Americans’ perceptions about fast food and how they associate with its consumption and obesity risk

Authors: MIN, JUNGWON - Ball State University; XUE, HONG - Ball State University; NGUYEN, LINDA - Ball State University; Jahns, Lisa; WONG, YOUFA - Ball State University

Submitted to: Advances in Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/20/2018
Publication Date: 7/31/2018
Citation: Min, J., Xue, H., Nguyen, L., Jahns, L.A., Wong, Y. 2018. Americans’ perceptions about fast food and how they associate with its consumption and obesity risk. Advances in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy032.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmy032

Interpretive Summary: Studies have shown that consumption of fast food is common in the United States due to its convenience, low cost, consistent quality, and easy access through a variety of restaurant chains. About half of Americans reported eating at fast food restaurants at least weekly in 2013. Yet, fast food is often made with ingredients such as high-fat meat, refined grains, and added sugar and fats, instead of nutritious ingredients, and is high in sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol, which are harmful to health. Fast food often contributes to higher energy intake compared to other traditional food items. Multiple studies have found that frequent consumption of fast food is associated with elevated cholesterol, and increased risk for obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. As obesity is becoming a global public health crisis and has resulted in high health and economic costs, some researchers have recommended avoiding frequent fast food intake. However, there is little research to date about Americans’ perceptions (attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge) about fast food. In this paper, we reviewed eleven studies that investigated perceptions and fast food consumption. We found that that in general, Americans consumed fast food differently by their perception of fast food and its perceived health consequences as well as age, gender, and ethnicity. Having positive beliefs on fast food, in addition to being young, male and African American or Hispanic were associated with higher fast food intake and more frequent visits to fast food restaurants compared to their counterparts. Americans preferred fast food over other options due to its convenience, taste, socializing opportunities and possible health benefits. Neither perceived availability of fast food nor fast food restaurant presence in the neighborhood had significant associations with weekly fast food consumption.

Technical Abstract: Objective: To examine Americans’ perception of fast food (FF), their consumption, and its association with obesity risk. Design: We searched PubMed for studies published in English until February 2017 that reported on Americans’ FF intake, perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge. Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria and included cross-sectional and cohort studies. Results: Limited research has been conducted in this topic, and most studies were based on convenience samples. In general, Americans consumed FF differently by their perception of FF and its perceived health consequences as well as age, gender, and ethnicity. Having positive beliefs on FF, in addition to being young, male and African American or Hispanic were associated with higher FF intake and more frequent visits to FF restaurants compared to their counterparts. Americans preferred FF over other options due to its convenience, taste, socializing opportunities and possible health benefits. Neither perceived availability of FF nor GIS-based FF presence in the neighborhood had significant associations with weekly FF consumption (FFC). No studies examined the association between FF perception and the risk of obesity. Conclusions: Considerable variation was observed in Americans’ FFC by their understanding of FF and psychosocial characteristics in the US. Rigorous study designs and standardized measures of perception are needed in future research.