The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reading level of patient education material from selected current health care journals. Ten patient education pages from a variety of health care journals were entered into a Microsoft Word program. Applying the Flesch-Kincaid readability formula available from Microsoft Word, a reading level for each page was established and compared to recommended standards. Only 2 of 10 patient education pages fell within the recommended reading levels for health-related materials, and 5 of 10 were above the estimated mean U.S. reading level of 8th grade. A 5th to 6th grade level is recommended for patient education materials. This study suggests that although it is known that low health literacy is a widespread problem, it is not always considered when patient-targeted materials are developed. Health care professionals need to become more active in addressing the literacy needs of the intended receiver of written health-related information.

Nutritional needs for peak athletic performance include sufficient calorie intake, adequate hydration, and attention to timing of meals. Student athletes and their advisors often are misinformed or have misconceptions about sports nutrition. This paper identifies nutritional needs of young athletes, reviews common misconceptions, and examines the nutrition knowledge of athletes and their sources of nutrition information. Topics covered include energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat and micronutrient needs, hydration requirements, timing of meals, and issues related to age, gender, and specific sports. Other issues addressed include "making weight" and ergogenic aids. Proper nutrition for young athletes is critical not only to their athletic success, but more importantly to their growth, development, and overall health. Nutritional recommendations should be based on the most current scientific data; we provide information about appropriate resources for the school nurse when advising student athletes and their coaches and parents.

Studies have examined food commercials appearing during daytime, prime time, and Saturday morning programming; none have evaluated commercials aired during soap operas. The purposes of this study were to examine the dietary composition of food products advertised during soap operas and the health and nutrition claims made on their behalf, using current dietary recommendations as a basis of evaluation. A total of 508 commercials videotaped during the top nine daytime serials for five consecutive days, were for food or beverage products. Most foods advertised were rated low in sugar, fat, sodium, and dietary fiber, and health and/or nutrition appeals occurred frequently. However, of the foods advertised as "low cholesterol," 77% were high in fat. Similarly, those foods advertised as low in saturated fat were high in total fat content. Forty-three percent of the food commercials promoting nutrition were for items such as flavored drinks with little nutrient value. Generally, the nutrition messages conveyed in these commercials supported current dietary recommendations, but the way in which the food products were promoted was often inconsistent and confusing, particularly in the area of fat. Nutrition educators need to address these inconsistencies when assisting consumers in interpreting television food advertising messages.

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