Patterns of fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among community

Many modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases are related to dietary patterns and physical activity. This study aims to establish the prevalence of adequate fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity among community-ambulant patients in Singapore. A cross-sectional study was conducted among community-ambulant patients using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire, covering self-reported level of physical activity and daily fruit and vegetable intake. Demographic information, awareness and adherence to recommendations were summarised using descriptive statistics. To identify factors influencing awareness and behaviour, exploratory logistic regression analyses were performed. Three hundred and eighty-five complete responses were analysed. For intake of fruits and vegetables, 29.1% and 21.3% of participants were aware of and adherent to the fruit and vegetable intake recommendation respectively. For physical activity, 21.3% and 26.8% of study participants were aware of and adherent to the recommendation respectively. Only 4.7% and 5.5% of participants were aware of and practising both recommendations respectively. Gender, age, ethnicity and body mass index were found to have significant influence on the awareness of the recommendations. However, there was no significant factor found to be contributing to the adherence to the recommendations. Awareness of and adherence to lifestyle recommendations among patients remain low despite ongoing publicity efforts. Many are not fully aware of and adherent to the dietary and physical activity recommendations publicised. Apart from intensifying public outreach on every possible occasion and delivering messages in manners understandable by our older patients, strategies targeting the knowledge–behaviour disconnect among working middle-aged patients also deserve continued attention in the near future