Produce Consumption Patterns Among Pregnant Women In Delaware: Health, Income, And Policy Implications
Date
2016-05
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Produce plays an integral role in a wellbalanced
diet and research has
continually demonstrated the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables to
reduce one’s risk of cancers, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and other
health problems. For pregnant women, diet is especially important. Certain
vitamins and minerals, such as folic acid, are vital for a healthy pregnancy, and
have been found to reduce birth defects in infants as well as the risk of
developing other, more longterm
health problems in children. Most of these
nutrients are found in fruits and vegetables.
The consumption of fruits and vegetables in the United States is
notoriously low, and very few Americans eat the World Health Organization’s
recommended five daily servings. A lowquality
diet is thought to be the result
of a variety of factors, but the social determinants of health such as income
may play a meaningful role. This paper examines the importance of produce
consumption during pregnancy and the fruit and vegetable consumption
patterns of pregnant women in the state of Delaware, as indicated by the
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Furthermore, this paper will
assess whether or not income is related to the produce consumption patterns of
pregnant women, and assess the research concerning motivations behind
personal diet choices.
Description
Keywords
public policy, pregnancy, delaware, consumption patterns