Fruits and vegetables intake and physical activity among hypertensive adults in the United States: behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2003 and 2007.

Background: Consuming enough fruits and vegetables and engaging in regular physical activity are believed to be two important components of several lifestyle modifications for people with hypertension. The purpose of this study was to measure the degree to which US adults with hypertension achieved recommended intakes of fruits and vegetables and engaged in recommended levels of physical activity in 2003 and 2007.

Methods: Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data conducted in 2003 (N = 264,178) and 2007 (N = 430,082), we determined the changes in the prevalence of eating > or =5 servings of fruits and vegetables and of obtaining Healthy People 2010 recommended level of physical activity among adults with hypertension during the period.

Results: In 2003 and 2007, among individuals with hypertension, age-adjusted prevalences of eating > or =5 servings of fruits and vegetables were 23.8 and 24.4% (P = 0.394) and meeting a recommended physical activity level were 38.2 and 40.3% (P < 0.001). With 2003 as the reference, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of eating > or =5 servings of fruits and vegetables and meeting a recommended physical activity for 2007 were 1.02 (0.97-1.08) and 1.06 (1.01-1.10), respectively, after adjusting for relevant factors.

Conclusions: Among hypertensives, less than a quarter are eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and less than half are meeting recommended physical activity. In 4 years, there was no statistically significant improvement in intake of fruits and vegetables and just a slight, albeit statistically significant, improvement in physical activity among US adults.