Food Away From Home and Self-Perceived Gastrointestinal Health.

Dietary behavior is a critical lifestyle factor affecting health. This study aimed to investigate food away from home (FAFH) and its effect on gastrointestinal (GI) health. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted with 300 participants at a hospital in Liouying, Taiwan. The survey collected demographic information and data on FAFH and GI health. The association of GI health with FAFH consumption behavior was significant ( t -test, p < 0.05). Bodyweight status was associated with age ( F = 5.01, p = 0.01), dietary situation ( F = 1.96, p = 0.04), number of meals ( F = 1.85, p = 0.03), dietary preferences ( F = 2.84, p = 0), reasons for FAFH ( F = 1.86, p = 0.02), FAFH types ( F = 2.01, p = 0), and outcomes associated with FAFH ( F = 2.51, p = 0). Gastrointestinal condition was associated with the number of meals ( F = 2.55, p = 0), the level of activity after meals ( F = 2.16, p = 0.02), and FAFH type ( F = 1.48, p = 0.04). The results indicated that the participants aged 20-40 years had more problems related to their self-perceived body weight status than those aged 41-50 years. The results of this study clarify the FAFH among people in Taiwan and the effects on GI health and may serve as a reference for relevant behavioral research in food and health studies.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2021 Chen, Tsai, Tsai and Hsu.)