Factors affecting the consumption of away-from-home-foods in Hawai'i residents Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Higher frequencies of consuming away-from-home foods has been associated with greater Body Mass Index (BMI), weight gain, and obesity, affecting people of different genders, ethnicities, and socio- economic status (SES) groups differently. The purpose of this study was to determine how SES, ethnicity, gender, and the frequency of away-from-home food consumption at fast food and sit-down restaurants affected BMI levels and dieting practices for Hawaii residents. Data were from a cross-sectional random- digit dial telephone survey of the state of Hawaii in the spring of 2006. Data were analyzed using a one- way ANOVA, Pearson's bivariate correlation analysis, a linear regression model, and direct logistic regression. Native Hawaiians reported eating at fast food restaurants most often (58.5%), while Japanese participants reported eating at sit-down restaurants most often (48.6%). Native Hawaiians had the highest rates of overweight and obesity (69.1%), but they were most likely to report being on a diet (50.1%), followed by Chinese participants (49.5%). A higher frequency of eating at fast food restaurants was related to higher BMI, male gender and less education (p < .05), while a higher frequency of eating at sit- down restaurants was related to higher income and more education (p < .05). Higher BMI and lower income were related to dieting to lose weight (p < .05). Over 6% of the variance in BMI was accounted for by gender, income, eating at fast food and sit-down restaurants, and dieting to lose weight, F(59, 1440) = 18.63, p < .05. The frequency of eating at fast food and sit-down restaurants as predictors for dieting to lose weight were not statistically significant (p > .05). Future research should investigate what types of food are available at fast food, sit-down restaurants, or other away-from-home food sources and which types of foods at these locations consumers are more likely to select based on their SES, BMI, or dieting practices.

published proceedings

  • Californian Journal of Health Promotion

author list (cited authors)

  • Ahedo, A. M., Lee, T. W., Pan, J., Heinrich, K. M., Keller, S., & Maddock, J. E.

complete list of authors

  • Ahedo, AM||Lee, TW||Pan, J||Heinrich, KM||Keller, S||Maddock, JE

publication date

  • 2007