The Interaction Between Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Intake on Body Composition

Objective: Fruit and Vegetable (FV) intake and Physical Activity (PA) are important lifestyle factors associated with body composition. This study assessed the combined impact of meeting FV intake and PA recommendations on body composition measures including body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (PBF), and waist circumference (WC) in adults aged 20–64 years from diverse backgrounds. Design: A cross-sectional study conducted in Northeastern Connecticut. Methods: A total of 124 participants completed a one-week dietary and PA record followed by anthropometric assessments. Participants were categorized into groups based on FV intake (≥400 g/day vs. < 400 g/day) and PA levels (≥600 MET-minutes/week vs. < 600 MET-minutes/week). Independent t-tests and chi-square tests were used to compare dietary intake, PA levels, and body composition outcomes across groups. Results: Participants meeting FV recommendations had significantly higher energy, carbohydrate, and protein intake (P< 0.05) but no significant differences in fat intake compared to those not meeting FV guidelines. Trends also showed lower BMI and PBF among participants meeting both FV and PA guidelines although not all reached statistical significance. Meeting both FV and PA guidelines alone was associated with a significantly lower WC than those that just met FV intake (P=0.007). Conclusions: The interaction between FV intake and PA recommendations was associated with more favorable trends in body composition compared to not meeting guidelines. These findings highlight the importance of combining healthy FV intake with adequate PA to support better body composition outcomes.