Consumption of, and factors influencing consumption of, fruit and vegetables among elderly Chinese people

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2012-05, Vol.28 (5), p.504-508
• Main Authors: Li, Yang, Ph.D, Li, Dan, Ph.D, Ma, Cheng-yuan, Ph.D, Liu, Chao-Ying, Ph.D, Hui-Ding, Ph.D, Wen, Zhong-Mei, M.A, Peng, Li-ping, Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Body Mass Index; Cancer; China; Chinese people; Chronic illnesses; Cluster Analysis; Consumption; Diet - statistics & numerical data; diet recall; dietary surveys; Educational Status; elderly; Elderly adults; Factors; Feeding Behavior; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fruit; Fruits; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; GDP; GNP; Gross Domestic Product; Gross National Product; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Marital status; Middle Aged; Mortality; Motor Activity; Nutrition; Nutrition research; Nutrition Surveys; Older people; Public health; regression analysis; Review boards; Risk factors; Rural Population; Smoking; Socioeconomic Factors; Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urban Population; Vegetable and fruit intake; vegetable consumption; Vegetables; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; World Health Organization
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2011.07.023

Abstract Objective There is substantial evidence that the low intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) is a major risk factor for many nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. The purpose of our study was to assess FV consumption and the variables that influence FV consumption among Chinese people age 60 and older. Methods Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data from the 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2009 China Health and Nutrition Surveys were used to collect the FV intake and sociodemographic variables examined in this article. Data were analyzed using t tests, χ2 tests, and logistic regression. Results Between 1991 and 2009, elderly Chinese adults experienced an improvement in dietary FV intake. The FV consumption increased from 325.7 g/d in 1991 to 379.0 g/d in 2009. During this 18-y period, the proportion of daily consumers increased from 11.0% to 32.5% for fruit and remained over 95% for vegetables. Age, gender, educational attainment, community, activity level, marital status, and drinking were significantly associated with FV consumption. Conclusion The findings of this study indicated that FV intake among elderly adults in China was lower than the minimum of 400 g/d recommended by the World Health Organization. Greater public health efforts and approaches are needed to promote FV consumption in elderly Chinese adults.