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Does using MyPyramid in a community setting increase fruit and vegetable knowledge?
Author(s) -
Chester Deirdra Nicole,
Harris Ellen
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.452.7
Subject(s) - nutrient , test (biology) , fruit juice , metropolitan area , medicine , zoology , demography , environmental health , food science , biology , botany , ecology , pathology , sociology
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which using MyPyramid increased fruit and vegetable knowledge in a community setting. MyPyramid was presented at a health expo in the Washington, DC metropolitan area as a web‐based interactive nutrition challenge with a three‐staged test. Stage one (pre‐test) included five questions on classification of fruits and vegetables, amounts needed for optimal health, quantity to be consumed, cup equivalents, and important sources of nutrients. There was a significant improvement (p = .003, n = 92) between the pre‐ and post‐test (stage 3) scores (14.5 vs.16.1) related to fruit knowledge. Maryland residents (n = 42) scored significantly higher (p <0.05), as did women (n = 72), and those 51 years and older. Similarly, vegetable knowledge scores improved between the pre‐ and post‐tests (p=.007, n=71) (14.9 vs.16.6) with Maryland residents, women, non‐Hispanic whites, and the 31 – 50 year old age group significantly higher (p <.05). While significant improvements occurred when respondents were asked to correctly identify foods in the fruit group (p<.001) and in the percentage correctly identifying the amount of vegetables that should be consumed (p<.05), there were no significant differences between pre‐ and post‐test findings related to the more difficult questions defining MyPyramid cup equivalents and specific nutrients contributed by fruits and vegetables.