Constructions of nutrition for community dwelling people with chronic disease

The purpose of this paper is to explore the issue of nutrition as it relates to people who are living with chronic disease in the community. An examination of the health literature identifies the vulnerability of these people in relation to nutrition, and highlights the need for identifying and providing support to people who are at nutritional risk or undernourished. The aim of this study was to examine the meaning of nutrition for people living with chronic disease in the community, and to understand from the person's perspective the issues surrounding nutrition and how these issues are experienced. Data were generated with men and women learning to live with chronic conditions. Dialogue between participants and the researchers (first and second authors) were exchanged between 2003-2005 via email discussion groups. The findings of this paper reveal that an important aspect of providing support to people around nutrition issues is being overlooked. Participants contend that the biomedical approach with its emphasis on food intake and measurements, overlooks the person's unique historical and socio cultural meanings for food and eating. It is concluded that understanding these meanings are pivotal to creating a realistic and sustainable intervention plan that is meaningful and acceptable to the person.