Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity in Young Adults: Get Fruved Study

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

4-2016

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this multi-state research collaborative effort “Get Fruved” was to identify consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity across four university populations and geographical locations to compare for differences. All four university research teams enrolled freshmen, sophomore, and junior college students from Florida, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia in two multi-university training courses to develop a peer-led, social marketing and environmental intervention in collaboration with researchers and Extension Professionals. Baseline assessments included a behavioral and demographical survey. Demographical variables included living on or off campus, relationship status, hours working a job, GPA, if they were a student athlete, scholarship status, had a Pell Grant or were vegetarian. Baseline demographics and geographical data were analyzed by FV consumption (NCI Fruit and Vegetables Screener) and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) using one-way ANOVA testing. The participants (N=280) were predominately Caucasian (84.40%), female (87.89%), and 18–20 years of age (75.29%). Year in school varied: sophomores (39.84%), juniors (34.38%), and freshmen (18.75%). Participants were primarily White (84.40%), with the remaining being Black or African American (5.05%), Hispanic or Latino (1.38%), and other (including biracial) (9.17%). Student athletes had higher levels of physical activity than non-student athletes (p<0.0001; 4905.62 MET-min/wk vs. 2729.98, respectively). Males were more physically active than females (p=0.0038; 3783.36 MET-min/wk vs. 2712.88, respectively). Vegetarians had higher levels of FV consumption than non-vegetarians (p=0.0027; 5.45 cups vs. 3.52 cups, respectively). No other differences were found in behavioral variables across demographical groups, including across geographical locations and across gender The findings indicated that the assessments used adequately captured characteristic and behavior relationships that would be expected based on previous research (e.g. vegetarians with increased FV consumption and student athletes with increased PA). Similar characteristics of participants across the four states for FV intake and PA provide a baseline for future intervention implementation.

Publication Title

The FASEB Journal

Volume

30

First Page

Abstract Number: 1152.13

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