Impact of adverse childhood experiences and fruit and vegetable intake in adulthood

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and behaviours of fruit and vegetable consumption among adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. Weighted χ(2) and weighted multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between ACE and low fruit and vegetable consumption. SETTING: The 2017 Nevada Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 2939 adults. RESULTS: After controlling for potential confounders, exposure to three or more ACE (adjusted OR (AOR) 1·42, 95 % CI 1·02, 2·00) and experiencing parental divorce/separation (AOR 1·50, 95 % CI 1·13, 1·98) were significantly associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption. The study did not find a dose–response relationship between the number of ACE and fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that participants who experienced three or more ACE or parental divorce/separation were at increased risk for low fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings highlight the continuing need for public health interventions and policies that decrease exposure to ACE and increase fruit and vegetable intake among the populations with ACE.