Farm to Consumer Retail Outlet Use, Fruit and Vegetable Intake, and Obesity Status among WIC Program Participants in Alabama.
OBJECTIVES We studied whether use of farm to consumer (FTC) retail outlets (eg, farmers market, farm/roadside stand) was associated with daily fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake or obesity status among women who participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Birmingham, AL. METHODS We used a cross sectional study design and recruited a convenience sample of 312 women (mean age 27.6; 67.0% non Hispanic black; 45.6% obese) participating in Birmingham's WIC Program. Participants were recruited between October 2014 and January 2015. Participants who self reported purchasing produce from a FTC outlet during the 2014 farmers' market season were classified as FTC outlet users. Multivariable adjusted regression models were used to examine associations between FTC outlet use, daily F&V intake, and obesity status (ie, body mass index 30) RESULTS Approximately 26.1% of participants were classified as FTC outlet users. After adjusting for socio demographic factors and WIC Cash Value Voucher redemption, FTC outlet use was associated with increased odds of consuming 5 servings of F&Vs per day (OR: 2.01; 95% 1.15 3.50) but not obesity status (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.39 1.20) CONCLUSIONS FTC retail outlet use was associated with F&V intake among program participants but not obesity status.
American journal of health behavior