A motivational interviewing intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake through Black churches: Results of the eat for life trial

Objectives. This study reports on Eat for Life, a multicomponent interventi on to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among African Americans that was delivered through Black churches. Methods. Fourteen churches were randomly assigned to 3 treatment conditions : (1) comparison, (2) self-help intervention with 1 telephone cue call, and (3) self-help with 1 cue call and 3 counseling calls. The telephone counse ling in group 3 was based on motivational interviewing. The primary outcome , assessed at baseline and 1-year follow-up, was fruit and vegetable intake as assessed by 3 food frequency questionnaires. Results. Change in fruit and vegetable intake was significantly greater in the motvational interviewing group than in the comparison and self-help gro ups. The net difference between the motivational interviewing and compariso n groups was 1.38, 1.03, and 1.21 servings of fruits and vegetables per day for the 2-item, 7-item, and 36-item food frequency questionnaires, respect ively. The net difference between the motivational interviewing and self-he lp groups was 1.14, 1.10, and 0.97 servings for the 2-item, 7-item, and 36- item food frequency questionnaires, respectively. Conclusions. Motivational interviewing appears to be a promising strategy f or modifying dietary behavior, and Black churches are an excellent setting to implement and evaluate health promotion programs.