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Biomedical subjects

E S Weigley

Publications and source records attributed to E S Weigley.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Average? Ideal? Desirable? A brief overview of height-weight tables in the United States.

Insurance companies have dominated the development of height-weight tables. Initially, tables indicated average weights for insurees, revealing weight gains with increasing age. While pneumonia and tuberculosis were leading causes of death, underweight was considered undesirable because it was associated with those conditions. Extra weight was then thought to represent a reserve that could be drawn upon in time of illness. As those diseases were brought under control, the risk factors in overweight received increased attention. Since the 1940s, tables have been developed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for "ideal" and "desirable" weights, defined as weights associated with the lowest mortality rate. Body frame size, although poorly defined, was factored into the tables. The data base and philosophy of the tables have been questioned by some researchers. Recently, Metropolitan issued 1983 height and weight tables based on life insurance statistics. Weights for height are slightly higher than in the previous (1959) tables. Although stated weights are those associated with the lowest mortality, they are not labeled "ideal" or "desirable". A method for determining body frame size through measurements of elbow breadth is presented. Health care providers should be aware of the latest revisions of these widely used tables, their philosophy, and data source to ensure most suitable use.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1983

Nutrition and the older primigravida.

The numbers of older primigravidas, women pregnant for the first time at age 35 or later, are increasing. The main potential complication of such pregnancies is an increased incidence of pre-gravid essential hypertension. Published materials on hypertension in pregnancy emphasize control by antihypertensive drugs. Dietary recommendations for the hypertensive pregnant woman are identical with those for the normotensive gravida. A higher incidence of overweight at the time of conception might be predicted among older women. Because weight control reduces both blood pressure and obstetrical risk, there are implications for preventive nutrition counseling among nonpregnant women of childbearing years. Declining metabolic rate with age may dictate a slightly decreased caloric need among older primigravidas. Dietitians, nurses, nutritionists, physicians, and other members of the health care team should be aware of the societal trend toward postponed childbearing. Weight control and monitoring of the blood pressure of nonpregnant women of childbearing years might be emphasized as preventive measures to reduce possible complications when and if the women become pregnant. Such information might be incorporated into health screening, fitness, nutrition education, or weight control programs or be provided as part of a care plan following nutritional assessment. Support groups for women might include such information in their programs. Special nutritional needs of the older primipara should be considered by dietitians, nutritionists, nurses, nurse-midwives, obstetricians, and other health care personnel.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Sarah Tyson Rorer: first American dietitian?

Sarah Tyson Rorer has been called the first American dietitian. Relatively little is known about her, and some things that have been published are inaccurate. Mrs. Rorer taught both lay and professional people through all the media available in her day. Her many pioneering activities in the late nineteenth century in the area of therapeutic nutrition do seem to give her a good claim to the title of "First American Dietitian."

Authorship↗
PubMed1979

Professionalization and the dietitian.

Professionalization as a process is reviewed and characteristics an occupation acquires as it becomes professionalized are outlined. Those attributes include founding a professional association with membership requirements to exclude the unqualified; control of education and admission to the profession by current members, frequently working through the professional organization; possible licensure or certification as a prerequisite to practice; a name change to provide enhanced status or prestige; and elaboration of an altruistic, service-oriented code of ethics. Relevant developments in dietetics and the history of The American Dietetic Association are then compared with this model. Advances have been and continue to be made in the above areas as the professionalization of dietetics and the dietitian progresses.

Accreditation↗
PubMed1975

The pregnant adolescent. A review of nutritional research and programs.

Avialable nutritional research on pregnant adolescents shows that suboptimal food intake is common. Multiple social, psychologic, and economic problems may mitigate against attainment of adequate nutritional status. Use of supplements will raise the level of some nutrients, but in reported studies, their use by girls was erratic, and routine use is not favored by many practitioners. Results of nutritional counseling are mixed. Multidisciplinary programs, usually providing comprehensive prenatal care while enabling girls to continue their education, have been instituted in many areas, reflecting a changed attiude of school officials toward the pregnant adolescent. Most of these programs include the nutrition classes, counseling, or services valuable to mother and child; however, they do not reach all pregnant adolescents and are not a panacea guaranteeing adequate nutrition for them. More research and a national policy to provide optimal nutrition for all pregnant women, including the adolescent, are needed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changing patterns in offering solids to infants.

Factors influencing changing patterns in introducing nonmilk foods (beikost) to infants are reviewed. Currently, developmental readiness based on individual needs is favored. Caregivers may receive conflicting advice from women who cared for infants when very early introduction of beikost was widely practiced.

Breast Feeding↗