Direct Effects of the Home, School, and Consumer Food Environments on the Association between Food Purchasing Patterns and Dietary Intake among Rural Adolescents in Kentucky and North Carolina, 2017

Alison Gustafson, Stephanie Jilcott Pitts, Jordan McDonald, Hannah Ford, Paige Connelly, Rachel Gillespie, Emily Liu, Heather Bush, Candace Brancato, Toyin Babatande and Janet Mullins
Additional contact information
Alison Gustafson: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Stephanie Jilcott Pitts: Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, ECU 600 Moye Blvd., Mailstop 660, Lakeside Annex Modular Unit 8 Room 126, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Jordan McDonald: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Hannah Ford: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Paige Connelly: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Rachel Gillespie: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
Emily Liu: Department of Nutrition, University of Pennsylvania, College Station, PA 20067, USA
Heather Bush: College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 725 Rose Street Room 301, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
Candace Brancato: College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, 725 Rose Street Room 301, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
Toyin Babatande: Health Sciences Bldg, 3310J MailStop #668, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Janet Mullins: Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, 206J Funkhouser Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Background : Obesity rates are higher among rural versus urban adolescents. To examine possible mechanisms for the rural-urban adolescent obesity disparity, we examined the direct and indirect effects of food purchasing patterns, and the home, school, and consumer food environments on dietary intake among rural adolescents. Methods : A baseline survey was conducted among adolescents in eight rural high schools (four in Eastern Kentucky, and four in Eastern North Carolina). Participants answered questions about food purchasing patterns, dietary intake, home food availability, and demographics. The school and consumer food environments were assessed using validated measures from the School Meals Cost Study (United States Department of Agriculture-Mathematica) and the Nutrition Environment Measurement Survey for Stores, Restaurants, and Corner Stores. Results : Of 432 adolescents, 55% were normal weight, 24% were overweight, and 21% were obese. There was a direct association between unhealthy food purchasing patterns (shopping frequently at gas stations, fast food, and dollar stores) and consuming more added sugars, when compared to those with a healthy shopping pattern (shopping less frequently at gas stations, fast food, and dollar stores) [Odds Ratio = 2.41 (95% CI (confidence interval) 0.99, 3.82)]. Those who reported always having fruits and vegetables in the home consumed more servings of fruits and vegetables [OR = 0.31 cups (95% CI 0.22, 0.44)] compared to those who reported never having fruits and vegetables in the home. Adolescents attending a school with a low healthy food availability score consumed fewer servings of fruits and vegetables [−0.001 (95% CI −0.001, 0.0001)] compared to those attending a school with a high healthy food availability score. Conclusions : There are direct associations between food purchasing patterns, the home and school food environments, and dietary intake among rural adolescents. These cross-sectional results informed the development of the “Go Big and Bring it Home” program, a text messaging intervention to improve adolescents’ fruit, vegetable, and healthy beverage intake.

Keywords: consumer food environment; school food environment; home food availability; adolescent obesity; nutrition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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