Dietary Risk Assessment in the WIC Program

摘要

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, nutrition education, and health referral services to low-income pregnant or postpartum women, infants, and young children. As specified in the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the program is intended to 'serve as an adjunct to good health care, during critical times of growth and development; to prevent the occurrence of health problems, including drug abuse; and improve the health status of these persons' (Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (As Amended Through Public Law 106-224, June 20, 2000)). The program is based on the premise that low income predisposes women, infants, and children to poor nutritional status and adverse health outcomes. Part of establishing program eligibility requires the determination of nutritional risk. By identifying individuals with specific nutrition-related risks and providing food and services targeted at reducing these risks, the program seeks to improve overall health and birth outcomes. Dietary risk is only one of five categories of nutrition risk, but it is the basis for WIC eligibility for a large percentage of applicants. However, methods for identifying individuals who are at dietary risk have posed a long-standing problem for this program. This report seeks to evaluate the use of various dietary assessment tools and to make recommendations for their use in identifying individuals who are at dietary risk. It focuses on two types of dietary risk: failure to meet Dietary Guidelines and inadequate diet.