Fruit and vegetable consumption.

OBJECTIVES This article focuses on associations between the frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption and other health-related behaviours or conditions, including physical activity, smoking, obesity and alcohol-dependence. DATA SOURCE The data are from the first half of cycle 1.1 of the Canadian Community Health Survey, collected from September 2000 through February 2001. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES Weighted means provide information on average frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to selected health behaviours and conditions, health status and socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariate linear regression is used to model the associations between eating fruit and vegetables and health behaviours, while controlling for other influences. MAIN RESULTS Women consume fruit and vegetables more often than do men. When other influences are taken into account, the frequency of eating fruits and vegetables is positively related in both sexes to being physically active, not smoking and not being overweight, and in women, to not being alcohol-dependent.