes Foundation, in collaboration with Eat Better South Africa (EBSA), aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the EBSA program on the prevention and management of metabolic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in under-resourced communities.

The EBSA program is a dietary education initiative to empower people to improve their health by making the best dietary choices available to them. The program emphasises on reducing the consumption of sugar and highly refined carbohydrates and increasing the consumption of healthy fats, as a means of preventing and reversing NCDs such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular

Current Research Studies

Exploring the impact of the Eat Better South Africa Program on metabolic health markers in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A mixed-methods study (2022-current)

research

Ā This study involved the recruitment and enrollment of thirty patients who had previously been diagnosed with prediabetes at the DuNoon Community Health Centre. Anthropometric health assessments, measurements, blood tests, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week EBSA program, followed by a 12-month support period.

The study began with all participants undergoing an informed consent process and completing baseline questionnaires. Additionally, their baseline anthropometric measurements and metabolic health markers were assessed to establish a starting point for the study.

During the subsequent dietary intervention period, participants actively engaged in the EBSA program, which included five nutrition education sessions aimed to equip them with the essential knowledge and guidance for making healthy dietary choices. The focus of the dietary intervention sessions was on adopting a low-carbohydrate, high-healthy-fat (LCHF) diet. To gather further insights and feedback from the participants, in-depth interviews were conducted by an EBSA community coach/facilitator.

After the conclusion of the EBSA program, participants recently attended a testing visit where anthropometric and metabolic assessments were conducted. Additionally, a focused group discussion (FGD) was conducted to provide participants with an opportunity to share their experiences and discuss their thoughts on the program.

Furthermore, participants will be invited for subsequent testing visits at the six-month mark following the EBSA program, as well as at the one-year follow-up. These visits will also involve the metabolic and body composition assessments to monitor and track any changes over time, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the impact of the program throughout the study duration

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Ongoing Research Studies

Evaluating the implementation of a school feeding scheme and a nutritional education program on childhood stunting: A Pilot Study (2022-current)

Evaluating the implementation of a school feeding scheme and a nutritional education program on childhood stunting: A Pilot Study (2022-current)