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Variables associated with fruit and vegetable intake in adolescents
Michelle L Granner1, Alexandra E Evans
1School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, USA. mgranner@unr.edu
American Journal of Health Behavior
|November 2, 2011
Summary
Family environment significantly influences adolescent fruit and vegetable intake. Key factors include food availability at home and family meal frequency, impacting healthy eating habits.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent nutrition
- Dietary behavior research
- Environmental influences on diet
Background:
- Understanding factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption in adolescents is crucial for public health.
- Adolescence is a critical period for establishing lifelong dietary patterns.
- Previous research has explored various influences, but a comprehensive assessment of individual, social, and family environmental factors is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate individual, social, and family environmental factors associated with fruit and vegetable intake.
- To examine these associations in white and black adolescents aged 11-15 years.
- To identify key determinants of healthy eating behaviors in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study design was employed.
- Data were collected using self-report questionnaires from 736 white and black adolescents.
- Statistical analyses examined associations between various environmental factors and fruit and vegetable intake.
Main Results:
- Significant associates of fruit and vegetable intake included preferences, home availability, family dinner frequency, snack choices, self-efficacy, modeling, normative beliefs, and social outcome expectations.
- Multivariate models revealed that these associations differed across intake categories.
- Food availability at home emerged as the most consistent associate, while fruit preference, availability, family dinner frequency, and self-efficacy were the strongest predictors.
Conclusions:
- The family environment plays a pivotal role in shaping adolescent fruit and vegetable intake.
- Interventions aimed at improving adolescent diets should consider family-based strategies.
- Enhancing food availability and promoting family meal frequency are promising avenues for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
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