Perception versus intake of fruit and vegetables

ABSTRACT Objective To compare perception and intake of fruit and vegetables, and to identify the factors associated with misperception of intake. Methods Cross-sectional study with 3,414 participants of the Health Academy Program from Belo Horizonte (MG), Brazil. Stages of change from Transtheoretical Model were used to evaluate perception of intake, and questions adapted from national surveys were used to assess intake of fruit and vegetables as separate groups. Individuals whose intake and perception were discordant were reclassified in pseudo-maintenance (wrongly believe their intake is adequate) or non-reflective action (wrongly believe their intake is inadequate). Results Insufficient intake of fruit and vegetables and misperception of intake were observed. Pseudo-maintenance was more prevalent, given that 45.1% of individuals were reclassified in this stage regarding their vegetable intake and 22.9% regarding fruit. According to multinomial logistic regression, pseudo-maintenance of fruit intake was associated with sex, schooling, food and nutrition security, weight satisfaction, and participation in nutrition interventions; pseudo-maintenance of vegetable intake was associated with schooling and weight satisfaction. Non-reflective action was associated with age. Conclusion An important discordance between perception and intake was found, with emphasis on pseudo-maintenance of vegetable intake. Misperception was associated with different factors regarding fruit and vegetables, including sociodemographic variables, participation in nutrition interventions, and weight satisfaction. These results can contribute to the design of interventions aligned with eating behavior, aimed to empower individuals for their food choices.摘要 目的：本研究旨在比较果蔬的认知摄入与实际摄入情况，并识别与摄入认知偏差相关的影响因素。方法：本研究为横断面研究，纳入巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州贝洛奥里藏特市健康学院项目的3414名参与者。采用行为改变跨理论模型（Transtheoretical Model）评估摄入认知，使用改编自全国性调查的问卷分别评估水果与蔬菜的实际摄入量。将实际摄入与认知摄入不一致的个体重新划分为伪维持组（错误认为自身摄入充足）或非反思行动组（错误认为自身摄入不足）。结果：研究观察到果蔬摄入不足及摄入认知偏差的情况。其中伪维持组占比更高：蔬菜摄入相关的伪维持组占比为45.1%，水果摄入相关的占比为22.9%。多项逻辑回归分析结果显示，水果摄入伪维持与性别、受教育程度、食物与营养安全状况、体重满意度及营养干预参与情况相关；蔬菜摄入伪维持则与受教育程度和体重满意度相关。而非反思行动组则与年龄存在关联。结论：本研究发现果蔬的认知摄入与实际摄入间存在显著偏差，其中尤以蔬菜摄入的伪维持现象最为突出。摄入认知偏差的影响因素因果蔬类别而异，包括社会人口学变量、营养干预参与情况及体重满意度。本研究结果可为贴合饮食行为特征的干预方案设计提供参考，旨在助力个体提升自主饮食选择能力。