Book Reviews

Worsley, Tony. (2008).

Nutrition Promotion. Theories and Methods, Systems

and Settings

CABI: Oxfordshire, UK, £35 (paperback), pp.434, ISBN 978-1-

84593-463-7

The author of this book is a Professor of Public Health

in Australia with vast experience in the evaluation of

public health nutrition programmes, and in the

promotion and maintenance of behaviour change.

His current research projects range from behavioural

and nutritional epidemiology to health and nutrition

promotion.

This comprehensive text is ideal for anyone new to

nutritional promotion or an additional resource for

those interested in this area of nutrition. The reader is

taken on a journey through nutrition promotion from

setting the scene with up to date, evidence based

theories and methods to providing realistic guidance to

nutrition promotion in practice in a range of different

settings, with different population groups as well as

considering nutritional promotion for the individual.

Although there is no specific reference to eating

disorders with the exception of obesity, some of the

themes, ways of working and general nutritional

information could be useful to consider when working

with the client group.

There is a logical sequence to the chapters as

highlighted above, however, each chapter could be read

in isolation and the author refers to relevant theory and

models already cited in previous chapters. Effective

interventions and critical appraisals of credible global

examples of nutrition promotion are always given to

back up the theory, making the information more

accessible to clinical practice. For example chapter 9

gives effective interventions and programmes for

children and adolescents alongside useful website

references. Theories drawn from throughout the book

are applied to children and young people, taking into

account their particular nutritional needs.

Along with working examples, lengthy yet thorough

chapters are made easier to digest with key documents

summarised in bullet points and text boxes. Theories

and models are illustrated in diagrams and flow charts.

Eur. Eat. Disorders Rev. 18 (2010) 67–69 � 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Ea

Consistent themes of intervention and evaluation are

raised in the latter chapters as the book becomes more

practical based.

Challenges and opportunities of nutritional pro-

motion are consistently referred to in relation to the

healthy population. In some cases I found myself

revising my own nutritional knowledge as well as

applying it to the patient with eating difficulties. Such

subjects included: the pros and cons of food labelling

and dietary guidelines, models of behaviour change,

factors affecting food choices and how we address this

to ensure normalised, healthy eating.

Chapter 5 discusses theories and dietary change at an

individual level, which could be of interest for the eating

disorder clinician or someone new to the concepts of

dietary change. It critically appraises as well as describes

determinants influencing eating behaviours. The com-

plex processes that effect dietary change are outlined

and provided inspiration to reflect on best clinical

practice to approach this.

My one criticism is that the British Dietetic

Association, as a lead source of nutrition information

in the UK, is not cited; both the Dietetic Associations in

Australia and the USA were referenced.

When working closely with eating disordered

patients it is easy to loose sight of the importance of

clear nutritional information and remember that

normal, healthy eating advice has changed little over

time. This book highlights clearly the importance of

not complicating the basics. Although I would not

necessarily recommend you read it cover to cover, this

is a good resource to refer to and whichever chapter you

choose will give a clear understanding of the role of

nutrition promoter and provide a comprehensive

overview of nutrition in that area, setting or population.

Claire Knight

Advanced Specialist Dietician in Child and

Adolescent Eating Disorders, Nottinghamshire

Healthcare Trust, Nottingham, UK

Published online in Wiley InterScience

(www.interscience.wiley.com)

DOI: 10.1002/erv.954

ting Disorders Association. 67