American International Journal of Social Science

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by Louisiana’s Youth: Strategies to Increase Intake and Reduce Obesity
Holly S. Kihm, PhD, CCLS; Dan Hollander, PhD; Heidi Kulkin, PhD, LCSW-BACS; Peggy Rolling, PhD, CFLE

Abstract
Increased fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for combating obesity among children (CDC, 2015). Despite the recommendations, children consume inadequate amounts of fruits and vegetables (Glen, Thomas, Loebach, Gilliland, & Gobert, 2014; Neville, McKinley, & Draffin, 2015). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors that influence FVC among children in Louisiana. Results showed that both boys and girls reported fairly consistent FVC up until the 5th grade. Beyond the 5th grade, race, gender, and age became significant factors for determining FVC. Additionally, older children had higher BMI scores when compared to younger children. The findings may provide future policy makers and public health campaigns with valuable input on how to increase FVC.

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