Stages of changes for fruit and vegetable intake and their relation to the nutritional status of undergraduate students

Abstract

Objective:To assess the nutritional and dietetic profile of freshman Nutrition undergraduate students, and its association with stages of changes (Transtheoretical Model) for fruit and vegetable intake.Methods:Demographic (age and gender), anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and nutritional (pattern of fruit and vegetable intake) data were obtained. The Transtheoretical Model was used to identify the stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake. Food consumption was assessed with a questionnaire developed by the Ministry of Health. The significance level considered for all statistical tests was 0.05 (p<0.05).Results:From 433 eligible students, anthropometric measurements were taken from 219 (50.6%), and 299 (69%) underwent food intake evaluation. The sample included undergraduate students with a low frequency of adequate fruit and vegetables intake (29.8%), being the majority (64.9%) of them classified as at the preparation stage to increase the intake of these food groups. Prevalence of adequate fruit and vegetables intake was higher among students at the action/maintenance stages (83.3%) compared to those at the precontemplation/contemplation (18.3%) and at the preparation stages (32.0%). Students at the preparation stage presented the highest medians for body mass index (p=0.004) and waist circumference (p=0.039) compared to those at the precontemplation/contemplation stages. There was no association between fruit and vegetables intake and the presence of overweight or abdominal obesity (p=0.373).Conclusion:This instrument is effective to predict the food intake and, even among aware individuals and ready to change their food behavior, the prevalence of nutritional risk is high.

Scottish Primary School Children Who Consume Greater Levels of Fruit and Vegetables Have Improved Health Markers

“…[69], 9 -14 years olds [13] and adults (undergraduate students) [70]. However, contradictory to our findings a Spanish study of children and adolescents age 6 -18 years old found a reduction in BMI-SDS among the obese group (n = 184) not the control group (n = 185) with total dietary antioxidant capacity (TAC).…”

Stages of change of behavior in women on a multi-professional program for treatment of obesity

“…In spite of the low quality of evidence related to the impact of the interventions regarding sustainable behavioral change, even with multi-professional actions, it is observed that the individuals evaluated through this model tends to seek improvements in the quality of their food, principally reducing consumption of fat and increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables 21 , as observed in the present study. One systematic review on interventions based in theoretical models indicates, with a strong degree of evidence, that individuals benefit from the diet-related changes implemented 24 .…”

“…One factor which is related directly to success in behavioral change is the perception of the risk that excess weight can cause in health. One Brazilian study which assessed behavioral change related exclusively to consumption of fruits and vegetables indicated that 83.3% of the individuals who were most concerned with appropriate consumption were in the stages of action and maintenance 21 ).…”

Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables by Low-Income Brazilian Undergraduate Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In a study performed in Brazil, nutrition education actions on FV consumption that combined information and motivation were successful in impoverished environments [ 29 ]. The actions included providing knowledge about the advantages of consuming FV to achieve good health and enhancing the skills for its introduction in daily eating.…”