Barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable intakes in the older population of Northern Ireland: Low levels of liking and low awareness of current recommendations

Authors: Appleton, K.M., McGill, R., Neville, C. and Woodside, J.V.

Journal: Public Health Nutrition

Volume: 13

Issue: 4

Pages: 514-521

eISSN: 1475-2727

ISSN: 1368-9800

DOI: 10.1017/S1368980009991790

Abstract:

Objective To investigate barriers to increasing fruit and vegetable (f + v) intakes in a large sample of the older population of Northern Ireland (NI), in relation to current intakes.Design The study was conducted using a telephone survey assessing f + v intakes, barriers to increasing intakes and various demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Barriers to increasing intakes were investigated using twenty-two closed-response items and one open-response item.Setting NI.Subjects Four hundred and twenty-six older people from NI, representative of the older population of NI.Results Principal component analysis of the twenty-two closed-response items revealed five factors affecting f + v consumption. Significant associations with current intakes were found where greater f + v consumption was associated with greater liking for f + v (B = 0·675, P < 0·01), greater awareness of current recommendations for consumption (B = 0·197, P < 0·01) and greater willingness to change (B = 0·281, P < 0·01). Ease of consumption and difficulties in achieving consumption were not associated with f + v intakes. Similar associations between f + v intakes and liking and awareness were also found in those consuming low intakes of f + v or those at risk of consuming low intakes. Low awareness and knowledge of recommendations were also found in response to the open-ended question in all groups, although some weight was also given here to environmental difficulties, such as cost and access.Conclusions These findings suggest that interventions aiming to increase f + v intakes in the older population of NI should focus predominantly on improving liking and improving knowledge and awareness of current recommendations. © 2009 The Authors.

Source: Scopus