The effect of nutrition education intervention on the intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and on physical activity, body mass index and waist circumference of residents of a rural community in Texas

A high consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods, and adequate levels of physical activity are associated with a lower risk of overweight and obesity, and lower risk of cancer. Research suggests that most rural communities are in a high risk of overweight and obesity and cancer due to unhealthy behaviors.
This study examined if a nutrition education intervention in a rural Texas community had a positive impact in changing eating behaviors, specifically increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods, and in increasing physical activity levels. The effect of this nutrition intervention was assessed by analyzing data collected during the pre and post stages of the intervention, with participants in the intervention group (Muleshoe) (N=67). Independent and paired samples t-tests, bivariate correlations were used to analyze the anthropometric, demographic, and survey data. Results showed that in this rural community, the majority of the participants were older than 50 years, predominantly female, married, and spoke English. Muleshoe’s participants were predominantly Whites and Hispanics, completed high school or were high school graduates, and had an annual income of less than $20,000. At pre-intervention participants had a mean Body Mass index (BMI) of 30.4±6.97; only 6% consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily; and 19.4% consumed three or more servings of whole grain foods daily. There were no statistically significant differences found in BMI, waist circumference (WC), fruit, vegetable, and whole grain food consumption at post-intervention. However, participation in sports or physical activity programs showed a significant change at post-intervention. Bivariate correlations between BMI, WC, servings of fruits and vegetables, servings of whole grain foods did not showed significant differences. In addition, significant positive associations were found among intake of fruits and vegetables, education, and income; and intake of whole grain foods and education in Muleshoe at pre-intervention. Lastly, income was significantly positively associated with sports or physical activity programs in Muleshoe at pre- and post-intervention. Assessment of these data indicates that it is necessary to continue assessing this rural community to identify barriers to healthy behaviors and improve interventions to increase consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and increased levels of physical activity.