Effect of Nutrition Education with Fruit and Vegetable Supplementation on Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Anthropometric Measurements among Adults of Varying Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

Intake of fruit and vegetable (F/V) is inadequate and obesity is more prevalent among adults of lower socioeconomic status (SES) in the U.S. This study determined the effect of nutrition education (NutrED) and F/V supplementation (F/VSupp) on F/V intake and anthropometrics of individuals of varying SES. Thirty-eight overweight or obese adults were randomly assigned into a control, education, or F/V group. Participants in the education and F/V groups attended weekly NutrED classes for 10 weeks. The F/V group also received one serving of fruit and two servings of vegetable daily. Results showed that NutrED with F/VSupp improved fruit intake significantly. Improvements between the education and F/V groups were not significantly different. Individuals with a graduate degree had significant improvements in fruit intake. Few of the improvements in anthropometrics seen were significant. Future research should focus on specific barriers to F/V intake and include information on total energy intake and expenditure.