Association between socioeconomic factors and fruit and vegetable consumption in Brazilians aged ≥ 50 years: ELSI-Brazil data

Abstract

Objective: Daily fruit and vegetable consumption is a critical factor in health, especially aging. This study aimed to evaluate the association between socioeconomic factors and daily fruit and vegetable consumption in men and women aged ≥ 50 years. Methods: This cross-sectional study used 2015–2016 data from the Brazilian longitudinal study of aging (ELSI-Brazil), which included 8665 individuals aged ≥ 50 years. Daily fruit and vegetable consumption was the dependent variable, and income, education, sex, age, and race were the independent variables. Associations between fruit and vegetable consumption and the independent variables were determined using Poisson regression. Results: Individuals who had completed higher education (OR 2.40; 95% CI 2.07–2.78), whose income was > 3 times the minimum wage (OR 2.42; 95% CI 2.18–2.68), and those aged > 80 years (OR 1.44; 95% CI 1.27–1.63) were more likely to consume fruits and vegetables. However, men (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.58–0.67), Blacks (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.65–0.84), and people of mixed race (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.63–0.73), were less likely to consume fruits and vegetables. Conclusions: The results show inequality in fruit and vegetable consumption among people aged ≥ 50 years, which was lower among men, people of Black or mixed race, people with low income and education, and those with younger age. Interventions areneeded to promote fruit and vegetable consumption, and thus healthy aging, among these groups.

Keywords

• aging
• diet
• fruit
• vegetables
• socioeconomic factors