Fruit and vegetable consumption among young adults Essay

The World health Organisation is predicting that inveterate disease will account for over sixty per cent of deaths with 41 million deaths by 2015.1 Up to 80% continuing disease could be prevented by eliminating tobacco usance, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol.2 Chronic disease and obesity in Australia argon continuing to post to premature death and consignment of disease.3 Cardiovascular disease and behindcer retain the main pull ins of disease burden and type 2 diabetes prevalence has trebled in the last ten years and is expected to be the steer cause of disability and death by 2023.4 The speedy rise in diabetes congenator incidence and prevalence is thought to be due to the rising rate of obesity.5 61% of Australian adults, using measured BMI atomic number 18 currently each with child(p) or obese6 , with early daytimeser historic period groups gaining weight more quickly than preliminary generations.7 Approximately 32% of Austr alias total burden of disease can be attri excepted to modifiable attempt factors.4Considerable reductions in morbidity and mortality from diet-related diseases could be achieved if the world summations healthy feeding behaviours including change magnitude the outlay of result and vegs (FV).8 Fruit and veggie consumption is strongly linked to the prevention of inveterate disease and to achieving better overall health.9 Internationally up to 2.6 million deaths and 1.8 % of ball-shaped burden of disease is attributable to low FV consumption. Inadequate FV intake in Australia is thought to be responsible for 2.1% of the overall burden of disease.10 Increasing several(prenominal) FV intake could reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease by 31%.11 In particular reviews of studies have indicated that FVs reduce the risk of developing cancer12 cardiovascular disease13 and obesity.14,15 A meta-analysis of studies investigating FV intake and the incidence of type 2 diabetes ind icated no significant benefits for increasing FVs but an increase in green foliate vegetables could significantly reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.16 The mechanism of action mechanism is thought to be related to their micronutrient, antioxidant, phytochemical and fibre content.17Current recommendations for product and vegetable consumption Based on procurable evidence the World pubic louse Research Fund recommends eating at least 400g of non-starchy vegetables and proceedss per day (2007).12 The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that Australians bring in a minimum of two serves of fruit and five serves of vegetable daily.9 Current consumption patterns ar well on a lower floor these figures. Data on FV consumption in Australia is collected predominantly via authorize piddling questions as part of the issue wellness Survey. This self report of FV consumption does incorporate a number of errors related to the ability of individuals to put serve sizes18 and the valid ity and reliability of the short questions. Alternative measures of FVs, predominantly feed frequency questionnaires have been determined for different come a commodious groups19, 20. For adults the most new-fangled determination of FV intake indicates that single 56% of females and 46% of males over the board of 15 are eating the recommended serves of fruit and 10% of females and 7% of males over the age of 15, are eating the recommended serves of vegetable daily.15 The 2007 national childrens livelihood and physical activity survey used a confederacy of multipass 24 hour food recalls and food frequency and indicated that only 1-2% of old children were consuming three serves of fruit and only 1-11% of older children met the guideline for vegetable consumption21. In anformer(a) survey specifically looking at unripeish adults 34-43% of those aged 19-24 year olds met the daily fruit consumption guidelines of two serves a day but only 8-10% of new-fashioned adults ate the re commended five serves per day of vegetable.3, 22 Low consumption of FVs is, in that locationfore, an issue across the spectrum of age groups. slice young adults do not necessarily have FV intakes any worsened than older adults and children, the leave out of overt medical problems has meant that the 18-24 year old age group have received little attention.23 Given that fewer young adults consume the recommended serves of vegetable, strategies that accent solely on vegetables would appear to be appropriate. unripe adulthood is a critical age for weight gain24 and in the linked States the transition from high cultivate school to college is a potential period of speedy weight gain increasing the risk of obesity in after adulthood.25 Chronic conditions are a significant challenge for Australias young people because these conditions can affect normal growth and development, quality of life, long-term health and wellbeing, and successful participation in society, information and empl oyment.3Studies predominantly undertaken in the fall in States and Europe are contradictory with respect to whether food habits are positively or negatively affected in the transition to independence. In one study students alimentation independently were more likely to consume a healthy diet than their counterparts living at home. Independent living may increase responsibility of various food-related activities such as budgeting, bribe, cookery and cooking which young adults living at home have not yet developed.26 Other research as yet indicates that dependent students consume more FVs independent students may take more responsibility for their food choices bit dependent students may be controlled by the primary care-givers.27 It should be observe that the transition from highschool to university in Australia is not necessarily marked by a move out of the family home as it does in the United States, Canada and parts of Europe. Living on campus or in university-provided acco mmodation is only undertaken by a small percentage of students in Australia.In 2008, in that location were almost 3 million young people aged 1524 years in Australia, accounting for 14% of the total population.3 In addition the volume of Australians who start a course at a higher education institution are aged between 15 and 34 years of age and in 2009 more than 45% of young adults aged 18-24 years were enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree or diploma qualification.28 Universities and other higher education institutions would therefore be an appropriate setting to localise individuals in this age group.Determinants of fruit and vegetable consumptionThe National Public Health federation identified the primary determinants of FV consumption to inform the development of strategies.29, 30 These are outlined in the table below.Table 1 Identification of determinants of fruit and vegetable consumptionDeterminantObjectivesFood supplyIncrease and keep up access to high qual ity, safe, affordable FVsAwarenessIncrease the rest of the population aware of the need to increase consumption of FVsAttitude/PerceptionsIncrease the proportion of the population who perceive the benefits of FVs in terms of strain, convenience, low relative cost, golosh and health.K at a timeledgeIncrease the proportion of the population with the noesis of the recommended minimum intakes of FVs Skills to purchase and fixIncrease the proportion of the population with the knowledge, skills and confidence to select and prepare convenient low cost, tastyFV dishesFor children, adolescents and adults, previous consumption or painting to FVs, knowledge, sentiency, preparation skills and involvement in food preparation, lack of time and taste preference have all been implicated in the consumption of FVs .31,32,33 From an environmental perspective, availability of FVs within home, school and community settings plays a significant usage in promoting FV consumption.32, 34 Those who re port eating home grown gain have significantly higher intakes of FVs while poor accessibility to shops and high FV sets have been shown to have a negative wedge on FV consumption.35, 36The presence of a major food retailer in an surface area has been associated with improved FV consumption.37 In Australia, the evidence is less clear-cut with those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas having sympathetic opportunities to purchase FVs when compared to those in levels of higher advantage.38 recent work has indicated that price and availability in disadvantaged areas are similar to those in more advantaged areas but that quality could be seriously compromised, which could impact purchasing behaviour.39 FV prices have been identified as a significant bar in FV consumption with intakes among those of lower and middle socioeconomic positions more price responsive than their higher socioeconomic position counterparts (Powell et al 2009).40 The national populace health part nership identified the lack of recognition of the low relative cost of FVs as a bar to consumption.29 However, given the recent rapid increase in FV prices identified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (15.5% increase forfruit and 11.4% increase for vegetables in the December 2010 quarter) the perception of cost now may be a reality and a significant barrier to consumption.41For young adults at university many of the determinants described above are applicable. In addition, access to cooking facilities and equipment, increase availability of unhealthy and convenience foods choices, lack of access to transport, cost of food, lack of time to prepare and to shop, lack of knowledge and of cooking skills were all identified as barriers to FV consumption.42, 43 Given the increase mobility of young adults a focus on home or school may not be sufficient. Recent research indicates that 40% of eating occasions for young adults were on average 6.7 miles (10.5 km) away from their primary go into of residence regardless of whether they were living with care-givers or independently.44 This being the case proximity may play a relatively minor role in an individuals food choices. Instead decisions may be found on a complex web including food quality, pricing, variety, availability, travel patterns, affectionate or cultural influences and various other factors.44StrategiesBased on the determinants and using the Ottawa Charter as a framework, strategies can be divide into two primary categories those that build personal skills and those that create supportive environments. The majority of interventions have not been undertaken with the target group but rather with children (primarily in school settings) and adults. Work with the young adult age group however has highlighted that there is a general lack of understanding about motivators25 but that negative health outcomes are not particularly relevant and the focus should be more on taste.45 Social and environmental cu es, on the other hand, could be especially significant.46In Australia, the broadest population campaign has been Go for 2 and 5. This media campaign began in Western Australia and has since been implemented nationally and in all(prenominal) individual state. The campaign primarily aimed to increase FV consumption through the change magnitude awareness and knowledge of the benefits of FVs, ways to cook FVs and serve size awareness. military rank hasindicated that the campaign was successful in reaching the target audience and achieving increased awareness of recommended serves of FVs. The Western Australian campaign achieved an average increase of 0.5 of a serve.28 Primary target groups have been children and adults, adolescents and young adults have not been a focus. Education strategies have included embedding curricula in primary and secondary schools and providing first-string newsletters to increase knowledge.47 For children and adolescents other successful strategies focus on creating supportive environments have with elements of education including the provision of free or subsidised fruit either directly or through the provision of tasting programs, snacks, gardening or cooking.47,48, 49, 50 Within more community settings, interventions have included heading of purchase information, reduced pricing, promotion and advertising and increased availability and variety.51 However, there is little evaluation of the effectiveness of these strategies for improving fruit and vegetable consumption in the wider community. Very few of these interventions have been trialled with young adults as the target group. For the few programs that have focussed on young adults the strategies have centred on the development of personal skills through the provision of education either as on-line individualised programs25 tailored individualised counselling52 newsletters promoting FV intake23 and via a general nutrition course to enable students to move from knowledge to ap plication.53 All of these showed modest short term increases in FV intake, a lack of data means that long term establishment of behaviour has not been determined.Based on the available evidence there is a need to focus on increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among young adults. Given the large numbers of young adults at tertiary institutions universities are an appropriate setting. There are few strategies that particularly focus on young adults in the Australian context. However, based on the underlying determinants, strategies should focus on improving knowledge, awareness and preparation skills, changing taste preferences, increasing availability of FVs within local settings, reducing the cost of FVs in selected settings. The development of a comprehensive, multi- strategy program specifically addressing increased fruit and vegetable consumption is required in prepare toimprove general health outcomes and specifically reduce the risk of chronic disease.References1. World Health Organisation. (2005). Preventing Chronic Diseases A Vital Investment. World Health Organisation Geneva. 2. World Health Organisation. (2008). 2008-2013 Action Plan for the Global system for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. World Health Organisation Geneva. 3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2010). Australias Health 2010. capital of Australia, AIHW. Australias Health Series no. 12. Cat. no. AUS 122. 4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australias Health 2008. (2008). Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Canberra. Available from http//www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/ title/10585. 5. Colagiuri, R., Colagiuri, S., Yach, D. and Pramming S. (2006). The answer to diabetes prevention science, surgery, service delivery, or social policy? American ledger of Public Health 96.915629. 6. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Summary of Results National Health Survey 2007-2008. Cat 4364.0 http//www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs.nsf /Latestproducts/4364.0Main%20Features42007-2008%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4364.0&issue=2007-2008%20(Reissue)&num=&view= Accessed February twenty-fourth 2011 7. Allman-Farinelli, M.A., Chey, T., Bauman, A.E., Gill, T., and James, W. P. T. (2007). Age, period and birth cohort effects on prevalence of gravid and obesity in Australian adults from 1990 to 2000. European Journal of Clinical aliment 62 898-907. 8. McCullough, M. L., Feskanich, D., Stampfer, M. J., Giovannucci, E. L., Rimm, E. B., Hu, F. B., Spiegelman, D., Hunter, D.J., Colditz, G. A., Willett, W.C. (2002). Diet quality and major chronic disease risk in men and women moving toward improved dietary guidance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 76(6) 1261-1271. 9. Department of Health and Ageing. (1998). Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Canberra DHA. 10. Begg S, Vos T, Barker B, Stevenson C, Stanley L & Lopez AD 2007. The burden of disease and injury in Australia 2003. AIHW cat. no. PHE 82. Canberra Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 11. Lock, K., Pomerleau, J., Causer, L., Altmann, D.R., McKee, M. (2005). The global burden of disease attributable to low consumption of fruit and vegetables implications for the global strategy on diet. Bulletin of the World Health Organization