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It's Not How Much Your Spend, It's Where You Spend It: How Consumer Behavior Predicts Dietary Energy Density
Author(s) -
Massedge Amanda,
Vernarelli Jacqueline A
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.129.4
Subject(s) - quartile , national health and nutrition examination survey , energy density , environmental health , medicine , refined grains , obesity , added sugar , population , demography , sample (material) , commodity , gerontology , food science , business , whole grains , biology , engineering , confidence interval , chemistry , engineering physics , chromatography , finance , sociology
The objective of this study was to evaluate relationship between consumer behavior (money spent on food) and dietary energy density in a nationally representative sample of US adults. A diet high in energy density (ED; kcal/g) is an established risk factor for obesity. Previous research has suggested that this relationship is caused by a higher commodity cost of low‐ED foods (i.e.: fruits and vegetables) compared to high‐ED foods (i.e.: processed foods high in fat and added sugar), resulting in a much higher cost associated with low‐ED diets vs. high‐ED diets. However, little research has been done to examine whether this theory occurs in practice; that is, whether commodity costs are actually associated with consumer intake or dietary energy density at the population level. Data from a nationally representative sample of 10,173 adults > 18y who participated in the 2009–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) was used for this study. Dietary ED was calculated using multiple methods. Adults were categorized into sex‐specific quartiles of energy density. Consumer behavior was evaluated by examining total dollars spent on food each in one of three categories: grocery stores, fast‐food / takeout, restaurant dining. All data were analyzed using appropriate survey weights and procedures in SAS 9.3. The data indicates that low‐ED diets do not cost more than high‐ED diets. Individuals in the lowest quartile of energy density spent $418/month on groceries, where individuals in the highest ED quartile spent $424/month. Additionally, no association between dietary ED and money spent on food at grocery stores (p trend, 0.56) or dining out (p trend, 0.10) was observed after controlling for age, sex, race, education, smoking status, income, and physical activity. However, a positive linear association between money spent on fast food/takeout and quartile dietary energy density was (p=0.0071) in both men and women. These results have implications for public health messaging regarding the cost of healthy eating. Our findings indicate that diets low in energy density can be obtained regardless of money spent at grocery stores, and that increases spending on take‐away or fast foods predicts higher dietary ED. Strategies to educate consumers regarding low‐cost “healthy” food options may be a successful method of slowing the obesity epidemic. Support or Funding Information None.Adjusted mean USD spent on take‐out / fast food during the past 30 days by sex‐specific energy density quartile. Adjusted for age, sex, race, income, education and household size. Significant linear relationship (p<0.0001)