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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Donna B. Johnson, RD, PhD1, Sharon L. Beaudoin, RD, MPH1, Shirley A.A. Beresford, PhD2, and James P. LoGerfo, MD, MPH3. (1) School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Nutritional Sciences Program, BOX 353410, Seattle, WA 98195, 206-685-1068, djohn@u.washington.edu, (2) Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Box 357236, Seattle, WA 98195, (3) Health Promotion Research Center, University of Washington, Box 358852, Seattle, WA 98195
Low-income groups on average eat fewer fruits and vegetables that then population as a whole. We studied a farmers' market program that provided baskets of fresh produce every 2 weeks as part of regular Meals-on-Wheels (MOWh) deliveries for homebound, low-income seniors. METHODS: 480 MOWh participants formed the intervention group. A similar group of MOWh participants in an adjacent catchment area were the control group. The intervention consisted of baskets of produce and newsletters delivered throughout the summer and early fall. Telephone interviews were conducted before basket deliveries began and again during the last week of deliveries. Eighty-seven intervention and 44 control subjects completed both interviews. RESULTS: At baseline only 22% of seniors in the intervention group were eating 5 or more fruits or vegetables per day compared to 33% of those sixty five and older in Washington State as a whole. (1) By the end of the program, 39% of seniors in the intervention group were eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day. Mean daily intake in the intervention group increased from a baseline of 3.51 (+1.67) to 4.55 (+1.98). Servings increased by 1.31/day more in the intervention than control group (p<. 0001). CONCLUSIONS: Bi-weekly delivery of fresh food does increase fruit and vegetable intake in frail seniors. Participants were resourceful in finding ways to use and prepare the produce despite functional limitations. The intervention was feasible as a collaboration of the local Agency on Aging, Seattle Senior Services, the local health department, and Seattle's Pike Place Community Supported Agriculture.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.