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Food security status, BMI, and fruit and vegetable consumption amongst Producemobile Users.
Author(s) -
Tangney Christy C,
Redfearn Kristin R,
Allender Jessica C,
Keim Kathryn S
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.36.6
Subject(s) - food security , food insecurity , environmental health , demographics , medicine , ethnic group , food group , food consumption , consumption (sociology) , gerontology , demography , geography , agriculture , social science , archaeology , sociology , agricultural economics , anthropology , economics
Food insecurity can affect health, body weight and quality of life. Among food assistance users, the prevalence of food insecurity and its potential impact on body habitus and intake of fruits and vegetables is unclear. In this cross‐sectional study of 191 participants from 8 selected Producemobile sites in Chicago, we describe the demographics, food security status, and fruit and vegetable consumption of Producemobile patrons (18 years of age and older; 6 th grade reading level). Weights and heights were measured, and all completed a 35‐item questionnaire containing the USDA 6‐item Core Food Security Module and the NCI All‐Day Fruit and Vegetable Screener. Results: Ethnic composition of the sample surveyed was as follows: 84% African American, 11% Hispanic and 5% Caucasian. Approximately 58% of the households were classified ‘food insecure without hunger’, 24% ‘food insecure with hunger’ and 18% ‘food secure’. More than half (53%) reported using the Producemobile monthly. Two‐thirds of the sample admitted to other forms of food assistance (i.e. food stamps, WIC coupons, school lunch program). BMI for the 46 men was 28.1 ± 6.8 kg/m 2 (mean ± SD) and for 144 women, 30.6 ± 6.9. There was no difference in BMI between food secure and food insecure participants (p=0.88). Food insecure patrons reported consuming significantly fewer daily servings of fruit (1.0 ±1.9, p=0.006) and total fruit and vegetable servings (6.8 ± 8.1, p=0.03) when compared to those of food secure individuals (1.6 ± 2.2, 7.4 ± 5.1, respectively). Conclusion: Further research is needed to confirm whether lower intakes of fruits and vegetables are consistently observed amongst adults seeking food assistance and explore the barriers to such behaviors.