scholarly journals Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables Among Individuals 15 Years and Older in 28 Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 149 (7) ◽  
pp. 1252-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M Frank ◽  
Jacqui Webster ◽  
Briar McKenzie ◽  
Pascal Geldsetzer ◽  
Jennifer Manne-Goehler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background The WHO recommends 400 g/d of fruits and vegetables (the equivalent of ∼5 servings/d) for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is limited evidence regarding individual-level correlates of meeting these recommendations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In order to target policies and interventions aimed at improving intake, global monitoring of fruit and vegetable consumption by socio-demographic subpopulations is required. Objectives The aims of this study were to 1) assess the proportion of individuals meeting the WHO recommendation and 2) evaluate socio-demographic predictors (age, sex, and educational attainment) of meeting the WHO recommendation. Methods Data were collected from 193,606 individuals aged ≥15 y in 28 LMICs between 2005 and 2016. The prevalence of meeting the WHO recommendation took into account the complex survey designs, and countries were weighted according to their World Bank population estimates in 2015. Poisson regression was used to estimate associations with socio-demographic characteristics. Results The proportion (95% CI) of individuals aged ≥15 y who met the WHO recommendation was 18.0% (16.6–19.4%). Mean intake of fruits was 1.15 (1.10–1.20) servings per day and for vegetables, 2.46 (2.40–2.51) servings/d. The proportion of individuals meeting the recommendation increased with increasing country gross domestic product (GDP) class (P < 0.0001) and with decreasing country FAO food price index (FPI; indicating greater stability of food prices; P < 0.0001). At the individual level, those with secondary education or greater were more likely to achieve the recommendation compared with individuals with no formal education: risk ratio (95% CI), 1.61 (1.24–2.09). Conclusions Over 80% of individuals aged ≥15 y living in these 28 LMICs consumed lower amounts of fruits and vegetables than recommended by the WHO. Policies to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in LMICs are urgently needed to address the observed inequities in intake and prevent NCDs.

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ai Koyanagi ◽  
Nicola Veronese ◽  
Marco Solmi ◽  
Hans Oh ◽  
Jae Il Shin ◽  
...  

Fruit and vegetable consumption may protect against sarcopenia but there are no studies on this topic from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Thus, we assessed this association among older adults from six LMICs. Community-based cross-sectional data of the Study on Global Aging and Adult Health were analyzed. Sarcopenia was defined as the presence of low skeletal muscle mass based on indirect population formula, and either slow gait or low handgrip strength. Quintiles of vegetable and fruit consumption were created based on the number of servings consumed on a typical day. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted. The sample consisted of 14,585 individuals aged ≥65 years (mean (SD) age 72.6 (11.4) years; 55% females). Adjusted analyses showed that overall, compared to the lowest quintile (Q1), the highest quintile (Q5) of fruit consumption was associated with a 40% lower odds for sarcopenia (OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.42−0.84) but this association was largely driven by the strong association among females (e.g., Q5 vs. Q1 OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.24−0.73), with no significant associations found among males. Vegetable consumption was not significantly associated with sarcopenia. Future studies of longitudinal design may shed light on whether increasing fruit consumption among older females in LMICs may reduce risk for sarcopenia.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lapuente ◽  
Estruch ◽  
Shahbaz ◽  
Casas

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are considered to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake have been recognized as a risk factor for almost all NCDs (type 2 diabetes mellitus, cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases). The main aim of this review is to examine the possible protective effect that fruit and vegetable consumption or their bioactive compounds may have on the development of NCDs such as atherosclerosis. The accumulated evidence on the protective effects of adequate consumption of fruits and vegetables in some cases, or the lack of evidence in others, are summarized in the present review. The main conclusion of this review is that well-designed, large-scale, long-term studies are needed to truly understand the role fruit and vegetable consumption or their bioactive compounds have in atherosclerosis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramani Wijesinha-Bettoni ◽  
Aya Orito ◽  
Marianne Löwik ◽  
Catherine McLean ◽  
Ellen Muehlhoff

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Joreintje Dingena Mackenbach

Abstract I reflect upon the potential reasons why American low-income households do not spend an optimal proportion of their food budgets on fruits and vegetables, even though this would allow them to meet the recommended levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. Other priorities than health, automatic decision-making processes and access to healthy foods play a role, but solutions for the persistent socio-economic inequalities in diet should be sought in the wider food system which promotes cheap, mass-produced foods. I argue that, ultimately, healthy eating is not a matter of prioritisation by individual households but by policymakers.


Author(s):  
Chris Bullen ◽  
Jessica McCormack ◽  
Amanda Calder ◽  
Varsha Parag ◽  
Kannan Subramaniam ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The global COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted healthcare worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where people may have limited access to affordable quality care, the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a particularly adverse impact on the health and healthcare of individuals with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). A World Health Organization survey found that disruption of delivery of healthcare for NCDs was more significant in LMICs than in high-income countries. However, the study did not elicit insights into the day-to-day impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare by front-line healthcare workers (FLHCWs). Aim: To gain insights directly from FLHCWs working in countries with a high NCD burden, and thereby identify opportunities to improve the provision of healthcare during the current pandemic and in future healthcare emergencies. Methods: We recruited selected frontline healthcare workers (general practitioners, pharmacists, and other medical specialists) from nine countries to complete an online survey (n = 1347). Survey questions focused on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on clinical practice and NCDs; barriers to clinical care during the pandemic; and innovative responses to the many challenges presented by the pandemic. Findings: The majority of FLHCWs responding to our survey reported that their care of patients had been impacted both adversely and positively by the public health measures imposed. Most FLHCs (95%) reported a deterioration in the mental health of their patients. Conclusions: Continuity of care for NCDs as part of pandemic preparedness is needed so that chronic conditions are not exacerbated by public health measures and the direct impacts of the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Irma Nuraeni ◽  
Hamam Hadi ◽  
Yhona Paratmanitya

ABSTRACT<br /><br />Background: Curently, Indonesia has double burden problems nutrition, such as malnutrition and over nutrition. Overnutrition or obesity are not just happening in adults only, but also can occur in childhood. If the problem of obesity in children and adolescents cannot be resolved, it can be infl uenced obese in adulthood then potentially to have noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Prevalence of obesity in<br />children at Yogyakarta Province increases year by year (1;2). Obesity was caused by an imbalance in energy intake and<br />energy expenditure. Children tend to consume high energy-dense, sweet  taste meal, high fat foods and less dietary fiber from fruits and vegetables. Several studies showed that there was increasing in risk of obesity from someone who have less consumption of fruits and vegetables.<br /><br />Objective:<br />To determine differences in frequency and amount of fruit and vegetable consumption in elementary school children obese and non-obese at Yogyakarta Municipality and  District of Bantul and to find out the risk of obesity in children who have less consumption of fruits and vegetables. <br /><br />Methods:<br />The study design was a case-control, 244 samples as cases (obese children) and 244 controls (non-obesechildren). The subject of this study was children aged 6-12 years who were seated in class 1 to class 5 elementary schools at Yogyakarta Municipality and District of Bantul. Identity data obtained from a structured questionnaire respondent, frequency and amount of fruit and vegetable consumption were taken from Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questioner(SQFFQ).Then the results analyzed using statistical test.<br /><br />Results: <br />Statistical test showed that there were significant differences (p&lt;0,05) in the frequency and number of fruit and vegetable consumption in obese and non-obese elementary school children at Yogyakarta Municipality and District of Bantul. Multivariate analysis after controlled by gender and energy intake, showed that obese  children who rarely consuming fruits (&lt;7 times/week) (OR=2,24, 95%CI: 1.53-3.28), rarely consuming vegetables (&lt;7 times/week) (OR=2,52, 95%CI: 1,70-3,73), and consuming fruits and vegetables less than 5 servings/day (equivalent to 400 g/day) (OR= 4,59, 95%CI:2,11-10,00) were greater risk for being obesity.<br /><br />Conclusion:<br />Obese children had rarely and less consume of fruits and vegetables than that did in non-obese children at Yogyakarta Municipality and District of Bantul. The children rarely and less consuming fruits and vegetables increased the risk of obesity.<br /><br />KEYWORDS: children obesity, vegetable, fruit<br /><br />ABSTRAK<br /><br />Latar Belakang: Indonesia saat ini mengalami masalah gizi ganda, yaitu masalah gizi kurang dan gizi lebih. Kelebihan  gizi atau obesitas pada anak dan remaja apabila tidak diatasi maka berdampak menjadi obesitas pada masa dewasa yang berpotensi mengalami penyakit tidak menular, seperti jantung, hipertensi dan diabetes mellitus. Prevalensi obesitas pada anak di Provinsi Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta mengalami peningkatan dari tahun ke tahun (1; 2). Obesitas disebabkan ketidakseimbangan antara masukan dengan keluaran energi. Anak cenderung mengkonsumsi padat energi yang berasa manis dan berlemak tinggi serta makanan kurang serat dari buah dan sayur. Beberapa penelitian menunjukkan peningkatan risiko obesitas pada orang yang kurang konsumsi buah dan sayur.<br /><br />Tujuan: Untuk mengetahui perbedaan frekuensi dan jumlah konsumsi buah dan sayur pada anak SD obes dan tidak obes di Kota Yogyakarta dan Kabupaten Bantul serta peran konsumsi buah dan sayur terhadap kejadian obesitas. <br /><br />Metode: Rancangan penelitian ini adalah case-control, 244 kasus (anak obes) dan 244 kontrol (anak tidak obes). Subjek penelitian adalah anak usia 6-12 tahun yang duduk di kelas 1 hingga kelas 5 sekolah dasar di Kota Yogyakarta dan di Kabupaten Bantul. Data identitas diperoleh dari kuesioner terstruktur, sedangkan data frekuensi dan jumlah konsumsi buah dan sayur diperoleh dari semikuantitatif FFQ. Hasilnya kemudian dianalisis menggunakan uji statistik.<br /><br />Hasil: Pada anak SD obes dan tidak obes di Kota Yogyakarta dan Kabupaten Bantul terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan(p&lt;0,05) dalam frekuensi dan jumlah konsumsi buah dan sayur. Hasil analisis multivariat setelah dikontrol dengan jenis kelamin dan asupan energi menunjukkan bahwa anak SD obes yang mengkonsumsi buah jarang (&lt; 7 kali/minggu) (OR=2,24, 95%CI:1,53-3,28), frekuensi konsumsi sayur jarang (&lt;7 kali/minggu) (OR=2,52, 95%CI: 1,70-3,73), jumlah konsumsi buah dan sayur kurang dari 5 porsi/hari atau setara dengan 400 gr/hari (OR=4,59, 95%CI: 2,11-10,00) berisiko lebih besar untuk terjadinya obesitas. <br /><br />Kesimpulan: Anak SD yang obes lebih jarang dan lebih sedikit mengkonsumsi buah dan sayur dibandingkan dengan anak SD yang tidak obes di Kota Yogyakarta dan Kabupaten Bantul. Anak yang jarang dan sedikit mengkonsumsi buah dan sayur dapat meningkatkan risiko terjadinya obesitas.<br /><br />KATA KUNCI: obesitas anak, sayur, buah


Global Heart ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael M. Engelgau ◽  
Joshua P. Rosenthal ◽  
Bradley J. Newsome ◽  
LeShawndra Price ◽  
Deshiree Belis ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document