Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption through worksites and families in the treatwell 5-a-day study.

Abstract

Diet has been estimated to contribute to approximately 35% of all cancer incidence.'-4 Consistent evidence points to the protective role played by consumption of fruits and vegetables in a large number of epithelial cancers.57 In more than 200 case-control or cohort studies, persons consuming higher amounts of vegetables and fruits or having higher blood levels of carotenoid were less prone to develop various cancers.7 Recent evidence indicates that only 20% to 30% ofAmericans meet recommendations to consume 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.8'4In response to this discrepancy, the National Cancer Institute launched its 5-aDay for Better Health campaign.15"6 This initiative included 9 research studies targeting both adults and children in a range of settings, one being the worksite. The present study reports the results of the Treatwell 5-aDay study, 1 of 3 worksite-based nutrition intervention studies included in the 5-a-Day for Better Health campaign. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a worksite-based nutrition intervention involving families in promoting increased con- Worksites are an increasingly common channel for promoting healthy eating behavior change in large segments of the population.22 Nationally, the proportion of worksites offering nutrition education as part of health promotion programs increased from 17% in 198523 to 32% in 1992.24 However, very few randomized studies have reported the effectiveness of worksite-based nutrition education programs. A recent review reported that only 4 randomized studies assessing the effects of worksite nutrition education programs have been published since 1980, and in only 1 of these studies25 was the worksite the unit of analysis.26 Using the worksite as the unit of analysis is necessary in worksite-based interventions that take advantage of the worksite environment and structures, since individual behavior change is embedded in worksite-level changes.

Impacto da promoção sobre consumo de frutas e hortaliças em ambiente de trabalho

“…A study carried out in the United States showed a 7% increase in daily FV consumption in the group exposed only to the workplace intervention and a 19% increase in the group whose intervention also included activities aimed at the family. 7 Another study recorded a 0.7 portion increase in daily FV consumption after an 18-month-intervention aimed at individuals. 3 A recent study in Brazil observed an increase of 11 g in FV consumption in one meal as a result of an intervention which used environmental and individual strategies.…”

Effectiveness of a Canteen Take Away concept in promoting healthy eating patterns among employees

“…A previous study found that involving the family to create a supportive home environment in addition to a supportive worksite environment resulted in an increase in total fruit and vegetable intake among workers in the worksite-plus-family group compared with the control group (10) .…”

Willingness to pay for wholesome canteen takeaway

“…Anderson et al 2009, Benedict and Arterburn 2008, and Morgan et al 2011, increase physical activity (Conn et al 2009, McEachan et al 2011and National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2008, and improve dietary habits (e.g., Sorensen et al 1999, Braekman el al. 1999, De Bourdeaudhuij et al 2007, Holdsworth et al 2004and Ni Mhurchu et al 2010.…”