Nutrition self-efficacy of Veggie Van customers in Central Texas.

Abstract

Obesity is a growing public health issue nationally and worldwide. Eating behavior may be a modifiable risk factor for obesity. Low nutrition self-efficacy and lack of access to healthy foods may inhibit healthy eating. Implementation of mobile produce markets may be effective in improving access to healthy foods, but little is known about mobile market users. Mobile produce market users of the Veggie Van in McLennan County, TX (n=192) were asked about government benefit eligibility, education levels, and nutrition self-efficacy. Nutrition self-efficacy of mobile produce market users was moderately high. In this study, race/ethnic minority market users had higher overall nutrition self-efficacies, after adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Overall, mobile produce markets may be effective in improving access to healthy foods nationally. Further, use of mobile produce markets could improve eating behaviors and decrease obesity rates in the United States.