Definition

The percentage of adults who reported consuming fruit 2 or more times a day.

Numerator

The number of survey respondents who reported consuming fruit 2 or more times a day.

Denominator

The total number of survey respondents.

Data Interpretation Issues

To reduce bias and more accurately represent population data, the BRFSS 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.

Why Is This Important?

Fruits 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, 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 U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 2 cups of fruit per day in a standard 2,000-calorie diet for those between the ages of 19 and 59.^3^ Specific recommendations based on an individual's age, gender, and activity level can be found in the [https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/ 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans].[[br]] [[br]] ---- 1. MyPlate U.S. Department of Agriculture [https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits#:~:text=guava%2C%20and%20kiwifruit.-,Nutrients,are%20sources%20of%20dietary%20fiber./ "Fruits"][[br]] 2. CDC [https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-weight-growth/healthy-eating/index.html "Healthy Eating for a Healthy Weight"][[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 [https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/ Dietary Guidelines for Americans].

Other Objectives

[https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/increase-fruit-consumption-people-aged-2-years-and-over-nws-06/ '''Healthy People 2030 Objective NWS-06''']:[[br]] Increase fruit consumption by people aged 2 years and over.[[br]] '''U.S. Target:''' 0.56 cups equivalents per 1,000 calories[[br]] [[br]] Increase the proportion of persons aged 18 years and older who consume fruit two or more times per day.[[br]] '''Utah Target:''' 34%

How Are We Doing?

Please note that the fruit consumption questions were changed in 2011 and results cannot be compared with years before 2011. In 2021, about 1 in 3 (29.2%) Utah adults reported eating fruit two or more times per day (age-adjusted rates).

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

In 2021, 29.2% of Utah adults reported eating fruit 2 or more times per day, which is similar to the U.S. rate of 28.6% (age-adjusted rates).

What Is Being Done?

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services 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). This 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. This 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 [https://heal.utah.gov/schools/ schools] to adopt the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/professional_development/e-learning/CSPAP/index.html/ 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 works with schools to apply the [https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/index.htm/ Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model], which emphasizes the role of the community in supporting academic and health success for 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 at [https://heal.utah.gov/worksite-wellness/ Worksite Wellness]. In communities:[[br]] HEAL receives federal funding to partner with worksites, community-based organizations, and local health departments to increase access to [https://heal.utah.gov/nutrition/ fresh fruits and vegetables] in worksite and community settings. HEAL also partners with local health departments to work with cities and/or counties within their jurisdictions to foster a built environment that encourages [https://heal.utah.gov/physical-activity/ physical activity]. In healthcare:[[br]] HEAL works with health care systems to establish community clinical linkages to support individuals [https://heal.utah.gov/diabetes/ 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 [https://heal.utah.gov/top-star-providers/ TOP Star Program], which aims to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding policies and environments to achieve best practices in childcare centers and homes.

Available Services

Visit [http://heal.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. This includes individualized plans, tools to track intake, and early childhood, pregnancy, and lactation plans. 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 promoting 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 healthcare providers, including diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, community health centers, community health workers, worksites, and health plans to improve the care provided to Utahns across the state. [https://heal.utah.gov/about-us/ '''Overarching Goals''']:[[br]] 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.

Relevant Population Characteristics

Overall, more women than men reported eating fruit two or more times daily. Fruit consumption increases with age, education, and income. Some regional differences were also seen.

Risk Factors

There is some evidence that people who form the habit of eating fruits and vegetables early in life are likely to maintain the behavior as adults.[[br]] [[br]]

Health Status Outcomes

People who eat few fruits and vegetables are at higher risk for developing several types of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases.

Due to changes in both sampling and the fruit consumption question format, 2011 data should not be compared to previous years. In 2012, Utah added the question on fruit consumption. This question was not available in the U.S. data set for 2012, thus, there is no value for U.S. in 2012.

Data Notes

U.S. data do not include U.S. territories, but do include District of Columbia. Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

American Indian/Alaska Native adults reported the highest rate of consuming 2 or more fruits a day in 2021 (36.2%).

Data Notes

Please note that in 2023 the question for race changed. These categories represent respondents reporting a single race alone. If multiple races were given, responses are in the "Two or more races" category. Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population based on 3 age groups: 18-34, 35-49, and 50+.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

There is little difference in the rates of fruit consumption by ethnicity.

Data Notes

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Rates shown are crude rates. Females have higher rates of consuming fruit two or more times a day compared to males across every age group. The overall crude rate for consuming fruit 2 or more times a day in 2021 was 29.0% (not shown in the table).

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Fruit consumption varies by local health district. The rate for Central Utah local health district (22.8%) was statistically significantly lower than the state rate. Bear River (36.2%) and Utah County (31.9%) local health districts were statistically significantly higher than the state.

Data Notes

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Data Notes

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population. *Use caution in interpreting; the estimate has a coefficient of variation > 30% and is therefore deemed unreliable by Utah Department of Health and Human Services standards. **The estimate has been suppressed because 1) the relative standard error is greater than 50% or 2) the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication. A description of the Utah Small Areas may be found on the Methodology and Guidelines page: [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/resource/Guidelines.html].

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

Data Notes

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

College graduates reported eating fruit at least two times per day more than those with lower levels of education.

Data Notes

Age-adjusted to U.S. 2000 standard population. Percentages include only adults aged 25 or older.

Data Source

Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]

References and Community Resources

World Cancer Research Fund, American Institute for Cancer Research. 'Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective" October 2018. [Online Access] [https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/about] [[br]] [[br]] Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 [https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf] Healthy Environments Active Living Program, Utah Department of Health and Human Services[[br]] [http://heal.utah.gov] Produce for Better Health, Fruits & Veggies--More Matters[[br]] [https://www.uspm.com/fruits-and-veggies-more-matters] National Fruit and Vegetable Alliance[[br]] [https://fruitsandveggies.org/nfva/]