Authors
Moriasi Abednego Nyanchoka, Martha Elizabeth van Stuijvenberg, Ayuk Betrand Tambe, Mthokozisi Kwazi Zuma, Xikombiso Gertrude Mbhenyane
Publication date
2022/6/7
Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
19
Issue
12
Pages
6965
Publisher
MDPI
Description
This study assesses the fruit and vegetable consumption patterns and risk factors for chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL) among young adults attending Kenyatta University, Kenya. Four hundred and twenty-three young adults aged 19–30 years participated in the cross-sectional study. Males were 75.0% less likely to be overweight than females (OR = 0.25; 0.13–0.47). The mean overall consumption of fruit and/or vegetables amounted to 3.6 servings in a typical day. Eight in ten participants consumed lower amounts of fruits and vegetables than recommended by the WHO. At least one combined risk factor of CDL was observed among 91.3% of the young adults. About 8.7% of the participants were classified as low risk for CDL (having none of the five risk factors), 48.9% had one risk factor, 32.9% had two risk factors, 8.5% had three risk factors, while 0.9% had four risk factors. A significant relationship between daily fruit consumption and waist circumference was observed. These findings show the dire need to develop public health nutrition activities aimed at increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables and sensitizing young adults, and the general population, to the risk factors of CDL.
Total citations
2022202320245106
Scholar articles
MA Nyanchoka, ME van Stuijvenberg, AB Tambe… - International Journal of Environmental Research and …, 2022