Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Weight-Control Behaviors Among US Youth

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and weight control behaviors among youth. METHODS: Data (N = 16,262) were derived from the 1997 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). RESULTS: Results indicated that adolescents in this study, especially females, were at risk for inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. Weight-control behaviors were high especially among females. CONCLUSION: Although some weight-control behaviors may be hazardous, adolescents who were practicing weight-control behaviors engaged in the positive dietary behavior of consuming more servings of fruits and vegetables.