OBJECTIVE: To identify the socio-environmental, personal and behavioural factors that are longitudinally predictive of changes in adolescents' fast-food intake. DESIGN: Population-based longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Participants from Minnesota schools completed in-class assessments in 1999 (Time 1) while in middle school and mailed surveys in 2004 (Time 2) while in high school. SUBJECTS: A racially, ethnically and socio-economically diverse sample of adolescents (n 806). RESULTS: Availability of unhealthy food at home, being born in the USA and preferring the taste of unhealthy foods were predictive of higher fast-food intake after 5 years among both males and females. Among females, personal and behavioural factors, including concern about weight and use of healthy weight-control techniques, were protective against increased fast-food intake. Among males, socio-environmental factors, including maternal and friends' concern for eating healthy food and maternal encouragement to eat healthy food, were predictive of lower fast-food intake. Sports team participation was a strong risk factor for increased fast-food intake among males. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that addressing socio-environmental factors such as acculturation and home food availability may help reduce fast-food intake among adolescents. Additionally, gender-specific intervention strategies, including working with boys' sports teams, family members and the peer group, and for girls, emphasizing the importance of healthy weight-maintenance strategies and the addition of flavourful and healthy food options to their diet, may help reduce fast-food intake.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the socio-environmental, personal and behavioural factors that are longitudinally predictive of changes in adolescents' fast-food intake. DESIGN: Population-based longitudinal cohort study. SETTING:Participants from Minnesota schools completed in-class assessments in 1999 (Time 1) while in middle school and mailed surveys in 2004 (Time 2) while in high school. SUBJECTS: A racially, ethnically and socio-economically diverse sample of adolescents (n 806). RESULTS: Availability of unhealthy food at home, being born in the USA and preferring the taste of unhealthy foods were predictive of higher fast-food intake after 5 years among both males and females. Among females, personal and behavioural factors, including concern about weight and use of healthy weight-control techniques, were protective against increased fast-food intake. Among males, socio-environmental factors, including maternal and friends' concern for eating healthy food and maternal encouragement to eat healthy food, were predictive of lower fast-food intake. Sports team participation was a strong risk factor for increased fast-food intake among males. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that addressing socio-environmental factors such as acculturation and home food availability may help reduce fast-food intake among adolescents. Additionally, gender-specific intervention strategies, including working with boys' sports teams, family members and the peer group, and for girls, emphasizing the importance of healthy weight-maintenance strategies and the addition of flavourful and healthy food options to their diet, may help reduce fast-food intake.
Authors: Camilla C P Estima; Meg Bruening; Peter J Hannan; Marle S Alvarenga; Greisse V S Leal; Sonia T Philippi; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2014-03-20 Impact factor: 3.045
Authors: Meghan R Longacre; Keith M Drake; Todd A MacKenzie; Lucinda Gibson; Peter Owens; Linda J Titus; Michael L Beach; Madeline A Dalton Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Cheng K Fred Wen; Stephanie Hsieh; Jimi Huh; Lauren Cook Martinez; Jamie N Davis; Marc Weigensberg; Donna Spruijt-Metz Journal: J Racial Ethn Health Disparities Date: 2016-10-17