Living Well / Increasing Adult Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Indicator: Percent of adults who have consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times per day.

Description: Indicators are from UCLA’s California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) Public Use File (PUF). This variable is a construct based on diet questions asking the number of fruits and the number of vegetables consumed in the prior month (CHIS PUF Variable: AE2, and AE7). Adults 18+ were asked “During the past month, how many times did you eat fruit? Do not count juices.” AND “During the past month, how many times did you eat vegetables like green salad, green beans, or potatoes? Do not include fried potatoes or cooked dried beans such as refried beans, baked beans or bean soup.”.

Data Limitations: Asked of California’s residential population (adults, teens, and children), administered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Does not include those living in group quarters or homeless persons. This indicator uses weighted data.

Indicator Source: UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research CHIS is an annual, population-based, omnibus health survey of California. It is the largest telephone survey in California and the largest state health survey in the country. Note that this indicator uses weighted data.

Data Sharing Agreement: Researchers can access a variety of publicly available CHIS data files and web tools. These CHIS data products include downloadable data sets and easy-to-read documents. In addition, local county health departments can request data files specific to their county. However, researchers can apply to analyze confidential CHIS data, data sensitive variables and/or geo-coded data through the CHIS Data Access Center (DAC). Access to confidential CHIS data requires a research application, review, and approval.

Indicator Calculation Methodology: Indicator constructed from responses to multiple survey questions, where adult fruit and vegetable consumption (AFV) = (AE2 + AE7)*(12/365.25). More information about “constructed variables” is available from the CHIS FAQs, available at https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/chis/faq/Pages/default.aspx

Data Collection Methodology: Statewide telephone survey using a geographically stratified sample design. Estimates are weighted to Dept. of Finance demographic data (adjusted for group quarters population). More information is available at https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/chis/design/Pages/overview.aspx

Program URL Link: https://healthpolicy.ucla.edu/chis/Pages/default.aspx

Reporting Cycle:  Annual Survey

Reporting Lag:  2 years

1. Office of Health Equity. (August 2015). Portrait of Promise: California Statewide Plan to Promote Health Equity and Mental Health Equity. California Department of Public Health. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OHE/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Accessible-CDPH_OHE_Disparity_Report_Final%20(2).pdf

2. Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force. (December 2012). Lets Get Healthy California Task Force Final Report. Let’s Get Healthy California Task Force., https://letsgethealthy.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lets-Get-Healthy-California-Task-Force-Final-Report.pdf

3. Peck, C., Logan, J., Maizlish, N., & Van Court, J. (n.d.). The Burden of Chronic Disease, Injury, and Environmental Exposure, California, Second Edition. Retrieved May 17, 2022: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/

4. California Department of Public Health, Obesity in California: The Weight of the State 2000-2014. (2014). Retrieved November 15, 2015, from www.cdph.ca.gov: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DCDIC/NEOPB/Pages/PublicationsandReports.aspx