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Introduction: Fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption can be a protective factor for chronic diseases, but few studies have investigated the association between FV consumption and health risks for chronic disease in the context of the food and nutrition assistance system. The aim of this study was to assess the association between FV consumption and the prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and body mass index (BMI) among food pantry users in small- to mid-sized metropolitan communities in the northeastern United States. Methods: We used data from three health surveys conducted among residents of communities in upstate New York to construct a predictive model of food pantry use. We then applied the model to a regional subset of SMART Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data collected in the northeastern United States to identify potential food pantry users. We examined the associations between FV intake and diabetes, hypertension, and BMI through univariate and multivariate logistic and linear regressions. Additionally, we investigated food pantry use as a potential modifier of these associations.Results: The analysis dataset included 5,257 respondents, of which 634 individuals (12.06%) were estimated to be food pantry users. Vegetables consumption was associated with decreased odds of hypertension and lower BMI, regardless of food pantry use. Fruits consumption was associated with decreased odds of diabetes regardless of food pantry use. The association between fruit consumption and BMI was modified by the use of food pantry. Among food pantry users, consumption of fruits was associated with a higher BMI, while among food pantry non-users, it was associated with a lower BMI.Conclusion: The overall protective effect of increased FV consumption on chronic disease risks suggest that increasing FV availability in food pantries may not only alleviate hunger but also contribute to better health. Further research is needed to elucidate what is driving the discrepant association between fruit consumption and BMI among food pantry users and non-users.
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This content will become publicly available on April 8, 2026
Moving beyond forest cover: Linking forest density, age, and fragmentation to diet
Abstract Forests support food security and nutrition worldwide, especially so for highly forest-dependent communities who collect a variety of food products from nearby forests. While the importance of forest cover to the diets of forest-dependent communities has been well-researched, little is known regarding the role of more specific forest characteristics – information that would be valuable for better identifying the landscapes that support a nutritious and diverse diet. To address this research gap, we linked child dietary data to remotely-sensed geospatial indicators of surrounding forest characteristics – using more nuance than is typically undertaken – by examining forest age, tree density, and forest fragmentation in Kenya’s East African Montane Forests. Interestingly, dietary diversity of children demonstrated no or relatively weak associations with forest characteristics. However, by parsing out individual food groups, we exposed the nuance and complexities associated with the forest-diet relationship. Vegetable/fruit consumption was positively associated with open and moderately dense forest cover, but negatively associated with fragmented forest cover. The consumption of meat and vitamin A-rich fruit was positively associated with younger forest cover, and negatively associated with dense forest cover. Older forest cover was positively associated with green leafy vegetable consumption, but negatively associated with other vegetable/fruit consumption. Our findings provide suggestive evidence that there is no single ‘ideal’ type of forest for supporting food security and nutrition – rather, different types of forests are associated with different dietary benefits. Taken together, these results indicate the need for more in-depth research that accounts for factors beyond the proximity and amount of generic forest cover.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2149244
- PAR ID:
- 10588072
- Publisher / Repository:
- Springer
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Food Security
- ISSN:
- 1876-4517
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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