• Aline Cristine Souza Lopes, Mariana Souza Lopes, Camila Kummel Duarte, and Patrícia Pinheiro de Freitas.
• Department of Nutrition, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Research Group in Nutrition Interventions (GIN-UFMG), Santa Efigênia, Brazil. Electronic address: alinelopesenf@gmail.com.
• Nutrition. 2022 Jan 1; 93: 111436.

ObjectivesThis study evaluates, in the medium and long term (12, 36, and 48 mo), the effect of an intervention to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables on the body weight of Brazilian primary health care users.MethodsA follow-up with participants (n = 3414) in a controlled randomized trial was performed in a primary health care service. Those in the control group performed the service's usual intervention (guided physical exercise 3 times/wk), and those in the intervention group additionally participated for 7 mo in collective activities to promote consumption of fruit and vegetables. Sociodemographic, health, and body weight data were collected by face-to-face interview at baseline and after 12 mo. At 36 and 48 mo, weight was obtained by telephone interview and was validated. Adherence to the intervention was assessed by the presence of the actions. Weight change (Δ) was measured by subtracting the weight at each follow-up time from the baseline measurement.ResultsParticipants in both groups had a minor weight loss of about 0.1 kg over 12, 36, and 48 mo. The addition of an intervention for consumption of fruit and vegetables did not enhance this effect. Higher weight loss was observed in individuals with obesity classes II and III with low adherence in the intervention and after 36 mo (Δ = -27.1 kg; P = 0.024).ConclusionsParticipating in the primary health care service contributed to a small reduction in weight, and the intervention for consumption of fruit and vegetables did not enhance this effect. However, greater weight loss was observed in participants with obesity and those who adhered to the intervention.Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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