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Changes in BMI and dietary intakes after implementation of the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Author(s) -
Winham Donna M,
Wolven Jessica R,
Thompson Sharon V,
Richards Timothy R
Publication year - 2011
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.25.1_supplement.99.7
Subject(s) - environmental health , intervention (counseling) , food security , food insecurity , anthropometry , nutrition education , medicine , baseline (sea) , gerontology , agriculture , geography , biology , archaeology , psychiatry , fishery
We evaluated the effectiveness of the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) in two elementary schools (intervention, control). We collected anthropometry, food security and dietary intakes via the Block Food Frequency children's questionnaire from 364 children in August 2008 and in May 2009. The FFVP intervention had little if any affect on altering dietary patterns or BMI percentiles. The lack of change may be due to program implementation more than the program concept. We offer suggestions to improve the execution of the FFVP. First, schools should plan which fruits and vegetables are to be provided so baseline evaluation can account for these items. Second, serving foods or access alone is insufficient to change behavior or to increase knowledge. Third, adequate time to collect data from children who vary in skill levels is necessary. Fourth, the recent economic crisis may have altered results. Positive findings include increased awareness of some fruits and vegetables featured in the FFVP at the intervention school, and decreased BMIs between fall and spring across all children. Food insecurity increased between fall and spring, but was not linked to BMI or dietary intake changes. Quantification of the specific fruits and vegetables to be introduced will help detect change from the FFVP intervention. Partial funding provided by the Morrison School of Agribusiness.