Summary
Summary: This study investigated temporal patterns in fruit and vegetable intake among California school-age children and adolescents overall and by race and ethnicity. Researchers used 2-year cross-sectional datasets from the child and adolescent samples in the California Health Interview Surveys (CHIS) from 2011–2012 through 2019–2020 and modified Poisson regression models to estimate the likelihood of consuming 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables in 2013–2016 and 2017–2020 compared with 2011–2012. Models controlled for age, race and ethnicity, gender, citizenship status, family income, and adult education and tested for differences by race and ethnicity. The samples included 16,125 children aged 5 to 11 years and 9,672 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years.
Findings: Overall, 29.3% of children and 25.9% of adolescents reported intake of 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day. Among children, adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) of fruit and vegetable intake were higher in 2013–2016 and 2017–2020 compared with 2011–2012. Among adolescents, the adjusted prevalence did not differ significantly over time. Authors found no evidence of differential associations by race and ethnicity for children and adolescents. Monitoring temporal patterns in fruit and vegetable intake remains critical for planning population-level interventions to increase consumption.
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