Session/Event: The Relationship Between Dietary Patterns and Behavioral/Societal Outcomes (Oral 11)

(OR11-06-22) Impact of the British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program on the Diet Quality of Low-Income Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

On Demand

Presenting Author(s)

MA

Michelle L. Aktary, RD

PhD candidate
University of Calgary
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

Disclosure: Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

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Co-Author(s)

SD

Sharlette Dunn, MPH

PhD Trainee
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
TS

Tolulope T. Sajobi, PhD

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
HO

Heather O'Hara

British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets
PL

Peter Leblanc

British Columbia Association of Farmers’ Markets
GM

Gavin R. McCormack, PhD

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
SC

Stéphanie Caron-Roy, MSc, RD

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
KB

Kylie Ball

Deakin University
Yun Yun Lee, MSc RD

Graduate Student
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sara Nejatinamini, PhD

Postdoctoral fellow
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
RR

Raylene A. Reimer

University of Calgary
LM

Leia M. Minaker, PhD

University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
KR

Kim D. Raine, PhD, RD

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
JG

Jenny Godley, PhD

University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
BP

Bo Pan

University of Alberta
Shauna D. Downs, PhD, MS

Assistant Professor
Rutgers University, School of Public Health
Newark, New Jersey, United States
CN

Candace I. Nykiforuk, PhD

University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Dana L. Olstad, PhD, RD

Assistant Professor
University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Objectives: Improving diet quality among low-income populations remains a public health priority. In Canada, the British Columbia (BC) Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) aims to improve the diet quality of low-income households by providing coupons to purchase healthy foods from BC farmers’ markets. This randomized controlled trial, conducted in 2019, examined the impact of the FMNCP on the diet quality of low-income adults.

Methods: Low-income adults ≥18 years were randomized to a FMNCP group (n=143) that received 16 weeks’ worth of coupons valued at $21/week to purchase fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and nuts from farmers’ markets, or to a no-intervention control group (n=142). Participants completed data collection, including two 24-hour dietary recalls, at baseline (0 weeks), post-intervention (10–15 weeks), and 16 weeks post-intervention (26–31 weeks). Dietary intake data from the 24-hour dietary recalls were used to calculate Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) total scores (primary outcome) and subscores (secondary outcomes). Total scores can range from 0-100, with a higher score indicating higher diet quality. Between-group differences in HEI-2015 total scores and subscores at post-intervention and 16 weeks post-intervention were examined using linear mixed effect models. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine differences in program impacts according to sex and age group (18-59 years, ≥60 years).

Results: Most participants were female (90.5%) and < 60 years of age (79.7%). HEI-2015 total scores did not significantly differ between the FMNCP and control groups at post-intervention (-0.07; 95% CI -4.07, 3.93) or 16 weeks post-intervention (1.22; 95% CI -3.00, 5.44). No significant between-group differences in HEI-2015 scores by sex or age group were identified. HEI-2015 subscores did not significantly differ at post-intervention; however, at 16-weeks post-intervention, the FMNCP group had significantly lower subscores for fatty acids and significantly higher subscores for dairy compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Participation in the FMNCP did not result in significant changes in overall diet quality among low-income adults.

Funding Sources: Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Maple Leaf Centre for Action on Food Security