The number of nutrition-related websites seems infinite. Unfortunately, determining the credibility of these websites is a challenge. Fortunately, there are criteria that you can use to evaluate the credibility of a website. In this module we begin to develop and refine those skills. During Week 3, you will search the internet and choose a website for review that is designed to increase your understanding and appreciation for a nutrition-related health concern (for example, diabetes, high cholesterol, irritable bowel, etc.). Submit your website review by the end of Week 3. During week 4, read your classmates website reviews posted during Week 3. Respond to and critique at least four of your classmates reviews and the responses added by your classmates. Remember that each review was carefully prepared and that all your comments should be well-written and thoughtful. Give your opinion courteously and back it up with references. Check out these criteria for evaluating websites and follow the format given below: Scientific journals contain articles that have been reviewed by the authors qualified peers to ensure reliability. Articles in news publications often are not as reliable. The same holds true for articles or books from the popular press, which may present a particular authors point of view, which may not be valid or defensible. It is important to read information with a critical eye! Websites should be approached critically as well. If you were to receive a health newsletter in the mail you would probably ask yourself a few questions before trusting its content and applying what you read to your lifestyle. For example, you would probably look differently at a newsletter from a prestigious medical college than one from a nutrition supplement outlet. Its equally important to check the credibility and credentials of websites. When browsing the Internet for this website review activity, as part of your research on your final project, or for your own information, you should answer these questions in order to critique websites: Site Address: ChooseMyPlate ChooseMyPlate.gov is a government supported website designed to promote and inform consumers about the newly adapted changes to MyPyramid. It is produced by the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. It provides resources sites related to: This site is clearly designed for the consumer as well as the professional. It provides easy availability of an amazing number of scientific databases on human nutrition, nutritional needs and disease prevention information. In addition, it has a personalized nutrition trackers used to assess food intake and a physical activity trackers to determine Physical Activity status. The hundreds (if not thousands) of scientific studies as well as the individualized resources are available at the click of a mouse! Oh, how could I forget to mention the posters and other graphics that can be downloaded for education purposes. Since it is a product of the government, there are not any duplication or copyright issues!! A true wealth of information and resources!! This website is displayed as part of the USDA website. There is a direct link to ChooseMyPlate on the USDA home page. ChooseMyPlate was released in January 2011. Since then, numerous nutrition articles and websites, which previously listed My Pyramid as a resource now reference ChooseMyPlate . This web page seems designed for consumers, professionals (dietitians, teachers, doctors, nurses, etc.) and the media. The last date noted on the Choose MyPlate site was 3/14/2012. I have found this to be a very useful resource! MyPyramid has always been confusing to me but this seems to answer many of my existing questions! I really liked being able to put my personal information into the tracker to find out exactly HOW MANY calories I should be consuming and how much food it makes up! I truly did not understand the old MyPyramid. It was far too confusing and I never knew what a serving was. Personally, a serving of pasta for me was about 3 cups! The development of MyPlate has taken much of the guesswork out of controlling my calories! Make a general observation about the review: For example, Judging from the website, the data to support the new ChooseMyPlate seems to follow many recommendations from organizations such as the American Dietetic Association, the American Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control. Each of these organizations make up a reputable portion of the nutritional studies conducted on a very regular basis! The supportive data for this site appears to be well regulated, objective and held to high ethical standards (as stated by the USDA). Ask a question of the reviewer or comment on what they have written: For example, Did you put in a variety of activity amounts to see if different caloric recommendations were suggested? Make your own observations: For example, I reviewed a portion of the Dietary Guidelines document. First of all, I did not realized there was an 112 page document providing very specific guidelines for the nutritional needs of Americans! I found the information pertaining to recommended types of fat and their health benefits. Not only did it list the types of foods rich in these fats, it also listed the amount I should be striving for on a weekly basis. Speculate and give your opinion: For example, I liked the site, but would have like to have links for sites other than government based sites. It seems the government stands alone in their Additional Links listing. A broader list of affiliate websites would have provided more of an unbiased approach to their overall nutrition message. Please post your review by the end of week 3, and . POST #1 NEEDING REPLY: This site was founded by the http://www.rwjf.org/ This sites purpose is to make people more aware about childhood obesity. The Alliance which was founded by the American Heart Association, started looking at the childhood obesity rates in schools first. The Healthy Schools Program was created in 2006 and launched in 231 schools in 13 states. It is used to prevent childhood obesity and maintain healthier foods throughout schools. They didnt just stop there; they also went to companies that influence foods students eat and drink. For example, there has been a 90% reduction in beverage calories shipped to school during the 2004-2010 school years. The Alliance also turned to healthcare systems. I wanted to research childhood obesity, so I typed Childhood obesity in google and this is one of the websites that came up. This website is designed for healthcare workers, medical assistants, doctors and the ordinary person who wants to support the fight against childhood obesity. The last news event that was posted on this website was September 30th, 2016. can use this site. From my understanding this site is very easy to understand, the information given isnt too complex for anyone to comprehend. It also provides a chart, which is easy to understand POST # 3 NEEDING REPLY: The website was developed by Erik Fantasia and Igor Lebovic in 2003. The two are aerospace engineers. The website was bought in 2006 by About.com which is a subsidiary of The New York Times. The website is a free online interactive resource for people, enthusiasts and experts, to discuss dietary and physical goals. Its objective is to create an open forum for its community. The website offers various free resources. Once a client signs up for an account they can keep track of their daily intakes, workout regiments, get feedback and use a feature called Calorie Count that offers the nutritional facts of over 250,000 food items. It has a membership of 4,000,000 and also allows them to document their improvement in their personal account and blog any questions or success they have through an open blog forum. I found the site through Google. I searched for top ten nutritional websites. The website is an affiliate of About.com and has been publicized in morning news shows. There is an app for Calorie Count which is useful for portable devices when making food decisions on the go. The app is free and can be easily found in a search. The target audience is the nutritional community at large, as well as people looking to make dietary changes and seeking information about food products. Although, I did notice on their home page a press clipping that it appeared on Working Mother. The website was launched in 2003 by Erik Fantasia and Igor Lebovic, and then in 2006 was purchased by About.com, as mentioned earlier. I couldnt find when the website was last updated. I checked in several areas on the website with no luck, it was a little disconcerting. The pros would have to be the available resources they offer such as coaching, being able to set up daily routines setting up goals and being able to communicate with experts or people in the online community. As far as cons go, after reading the privacy policy the website disclaims that any experts or professionals are participants and are not verified or researched by them, which is strange. Another con is that it is owned by About.com and they have let marketers watch what people are searching and will give them suggestions regarding purchases, in other words pop-up ads. In my opinion the website does have its downside, but is no different than social media sites and millions maybe more are on them. If I were looking to make a change in my diet, I would give Calorie Count a try.
