Compliance with the recommended daily intake of at least 400g of fruits and vegetables and its relationship with behavioural change stages in Mexican adults

Promoting fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption is a public health priority. This study assessed compliance with the international recommendation of consuming at least 400g of F&V daily among Mexican adults and analysed its association with the five stages of behaviour change from the Transtheoretical Model (Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation for action, Action, and Maintenance). Using data from 5203 adults (ages 20-59) in the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey, dietary intake was collected via a food frequency questionnaire. Compliance was defined dichotomously (Yes/No), and readiness to change was assessed using a specific survey module. Multiple logistic regression models examined the association between stages of change and compliance, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics, as well as perceived barriers and self-efficacy. Nationally, 26.3% of adults met the F&V recommendation. Compliance was significantly higher among individuals in the Preparation for action (OR 3.62, 95% CI: 1.82-7.19), Action (OR 4.50, 95% CI: 1.8-11.25), and Maintenance (OR 9.54, 95% CI: 4.76-19.13) than those in the Precontemplation stage. Higher compliance was also significantly associated with greater self-efficacy (OR 1.86, 95% CI: 1.4-2.47), being in the highest socioeconomic tertile (OR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.25-2.33), and living in the central region (OR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.18-2.45). Conversely, individuals reporting a dislike for vegetables were less likely to meet recommendations (OR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48-0.94). These findings highlight the value of developing stage-tailored interventions that consider both psychological and structural barriers to improve F&V consumption.