SELF-REPORTED DIETARY-CHANGES WITH RESPECT TO AMERICAN-CANCER-SOCIETYNUTRITION GUIDELINES (1982-1986)

A follow-up study was conducted by the Illinois Division of the Americ an Cancer Society (ACS) in conjunction with the ongoing National Cance r Prevention Study II (CPSII) to determine whether self-report dietary changes are occurring in accordance with the A CS nutrition guideline s and to identify demographic subgroups that may be targeted for futur e prevention and education programs. A total of 42,300 CPSII responden ts completed a 1986 questionnaire and were matched to 1982 baseline da ta. Dietary items were recorded as ''on the average, how many days per week do you eat the following foods? '' Individuals with known chroni c conditions, body mass index outside a moderate range, and fewer than four completed food items were excluded. The remaining study populati on (n = 18,062) included men and women who were apparently healthy and primarily over the age of 50. The distribution of foods reported in 1 982 and changes in foods consumed (1982-1986) among selected food grou ps varied modestly by sex, age, and educational level. Modest changes in the direction of decreasing intake of high-fat foods and increasing intake of high-fiber foods and cruciferous vegetables were reported. Dietary changes consistent with the ACS nutrition guidelines appear to have taken place in this population, particularly for the use of frie d foods in males and intake of high-fiber foods and cruciferous vegeta bles in females.