The 5 A Day for Better Health Program was launched in 1991 by the National Cancer Institute and the Produce for Better Health Foundation as a national public/private partnership nutrition education campaign and research initiative to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in the U.S. The 1991 5 A Day Baseline Survey (n=2755) was conducted to capture fruit and vegetable consumption information and data on demographics and psychosocial factors at the start of the program. The 1997 Follow-up Survey (n=2545) was designed to characterize population-based trends in fruit and vegetable consumption and related awareness, attitudes, beliefs, and stages of change, in the six years following the national program's inception. Both surveys were random digit dial telephone surveys representative of the adult U.S. population, and used identical or improved questions. While unadjusted mean daily intake of total fruits and vegetables (without fried potatoes) increased from 3.75 servings in 1991 to 3.98 servings in 1997, when adjusted for demographics and related factors; this change did not reach significance. Linear regression was done on pooled 1991 and 1997 survey data to test for significant differences between the 1991 Baseline Survey and the 1997 Follow-up Survey. Preliminary results, controlling for demographic variables, show that a significant difference in total fruit and vegetable consumption between 1991 and 1997 can be attributed to a change in awareness of the 5 A Day message (8 to 20% awareness).
Learning Objectives: To identify population-based trends in fruit and vegetable consumption and related awareness
Keywords: Nutrition, Public Health Education and Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Cancer Institute
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment