THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE AND CHRONIC DISEASE RISK-FACTORS

Understanding the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and other health behaviors is important for properly interpreting the rapi dly growing number of studies that link low intakes of fruits and vege tables to the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. To examine th e association between fruit and vegetable intake and behavioral risk f actors for chronic diseases, we analyzed data from a population-based behavioral risk factor survey. Data were collected in 1990 from 21,892 adults in 16 states by a random-digit-dial telephone survey. Responde nts answered questions about behaviors related to chronic disease risk , including their frequency of intake of fruits and vegetables, using a six-item questionnaire. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was low est among those who also reported that they were sedentary, heavy smok ers, heavy drinkers, or had never had their blood cholesterol checked. Because fruit and vegetable intake covaries with several other chroni c disease risk factors, it is important to account for possible confou nding between fruit and vegetable intake and other behaviors in etiolo gic studies of the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.