Assessment of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program for Children

Summary

The objective of this study is to address gaps in knowledge related to the influence of pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription programs on food security, child dietary patterns, and weight status. To do this, we will compare demographically similar pediatric patient groups from three large clinics in a low-income urban city based on their exposure to a fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP) that provides one $15 prescription for fresh fruits and vegetable to every child at every office visit. Three clusters will be identified based on child exposure to the pediatric FVPP at baseline: high exposure (\>24 months), moderate exposure (12-24 months), and no previous exposure. We will then introduce the FVPP to never exposed patients and collect, record, and compare changes in dietary intake, food security, and weight status over time. We will test the hypothesis that exposure to the FVPP is associated with higher intake of fruits and vegetables, better food security, and lower rates of obesity among children. The first aim will compare baseline dietary intake, food security, and weight status between high exposure, moderate exposure, no exposure groups. The second aim will measure changes in diet, food security, and weight status at 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-months among children newly exposed to the FVPP. The third aim will compare follow-up measures of dietary intake, food security, and weight status in the initial no exposure group to baseline measures in the high exposure group.

Conditions

• Exposure to Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program

Interventions

OTHER

Fruit and Vegetable Prescription

$15 voucher for fruit and vegetables

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

  collaborator NIH

• Hurley Medical Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Akpinar Children's Clinic

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Mott Children's Health Center

  collaborator OTHER

• Hurley Children's Center

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Michigan State University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Amy Saxe-Custack, PhD, MPH, RD · Michigan State University

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

8 Years

Max Age

16 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-02-23

Primary Completion

2024-05-30

Completion

2024-06-25

Countries

• United States

Study Locations