Associations between mothers’ perceptions of the cost of fruit and vegetables and children’s diets : Will children pay the price?

Background/Objectives: Perceptions that fruit and vegetables are expensive are more common among the socio-economically disadvantaged groups and are linked to poor dietary outcomes. Such perceptions may be exacerbated in countries recently affected by natural disasters, where devastation of fruit and vegetable crops has resulted in increase in prices of fruit and vegetables. Examining the associations of perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability and children\u27s diets can offer insights into how the high prices of fruit and vegetables might have an impact on the diets of children.Subjects/Methods: We analysed the data from 546 socio-economically disadvantaged mother&ndash;child pairs to assess the relationship between maternal perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability and the diets of their children.Results: Fruit consumption was lower among children whose mothers felt the cost of fruit was too high. Maternal perceptions of fruit and vegetable affordability were not associated with any other aspect of child\u27s diet.Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible role for maternal perceptions of fruit affordability in children\u27s diet, though further research is warranted.<br /

'Get healthy, stay healthy': Protocol for evaluation of a lifestyle intervention delivered by text-message following the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service®

Background: Behavioural lifestyle interventions can be effective at promoting initial weight loss and supporting physical activity and dietary behaviour change, however maintaining improvements in these outcomes is often more difficult to achieve. Extending intervention contact to reinforce learnt behavioural skills has been shown to improve maintenance of behaviour change and weight loss. This trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a text message-delivered extended contact intervention to enhance or maintain change in physical activity, dietary behaviour and weight loss among participants who have completed a six month Government-funded, population-based telephone coaching lifestyle program: the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service (GHS). Methods/Design. GHS completers will be randomised to the 6-month extended contact intervention (Get Healthy, Stay Healthy, GHSH) or a no contact control group (standard practice following GHS completion). GHSH participants determine the timing and frequency of the text messages (3-13 per fortnight) and content is tailored to their behavioural and weight goals and support preferences. Two telephone tailoring calls are made (baseline, 12-weeks) to facilitate message tailoring. Primary outcomes, anthropometric (body weight and waist circumference via self-report) and behavioural (moderate-vigorous physical activity via self-report and accelerometer, fruit and vegetable intake via self-report), will be assessed at baseline (at GHS completion), 6-months (end of extended contact intervention) and 12-months (6-months post intervention contact). Secondary aims include evaluation of: the feasibility of program delivery; the acceptability for participants; theoretically-guided, potential mediators and moderators of behaviour change; dose-responsiveness; and, costs of program delivery. Discussion. Findings from this trial will inform the delivery of the GHS in relation to the maintenance of behaviour change and weight loss, and will contribute to the broader science of text message lifestyle interventions delivered in population health settings. Trial registration. ACTRN12613000949785

Self-Efficacy as a Mediator of the Relationship Between the Perceived Food Environment and Healthy Eating in a Low Income Population in Los Angeles County

BACKGROUND: While previous studies have described psychosocial and environmental factors that contribute to healthy eating, much remains unknown about the interactions between them. METHODS: We assessed the relationship between the perceived food environment, self-efficacy and fruit and vegetable consumption, using data from a sample of racially diverse, low-income adult clientele of five public health centers in Los Angeles County (n=1,503). We constructed a negative binomial regression model to examine the association between perceived food environment and the number of fruits and vegetables consumed. RESULTS: For every one point increase on the perceived food environment scale, individuals ate about 5% more fruits and vegetables (95% CI: 1.007, 1.089), controlling for other covariates. Self-efficacy was shown to be a significant mediator (mediated effect = 0.010; 95% confidence interval 0.002, 0.020), accounting for 22.9% of the effect. DISCUSSION: Efforts to increase access to healthy options may not only improve eating behaviors, but also influence individuals' beliefs that they can eat healthfully

Money Can’t Buy Me Love, but It Can Buy Apples: An Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Demand in Uzbekistan

Hidden hunger affects far more people than hunger. Being rich in vitamins, fruit and vegetables fruit and vegetables are wonderful ways to reduce micronutrient deficiency. In Uzbekistan, although per capita national supply exceeds the recommended amounts, individual-level intakes remain inadequate. This study sheds light on the factors affecting poor fruit and vegetable consumption. The research area included five districts in Tashkent province, where almost 1000 people were visited in summer and winter. A fixed effects regression model has shown high income elasticity of demand across all population groups. In adults, food and nutrition knowledge was positively associated with increased intake. Prices were found to have an inverse impact on intake in infants and adult females. Nutrition education may be therefore just as important as lowering the price