1. Predictors of Total Calories Purchased at Fast-food Restaurants: Restaurant Characteristics, Calorie Awareness, and Use of Calorie Information.
- Author
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Brissette, Ian, Lowenfels, Ann, Noble, Corina, and Spicer, Deborah
- Subjects
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AGE distribution , *ANALYSIS of variance , *FOOD labeling , *HEALTH behavior , *INGESTION , *INTERVIEWING , *POVERTY , *REGRESSION analysis , *RESEARCH funding , *RESTAURANTS , *STATISTICAL sampling , *SEX distribution , *STATISTICAL hypothesis testing , *SURVEYS , *MULTIPLE regression analysis , *SOCIOECONOMIC factors , *CROSS-sectional method , *HEALTH literacy , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Objective: To examine purchase patterns at fast-food restaurants and their relation to restaurant characteristics, customer characteristics, and use of calorie information. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Fast-food restaurants in New York State. Participants: Adult fast-food restaurant customers (n = 1,094). Variables Measured: Restaurant characteristics (fast-food chain type, presence of calorie labels, and poverty of location), participant characteristics (demographics, calorie knowledge, awareness, and use), and customer purchasing patterns (ordering low-calorie or no beverage, small or no fries, or < 3 items) were used as predictors of total calories purchased. Analysis: Multiple regression. Results: In a regression model including restaurant and customer characteristics, fast-food chain customer age, sex, calorie use, and calorie awareness were independently associated with total calories purchased (all P < .05; model R2 = .19). When 3 purchasing patterns were added to the model, calorie use (P - .005), but not calorie awareness, remained associated with total calories purchased. The 3 purchase patterns collectively accounted for the majority of variance in calorie totals (Δ model R2 = .40). Conclusions and Implications: Promoting use of calorie information, purchase strategies, and calorie awareness represents complementary ways to support lower-calorie choices at fast-food chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
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