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Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Larson, N; Laska, MN; Story, M; Neumark-Sztainer, D
Published in: J Acad Nutr Diet
August 2012

Few young adults meet national recommendations to consume at least 2 c fruit and 2 to 3 c vegetables daily. Effective strategies and messaging are needed to address this disparity, but research examining influences on fruit and vegetable (F/V) intake during young adulthood has been limited and primarily cross-sectional. This study was conducted to identify 5-year and 10-year longitudinal predictors of F/V intake in young adulthood. The sample included 476 male and 654 female participants enrolled in a population-based cohort study (Projects EAT-I, II, and III [Eating and Activity in Teens and Young Adults]). Participants completed surveys and food frequency questionnaires in Minneapolis/St Paul, MN, high school classrooms in 1998-1999 (mean age=15.8 years, adolescence) and follow-up measures in 2003-2004 (mean age=20.4 years, emerging adulthood) and 2008-2009 (mean age=26.2 years, young adulthood). In young adulthood, average daily intake was 0.9 servings of fruit (excluding juice) and 1.8 servings of vegetables (excluding potatoes). Factors examined in adolescence and in emerging adulthood that were predictive of F/V intake in young adulthood included favorable taste preferences, fewer perceived time barriers to healthy eating, higher home availability of F/V, and limited home availability of unhealthy foods. Analyses also identified additional factors that were specifically relevant to fruit (eg, breakfast patterns) or vegetable intake (eg, home food preparation) and of particular relevance during emerging adulthood (eg, significant other's healthy eating attitudes). Findings suggest individual and socioenvironmental factors, particularly food preferences and home food availability, during adolescence and emerging adulthood may influence F/V intake in young adulthood.

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Published In

J Acad Nutr Diet

DOI

EISSN

2212-2672

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

112

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1216 / 1222

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Vegetables
  • Time Factors
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior
  • Fruit
  • Food Supply
  • Food Preferences
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Larson, N., Laska, M. N., Story, M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2012). Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood. J Acad Nutr Diet, 112(8), 1216–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.035
Larson, Nicole, Melissa N. Laska, Mary Story, and Dianne Neumark-Sztainer. “Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood.J Acad Nutr Diet 112, no. 8 (August 2012): 1216–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.035.
Larson N, Laska MN, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D. Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 Aug;112(8):1216–22.
Larson, Nicole, et al. “Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood.J Acad Nutr Diet, vol. 112, no. 8, Aug. 2012, pp. 1216–22. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.03.035.
Larson N, Laska MN, Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D. Predictors of fruit and vegetable intake in young adulthood. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012 Aug;112(8):1216–1222.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Acad Nutr Diet

DOI

EISSN

2212-2672

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

112

Issue

8

Start / End Page

1216 / 1222

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Vegetables
  • Time Factors
  • Male
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Humans
  • Health Behavior
  • Fruit
  • Food Supply
  • Food Preferences