Changes in vegetable and fruit consumption and awareness among US adults: Results of the 1991 and 1997 5 A Day for Better Health Program surveys
Section snippets
Design
Both the 5 A Day baseline and follow-up surveys were random digit dial (RDD) surveys, representative of the US adult population. The follow-up survey was designed to have 90% power to detect a difference between surveys in consumption of vegetables and fruit, including 100% juice (vegetable and fruit), of 0.25 servings per day.
Sample
The baseline survey (n=2,837) was conducted from Aug 10 to Sept 22, 1991, before the program launch. African-Americans and Latinos were oversampled (n=1,031) to provide
Results
Table 1 shows the distribution of the sample and of the population according to various demographics for 1991 and 1997. In the time between the two surveys, the proportion of whites in the population decreased slightly, while the proportion of Hispanics (includes Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Spanish background) increased. The proportion of smokers decreased from 28% to 21%. The proportion of those in lower income categories decreased, and those in the higher income category
Message Awareness
The percentage of respondents who were aware of the need to eat 5 or more daily servings of vegetables and fruit for good health was significantly higher in 1997 vs 1991. Whites, women, those more educated, and those in the older age groups showed the most awareness. These same general demographic groups also consumed more vegetables and fruit per day. These significant changes in awareness indicate that, through the first 6 years of the 5 A Day Program, the 5 A Day message has reached a large
Applications/Conclusions
■ In a media environment that is multilayered, with commercial and sometime contradictory messages about food and nutrition, the public's awareness of the simple, positive 5 A Day message was substantially higher in 1997 vs 1991, and could serve as a model for other nutrition and physical activity messages.
■ Nutrition counseling efforts specifically aimed at increasing vegetable and fruit consumption among targeted subgroups, particularly African-Americans, men, smokers, those less educated,
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