Factors associated with inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables among users of Primary Health Care in Brazil.

Introduction: Inadequate fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption may derive from individual, cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental issues. Objective: This study aims to identify factors associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption among men and women in Brazilian Primary Health Care. Methods: This is a crosssectional study with a sample representative of the Health Academy Program (Programa Academia da Saúde-PAS, in Portuguese). The consumption of FV was evaluated by a validated questionnaire which included the frequency and number of portions consumed. The inadequate consumption was classified as fruits <3 servings/day; vegetables <2 servings/day. Sociodemographic, health, and anthropometric profile, such as the purchase of fruit and vegetable were investigated. Results: The inadequate consumption of fruits (women: 61.4%; men: 68.1%) and vegetables (women: 40.6%; men: 51.1%) was high. Among women, factors associated with inadequate FV consumption were: being elderly, report their quality of life as good and their knowledge about food crop season; and the diagnosis of diabetes was associated with inadequate fruit intake. For men, factors associated with inadequate fruit consumption were: being elderly and current attempt to lose body weight; and for vegetables, good quality of life and having a risk of metabolic complications. Conclusion: Equal and different factors for women and men associated with inadequate consumption of FV were identified. These results highlight the importance of actions to promote healthy eating which considers the differences in the consumption of these foods according to the gender of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]