Effectiveness of a Voluntary Nutrition Education Workshop in a State Prison

Improved nutrition has implications for both prisoners and the penal system. This study evaluated a pilot intervention to improve nutrition in prisoners. Residents of a correctional substance abuse program (SAP) completed a health risk appraisal (HRA) upon entering the SAP and at completion. Nineteen participants in a pilot nutrition workshop were matched with 37 nonparticipant controls. Analysis of changes in HRA responses relating to nutrition, general health, and social ties found that a significantly greater proportion of participants than controls reported improved nutrition practices (23.5% vs.3.2%, p =.047). Participants were 4 times more likely to report improved general health than controls (52.6% vs.13.9%, p =.002). A smaller proportion of participants than controls reported improved social ties (10.5% vs. 30.6%, p =.18). This study suggests that inmate participants and the penal system may benefit from nutrition workshops. Further investigation should involve a larger study population.