Table 3

Mean number of days per week, on average, that participants consumed five or more fruit and vegetables and consumed at least the minimum amount of fiber according to selected demographic, lifestyle, and health history variables


Fruit and Vegetables
Fiber

Age


     50–59
3.6
4.9
     60–69
3.8
5.1
     70–79
4.4
5.5
     80+
4.0
5.4
Gender


     Male
3.7
5.1
     Female
4.2
5.2
Marital Status


     Married (including 7 cohabitating)
3.9
5.1
     Previously married
3.7
5.2
     Never married
4.5
6.1
Education


     Less than High School
3.3
5.3
     High School
3.7
5.1
     Some college
3.9
4.8
     Bachelor degree
3.9
5.5
     Master or Doctorate degree
4.0
5.2
Annual Household Income


     < $35,000
3.7
5.0
     $35,000 – < $50,000
3.9
5.1
     $50,000 – < $75,000
3.7
4.9
     $75,000
4.1
5.3
Do you consider yourself to be religiously active?


     Yes
3.9
5.1
     No
3.8
5.2
Smoking Status


     Current
3.2
3.7
     Previous, but not within the last six months
3.9
5.2
     Never
3.9
5.2
Alcohol Drinking Status


     Current
3.9
5.3
     Previous, but not within the last six months
4.0
5.4
     Never
3.7
4.8
Perceived Weight


     Underweight
4.3
5.3
     Normal weight
4.2
5.3
     Overweight/Obese
3.4
4.8
What is your current overall health status?


     Excellent
4.4
5.4
     Very good
3.8
5.2
     Good
3.5
4.9
     Fair/Poor
3.2
3.9
History of Chronic Disease*


     Yes
3.9
5.0
     No
3.8
5.2

Significant F-statistics and corresponding P values in the Fruit and Vegetables column were: F(3) = 3.7, 0.0123 for age; F(1) = 6.0, 0.0147 for gender; F(2) = 8.6, 0.0002 for weight; and F(3) = 5.3, 0.0013 for health status. For the Fiber column these were: F(2) = 6.47, 0.0017 for smoking status; F(2) = 4.14, 0.0163 for alcohol drinking; F(2) = 4.4, 0.0127 for weight; and F(3) = 3.4, 0.0170 for health status. *Chronic disease included cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease.

Merrill and Shields Nutrition Journal 2003 2:16   doi:10.1186/1475-2891-2-16