title: Assessment of fruit and vegetable intake behavior among adolescents in Hangzhou, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the fruit and vegetable (FV) intake of adolescents, assess factors influencing intake and discuss health education strategies related to this behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Hangzhou, China, 861 students aged 13.68 ± 1.03 years were randomly recruited to carry out a cross-sectional, school-based survey. The design of the survey questionnaire was based on the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of Behavior Change. Results of the survey rated FV consumption and children's readiness to assume healthier dietary choices. The study design incorporated the four core constructs of TTM: stages of change, processes of change, decisional balance and self-efficacy. Results were assessed by chi-square tests, analysis of variance, Tukey's post-hoc tests and logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the participants were in the TTM contemplation stage of change. The average number of FV servings among participants was 3.12 ± 1.41 per day. The specific process of change, number of decisional balance pros (as opposed to cons), and self-efficacy ratings were positively correlated with stage of change transition (Spearman r > 0, P < 0.01). Stage transition, higher scores on self-efficacy and lower scores on cons predicted higher FV consumption (β > 0, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of TTM may be a powerful personalized means of decreasing poor dietary behaviors and promoting healthy behaviors, compared to traditional methods of behavioral change.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Health Management, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chenjia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Liangwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tingjie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Hanqiong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qifa
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables