 | CDC: Eat fruits and vegetables
» Local Angle: To access information on the health of Philadelphia residents, visit the Department of Public Health website.
Oct. 4, 2009 - Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, issued its first state-by-state report on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. |
| CDC reports indicates no state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables. | |
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The report -
State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, 2009 - found that no state is meeting national objectives for consumption of fruits and vegetables.
The
report also highlighted key policy initiatives including access to
retail grocery stores that stock fresh fruits and vegetables; school
support for making fresh fruit and vegetables available to students;
and comprehensive systems, supported by food policy councils, to bring
farm produce to consumers.
The Healthy People 2010 objectives aim for at least 75 percent of
Americans to eat the recommended two or more daily servings of fruit,
and for at least 50 percent of Americans to eat the recommended three
or more servings of vegetables daily, according to a CDC press release.
However, CDC surveys indicate
that only 33 percent of adults meet the recommendation for fruit
consumption and 27 percent get the recommended servings of vegetables.
The statistics are lower for high school students – 32 percent
report eating at least two servings of fruit daily and 13 percent say
they eat at least three servings of vegetables each day.
"A diet high in fruits and vegetables is important for optimal child
growth, maintaining a healthy weight, and prevention of chronic
diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers, all of which
currently contribute to health care costs in the United States," Dr.
William H. Dietz, director of CDC′s Division of Nutrition, Physical
Activity, and Obesity, said. "This report will help states determine
what is
taking place in their communities and schools and come up with ways to
encourage people to eat more fruits and vegetables."
