Ahlam Badreldin El Shikieri
Taibah University, Saudi Arabia
Title: Fruit and vegetable’s consumption among children and adolescents: Trends, determinants of consumption and possible solutions
Biography
Biography: Ahlam Badreldin El Shikieri
Abstract
Nutritional health during childhood and adolescency is important to support the growing body and to prevent the future health problems. Fruits and vegetables are important components of a healthy diet. Their consumption varies considerably among and within countries. Large proportions of children do not fulfil the World Health Organization recommendation of eating fruit and vegetables per day. Reduced fruit and vegetables’ consumption is linked to poor health, constipation and increased risk of noncommunicable diseases including cancer. The dietary fibre available in the outer skin of these foods could help to lower blood pressure, and together with phytochemicals such as plant sterols, flavonoids and other antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables which may be important in modulating cholesterol and other biological processes. In addition, obesity and overweight among this age group is being linked to low intake of fruits and vegetables. The determinants for high consumption levels of fruits and vegetables are found to be related to female gender, low age, high socioeconomic status, high preferences for fruit and vegetables, large parental intake of fruit and vegetables and high availability/accessibility of fruit and vegetables at home as well as peer influence. Possible solutions to improve fruit and vegetables’ consumption include behavioural interventions and improvements in agricultural and food systems. Results from Sudan and Saudi Arabia will be discussed.