The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #58479

Steven E. Shive, PhD, Health & Community Services, California State University, Chico, 607 Buttle Hall, 400 First Street, Chico, CA 95920-050, (530)898-6018, sshive@csuchico.edu and Michelle Neyman, PhD, RD, Department of Biology, California State University, 400 W. First St., Chico, CA 95926.

This study examined fruit intake among 400 community college students. Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with fruit intake were determined. The attitudes which are potential predictors of daily fruit intake were also examined. Analysis showed that 33% ate fewer than the minimum recommended two daily servings of fruit. Students reported that fruit gave them energy, taste and cost were not barriers to consumption and that it would not be difficult to increase daily fruit consumption. A linear regression analysis revealed that beliefs that eating fruit leads to good health, having a habit of eating fruit, feeling energy, and weight loss accounted for 30% of the variance in fruit intake. Further, a social marketing showed a significant difference in fruit intake from pre to post test at the intervention site, but there was no significant increase in fruit intake at the control site from pre to post test.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to list the key predictors of fruit intake for women in a community college.
• Participants will be able to describe the barriers to fruit intake among community college women.
• Participants will be able to describe the attitudes of women toward increased fruit consumption.
• Participants will be able to explain the major components of a community based social marketing campaign for increasing fruit consumption at a community college.

Keywords: Cancer Prevention, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.