Fruit and vegetable intake among rural youth following a school-based randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveWe implemented a theory-based randomized controlled trial (Living Free of Tobacco, Plus (LIFT +) in ten rural middle schools and assessed impact on tobacco use and fruit/vegetable (F/V) intake in 2008–2010. Data on F/V intake at baseline, immediate post intervention, and 1-year follow-up are presented.MethodsSchools were randomized to intervention or control groups. Goal setting, peer leaders, and class workshops with parent involvement, were intervention features; community partners were supportive. Seventh graders filled out surveys on health behaviors, psycho-social variables, and demographic characteristics. Adjusted models comparing intervention and control conditions were analyzed.ResultsSample (n = 1119) was 48.5% female, 50% White, with a mean age of 12.7 years. Mean F/V servings were significantly higher in intervention schools at immediate post (3.19 servings) and at 1-year (3.02 servings) compared to controls (2.90, 2.69 respectively). Knowledge of 5-a-day recommendation was significantly higher in intervention schools at immediate post test (75.0%) versus controls (53.8%) but not at 1-year follow-up.ConclusionsIntervention schools reported significantly higher mean F/V servings at post intervention and 1-year, and for knowledge of F/V recommendations at immediate post compared to controls. Higher levels of parent and community involvement may further increase F/V intake in future interventions.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01412697.

► School-based FV RCT tested in 7th graders using goals, peer leaders and workshops. ► Significantly higher FV intake reported by intervention group at post and at 1 year. ► Higher FV recommendations knowledge scores in intervention group at post only. ► Youth confidence in 5-a-day related to number of friends or family eating 5-a-day.