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Health Indicator Report of Daily Vegetable Consumption

Fruits, as well as vegetables, contain essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other compounds that may help prevent many chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers^1^. Fruits and vegetables also help people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight because they are relatively low in energy density^2^. To promote health and prevent chronic diseases, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend two cups of fruit per day for a standard 2,000 calorie diet, with recommendations based on an individual's age, gender, and activity level^3^. [[br]][[br]] ---- 1. CDC. ''Can eating fruits and vegetables help people to manage their weight?'' [http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/rtp_practitioner_10_07.pdf/ (Research to Practice Series No. 1)] [[br]] 2. CDC. [https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/r2p_energy_density.pdf/ "Low-Energy-Dense Foods and Weight Management: Cutting Calories While Controlling Hunger." ] [[br]] 3. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
Females have higher rates of eating vegetables three or more times a day than males across every age group. The overall crude rate of consuming vegetabes 3 or more times a day for 2021 was 12.4% (not shown in the table).

Vegetables Consumed Three or More Times Per Day by Age and Sex, Utah, 2021

Data Source

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

Data Interpretation Issues

Vegetable questions were revised in 2011, so rates cannot be compared with the years prior to 2011. To reduce bias and more accurately represent population data, the BRFSS has changed survey methodology in 2010 and began conducting surveys by cellular phone in addition to landline phones. It also adopted "iterative proportional fitting" (raking) as its weighting method. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf/ Raking Fact Sheet 2011].

Definition

The percentage of adults who reported consuming vegetables at least three times peer day in the past month.

Numerator

The number of survey respondents who reported consuming vegetables at least three times per day in the past month.

Denominator

The total number of survey respondents.

Healthy People Objective NWS-15:

Increase the variety and contribution of vegetables to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older
U.S. Target: Not applicable, see subobjectives in this category

Other Objectives

Increase the proportion of persons aged 18 years and older who consume vegetables at least three times a day. [[br]] '''Utah Target:''' 18%[[br]] [[br]] ====Healthy People Objective NWS-15 subobjectives:==== *{{style color:#003366 NWS-15.1:}} Increase the contribution of total vegetables to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older[[br]] '''U.S. Target:''' 1.16 cup equivalent per 1,000 calories *{{style color:#003366 NWS-15.2:}} Increase the contribution of dark green vegetables, red and orange vegetables, and beans and peas to the diets of the population aged 2 years and older[[br]] '''U.S. Target:''' 0.53 cup equivalent per 1,000 calories

How Are We Doing?

Only 12.6% of Utah adults in 2021 reported eating vegetables three or more times a day in the past month (age-adjusted rate).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The percentageof adults consuming three servings of vegetables per day has generally declined since 2011 for Utah (12.6% of adults in 2021) and the U.S. (13.7% of adults in 2021).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Service's Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) Program plays a key role in improving the health of residents in the state of Utah. The program was formed in July 2013 (as Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care: EPICC), through a new funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that allowed for the merging of three previously existing programs: the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program, as well as the addition of a school health program. HEAL was recently restructured as part of a strategic planning process and the new program model focuses on staff and partners working together to address the social determinants of health while advancing health equity and increasing policy, systems and environmental changes. HEAL works: In schools:[[br]] HEAL encourages schools to adopt the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program. This framework encourages students to be physically active for 60 minutes a day through school, home, and community activities. HEAL also tracks height and weight trends in elementary school students. In worksites:[[br]] HEAL offers training on developing worksite wellness programs called Work@Health. HEAL partners with local health departments to encourage worksites to complete the CDC Scorecard and participate in yearly health risk assessments for their employees. HEAL provides toolkits and other resources for employers interested in implementing wellness programs [https://heal.health.utah.gov/worksite-wellness/ Worksite Wellness]. In communities:[[br]] HEAL receives federal funding to partner with worksites and community-based organizations to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables in worksite and community settings. HEAlL also partners with LHDs to work with cities and/or counties within their jurisdictions to create a built environment that encourages physical activity. In healthcare:[[br]] HEAL works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals at risk for or diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension to engage in lifestyle change programs such as chronic disease self-management and diabetes prevention programs. In childcare:[[br]] HEAL works with state and local partners through the Childcare Obesity Prevention workgroup to implement policy and systems changes in early care and education across agencies statewide. Ten local health departments statewide have implemented the TOP Star program, which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and environments and achieve best practices in childcare centers and homes.[[br]]

Available Services

Visit [http://heal.health.utah.gov/ HEAL website] for more information. The [http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ USDA My Plate] food guidance system provides consumer tools in English and Spanish to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including individualized plans, tools to track intake, and plans for early childhood, pregnancy, and lactation. The [https://www.uspm.com/fruits-and-veggies-more-matters/ Fruits and Veggies: More Matters] and [http://www.pbhfoundation.org/ Produce for Better Health] websites include educational brochures, recipes, and consumer tips for selecting, storing, and preparing vegetables.

Health Program Information

HEAL is a program within the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Health Promotion and Prevention. HEAL focuses on enabling education and engaged change for public health by engaging its three main audiences: individuals, partners, and decision makers. HEAL champions public health initiatives and addresses the challenges of making health awareness and access truly universal and equitable in eight key areas: nutrition, heart health, diabetes, physical activity, schools, childcare, community health workers, and worksites. Staff from the HEAL Program work with health care providers, including diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, community health centers, community health workers, work-sites, and health plans to improve the care provided to Utahns with diabetes. Overarching goals: Healthy people: Increase access to resources that empower all people in Utah to reach their full health potential. Healthy communities: Increase the capacity of communities to support and promote healthy living for all individuals. Equitable society: Increase opportunities for people who are under-resourced and under-represented in Utah to live healthy and thriving lives.
Page Content Updated On 11/01/2022, Published on 12/20/2022
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH web site (http://ibis.health.state.gov). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 9:59:08 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health Web site: http://ibis.health.state.gov ".

Content updated: Tue, 20 Dec 2022 15:42:28 MST