22729935

PMC3784996

2 R25CA057713-06/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
5 K05CA108663-05/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
5 R01 DP000099-03/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States
K05 CA108663/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
R01 CA 84387-04/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
R01 CA084387/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States
R25 CA057711/CA/NCI NIH HHS/United States

CDC Public Access

Purpose

To compare and contrast correlates of fruit and vegetable consumption in two blue-collar populations: construction laborers and motor freight workers.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were collected from two groups of male workers: (1) construction laborers (N=1013; response rate = 44%) randomly selected from a national sample, as part of a diet and smoking cessation study; and (2) motor freight workers (N=542; response rate = 78%) employed in eight trucking terminals, as part of a tobacco cessation and weight management study. Data were analyzed using linear regression modeling methods.

Results

For both groups, higher income and believing it was important to eat right because of work were positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption; conversely, being White was associated with lower intake. Construction laborers who reported eating junk food due to workplace stress and fatigue had lower fruit and vegetable intake. For motor freight workers, perceiving fast food to be the only choice at work and lack of time to eat right were associated with lower consumption.

Conclusion

Comparing occupational groups illustrates how work experiences may be related to fruit and vegetable consumption in different ways as well as facilitates the development of interventions that can be used across groups.