Details:

Alternative Title:
Prev Chronic Dis
Personal Author:
Boyington, Josephine E. A. ; Schoster, Britta ; Shreffler, Jack ; Remmes Martin, Kathryn ; Callahan, Leigh F.
Boyington, Josephine E. A. ; Schoster, Britta ; Shreffler, Jack ; Remmes Martin, Kathryn ; Callahan, Leigh F. Less -
Description:
Introduction

Increases in obesity and other chronic conditions continue to fuel efforts for lifestyle behavior changes. However, many strategies do not address the impact of environment on lifestyle behaviors, particularly healthy dietary intake. This study explored the perceptions of environment on intake of fruits and vegetables in a cohort of 2,479 people recruited from 22 family practices in North Carolina.

Methods

Participants were administered a health and social demographic survey. Formative assessment was conducted on a subsample of 32 people by using focus groups, semi structured individual interviews, community mapping, and photographs. Interviews and discussions were transcribed and content was analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 5. Survey data were evaluated for means, frequencies, and group differences.

Results

The 2,479 participants had a mean age of 52.8 years, mean body mass index (BMI) of 29.4, and were predominantly female, white, married, and high school graduates. The 32 subsample participants were older, heavier, and less educated. Some prevalent perceptions about contextual factors related to dietary intake included taste-bud fatigue (boredom with commonly eaten foods), life stresses, lack of forethought in meal planning, current health status, economic status, the ability to garden, lifetime dietary exposure, concerns about food safety, contradictory nutrition messages from the media, and variable work schedules.

Conclusion

Perceptions about intake of fruits and vegetables intake are influenced by individual (intrinsic) and community (extrinsic) environmental factors. We suggest approaches for influencing behavior and changing perceptions using available resources.


Subjects:
[+]
Adult Aged Culture Data Collection Diet Environment Female Focus Groups Fruit Humans Male Maps As Topic Middle Aged Photography Questionnaires Vegetables
Source:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2009; 6(1).
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
North Carolina
Location:
North America
Collection(s):
Preventing Chronic Disease
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:f82aca9a11d58246e58bdaeb11851b94e029cbc2abb149cc08974504a0f16443
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/20301/cdc_20301_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	license.txt	txt
  	PCD61A04.nxml	txt
  	PCD61A04s01.gif	gif
  	PCD61A04s01.jpg	jpeg

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