Use of the Transtheoretical Model of Change to Successfully Predict Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

This study examined the applicability of the transtheoretical model of change to assess readiness to increase fruit and vegetable intake in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. Using data from the 1991 5 A Day baseline survey of 2811 respondents, this study developed an algorithm based in part on responses to fruit and vegetable questions for classifying people into alternative stages of change. Associations were examined between stages of change, fruit and vegetable intake, and demographic and psychosocial factors. Results indicated that individuals can be classified by stage of change vis à vis fruit and vegetable intake. Persons in the higher stages of maintenance reported intakes that met national dietary recommendations of five or more servings of fruit and vegetables daily and those in action reported intakes that approached this level. Regression analyses showed that stages of change were a significant predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption, explaining 17% of the variation in fruit and vegetable intake. Stages of change and knowing the number of fruit and vegetable servings one should eat for good health provided the most parsimonious model, explaining 25% of the variance in total fruit and vegetable intake, compared with 29% for the full model.These findings suggest that stages are a successful predictor of fruit and vegetable consumption and implies a utility for the transtheoretical theory in the design and evaluation of stage-based nutrition messages for chronic disease prevention.