Testing the Assumptions of Stage of Change for Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: A Naturalistic Study

Chronic disease now accounts for 7 of every 10 deaths in the United States and 60% of the nation’s health expenditures [1]. Poor nutrition is a substantial contributor to the chronic disease burden, accounting for over $33 billion in medical costs and $9 billion in lost productivity per year [1]. Fortunately, many detriments of chronic disease, such as increased risk for heart disease [2-4], stroke [5, 6], diabetes [7, 8], osteoporosis [9], and cancer [10, 11], can be prevented through adoption of a healthy diet. Fruit and vegetables are an integral part of a healthy diet, and they provide many nutrients that may reduce the risk for some types of cancers and chronic disease [12-16]. To achieve this protective effect, disease prevention guidelines recommend that individuals consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day [17, 18]. However, data from the 50 US states indicates that 70-80% of US adults fall short of these recommendations [19].