scholarly journals Psychosocial Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Japanese Adolescents: A School-Based Study in Japan

Author(s):  
Yoshiko Sato ◽  
Masamitsu Miyanaga ◽  
Da-Hong Wang

A few studies in Japan have demonstrated positive attitudes, self-efficacy, social support, and perceived barrier were associated with fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in adults; however, limited evidence addresses the association of psychosocial factors with F&V intake in adolescents. A cross-sectional study through a questionnaire survey was conducted at junior and senior high schools, and 933 students completed the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by X2 test and Student t-test. The findings demonstrated 2.7% of participants were aware of the current recommendations for vegetable and 2.0% for fruit. Only 4% and 8.1% of participants reported they consumed recommended amount of vegetables and fruits. In comparison with males, females showed higher scores of attitude (p < 0.01), responsibility (p < 0.01), and social support (p < 0.01). The barriers to vegetable intake were “I’m eating enough now”, “not always available when eating away from home”; the barriers to fruit intake were “don’t have a habit of having 100% juice or fruit in the morning”, and “cost too much”. The findings suggest the change of adolescents’ knowledge about what they should eat is needed in boosting F&V consumption. The development of an intervention program for adolescents needs to target socio-environmental factors such as family support, and nutritional education for early healthy habit formation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa R. Englund ◽  
Valisa E. Hedrick ◽  
Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño ◽  
Lauren E. Kennedy ◽  
Kathryn W. Hosig ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In 2015, the Partnership for a Healthier America launched the branded Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign to apply a unique industry-inspired marketing approach to promote fruit and vegetable sales and intake to moms and teens in two US pilot markets: Fresno, California and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to: 1) assess brand awareness and fruit- and vegetable-related outcomes among FNV Campaign target audiences in the California and Virginia market locations; and 2) examine whether reported awareness of the FNV Campaign was associated with differences in fruit- and vegetable-related cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using an online survey administered to a non-probability convenience sample (n = 1604; February–July 2017) of youth aged 14–20 years (n = 744) and moms aged 21–36 years (n = 860) in the two pilot markets. Descriptive statistics were computed and outcomes compared between unaware and aware respondents, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to assess whether fruit- and vegetable-related attitude, belief, and encouragement outcomes differed by FNV Campaign awareness; logistic regression was used to examine associations between FNV brand awareness and dichotomous variables (fruit- and vegetable-related behavioral intentions, trying new fruits and vegetables); and ANCOVA was used to assess associations with daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency. Results Approximately 20% (n = 315/1604) of respondents reported awareness of the FNV Campaign. Youth that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 167, 22.4%) had higher intentions to buy (p = 0.003) and eat (p = 0.009) fruits and vegetables than unaware respondents. Mothers that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 148, 17.2%) reported greater encouragement for friends and family to eat fruits and vegetables (p = 0.013) and were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report trying a new fruit or vegetable (p = 0.04) than mothers unaware of the Campaign. Daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency did not differ by Campaign awareness. Conclusions FNV Campaign awareness was associated with limited but positive short- and intermediate-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among target audience respondents. These findings can inform future research to enhance understanding and improve the FNV Campaign as it is expanded to new markets nationwide.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Regina Galego ◽  
Gisele Liliam D'avila ◽  
Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and analyze the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed food intake, socioeconomic, and biological data of 2,836 schoolchildren. The Chi-square test analyzed the dependent (fruit and vegetable intake) and independent variables; the latter with p-value <0.20 were selected for logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was p<0.05. Results: Only 4.8% of the sample had adequate fruit and vegetable intake. The variables associated with adequate fruit and vegetable intake were school ownership status (private versus public), mother's education level, and family income per member. After adjustment only family income per capita remained associated with fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, is inadequate.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Seguin ◽  
Anju Aggarwal ◽  
Francoise Vermeylen ◽  
Adam Drewnowski

Introduction. Consumption of foods prepared away from home (FAFH) has grown steadily since the 1970s. We examined the relationship between FAFH and body mass index (BMI) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.Methods. Frequency of FAFH, daily FV intake, height and weight, and sociodemographic data were collected using a telephone survey in 2008-2009. Participants included a representative sample of 2,001 adult men and women (mean age54±15years) residing in King County, WA, with an analytical sample of 1,570. Frequency of FAFH was categorized as 0-1, 2–4, or 5+ times per week. BMI was calculated from self-reported height and weight. We examined the relationship between FAFH with FV consumption and BMI using multivariate models.Results. Higher frequency of FAFH was associated with higher BMI, after adjusting for age, income, education, race, smoking, marital status, and physical activity (women:p=0.001; men:p=0.003). There was a negative association between frequency of FAFH and FV consumption. FAFH frequency was significantly (p<0.001) higher among males than females (43.1% versus 54.0% eating out 0-1 meal per week, resp.). Females reported eating significantly (p<0.001) more FV than males.Conclusion. Among adults, higher frequency of FAFH was related to higher BMI and less FV consumption.


BMJ Open ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e006200-e006200 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chum ◽  
E. Farrell ◽  
T. Vaivada ◽  
A. Labetski ◽  
A. Bohnert ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Da-Hong Wang ◽  
Michiko Kogashiwa ◽  
Naoko Mori ◽  
Shikibu Yamashita ◽  
Wakako Fujii ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Thhis study aimed to investigate the reason why people choose to consume less vegetable and fruit through examining how the stage of change and psycho-social parameters relate to vegetable and fruit intake. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 4 regions of Japan in which 2308 individuals (1012 men and 1296 women) aged 18 years or older who completed the questionnaires were included in the study. RESULTS: The results showed 56% of the participants were in the precontemplation stage (not thinking about consuming recommended amount of fruit and vegetable) and their average amounts of vegetable and fruit intake were far below the level of current recommendations, and subjects in the precontemplation stage showed lower scores of attitude and self efficacy. Men were more likely to be in precontemplation (67.7%) and less likely to be in action/maintenance stage (7.9%) than women (46.9%, 12.1%, respectively) (p &lt; 0.001). We also observed the scores of attitude (p = 0.06) and self-efficacy (p &lt; 0.01) rose as the stage went up from the precontemplation to action/maintenance for increasing vegetable and fruit intake. Moreover, a linear trend was found toward higher vegetable (p &lt; 0.05) and fruit (p = 0.121) intake from precontemplation to action/maintenance stage. CONCLUSION: The present evidence suggests more attention should be focused on strategy for perceptions of personal need for recommended amount of vegetable and fruit intake for those who are in the precontemplation stage. Moreover, effective programs on enhancement of self-efficacy and attitude toward vegetable and fruit consumption are needed for increasing the vegetable and fruit intake.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Vaidya ◽  
N Oli ◽  
UR Aryal ◽  
DB Karki ◽  
A Krettek

Background: Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake and other adverse dietary habits – along with tobacco and alcoholabuse and sub-optimal physical activity - make up the four most important behavioural risk factors of non-communicablediseases. Low fruit and vegetable intake is particularly associated with burden of high cardiovascular disease. It hasreceived more attention in the last decade, with studies that explore disparities and determinants in their intake, as wellas interventions that attempt to improve the intake.Objectives: Our study aimed to determine fruit and vegetable consumption in a peri-urban community of Nepal and tocompare this intake in relation to various socio-demographic variables.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the HARDIC (Heart-Health Associated Research andDissemination in the Community) study in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site in the Bhaktapurdistrict of Nepal during September-December 2011. Adults from six randomly selected clusters were interviewed by 12trained interviewers after taking informed consent. WHO-STEPS questions were used to elicit information on fruit andvegetable intake.Results: Fruit and vegetable intake in the community was low with 2.1 percent of the study population consumingthe WHO-recommended fi ve servings per day. There were differences in the intake according to the various sociodemographicfactors.Conclusions: Our study reaffi rms low fruit and vegetable intake as a public health problem in the Nepalese context.Health-promotional activities aimed at specifi c target groups are essential. Multi-sectoral coordination of health andother health-related sectors is therefore vital in addressing the issue.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i1.10512Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 2, No. 1, Issue 3, Jan.-Mar., 2013, Page: 3-11


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto L. Aguilera ◽  
Christine P. Stewart ◽  
Adela de la Torre ◽  
Lucia L. Kaiser

Background and purpose: Studies in adults and children have demonstrated a strong correlation of skin carotenoids with fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake. There are few studies testing the usefulness of this methodology in a community setting. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of resonance Raman spectroscopy (RRS) skin carotenoid intensity scores in young children to assess F/V intake.Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to capture the RRS skin carotenoid intensity scores using the Pharmanex BioPhotonic Scanner. The RRS skin carotenoid intensity score ranges from 0 to 70,000+ with increasing scores indicating a higher carotenoid concentration. Children’s dietary intake of F/V was assessed within one-month period using a 26-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and multiple pass 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs) administered to the parent of the child. Participants were 51 Mexican-origin children (ages 3-8 years) living in two rural California school districts during July-August 2014. RRS skin carotenoid intensity scores; frequency of fruit and vegetable intake from FFQ; daily servings of fruit and vegetables and carotenoid intake from 24HDR. Spearman correlation was used to determine the correlation between RRS skin carotenoid intensity scores and average 24HDR F/V intake and FFQ F/V intake.Results: The results of the study demonstrate a significant positive correlation between skin carotenoid levels and parent-reported 24HDR vegetable consumption (r = .41, p = .003) but not with 24HDR fruit, FFQ fruit, or FFQ vegetable consumption.Conclusion: The use of skin carotenoid measurements may be more indicative of short-term vegetable consumption than overall fruit and vegetable or fruit-only consumption in this population of Mexican-origin children.


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