UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Conte, Faye Christine
Dept./Program:
Community Development and Applied Economics
Year:
2012
Degree:
MS
Abstract:
The obesity epidemic continues to be a growing health problem in the United States. Obesity is a complex, multi-faceted issue, caused by a wide range of interrelated factors. Research shows that the built food environment, meal patterns, and consumer food choice are three that influence obesity. There is evidence that the built food environment is inadequate in rural communities; supemarkets with affordable, fresh foods are unavailable or households face transportation barriers in reaching them. Meal patterns are changing; more meals are consumed away from home each year. Additionally, at any venue, consumers choose which foods to eat. Using a 2010 survey of residents in the primarily rural states of northern New England, this study builds upon current research efforts and to explore the impact that the built food environment and food choice have on meal patterns, and to identify how these three factors influence obesity.
Two conceptual models were created to predict meal patterns and obesity using multivariate logistic regression. The first, the Meal Pattern Model, includes independent variables measuring the built food environment and consumer food choice, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic indicators, and predicts meal pattern cluster membership. Three meal pattern clusters were identified from self-reported meal patterns based on venues: Mostly eat at home, Eat at home and away, and Mostly eat away. The second, the BMI Model, includes the predicted meal pattern cluster membership and independent variables measuring the built food environment and consumer food choice, controlling for physical activity, socioeconomic, and demographic indicators, to predict if respondents were Not overweight, Overweight, or Obese based on BMI ranges calculated from self-reported height and weight ranges and CDC definitions.
Results show that food access has no direct influence on meal patterns, but does directly impact obesity. Access to alternative modes of transportation influence whether a respondent belongs to the Mostly eat at home or the Eat at home and away meal pattern cluster. Meal patterns have no direct influence on obesity. The most significant finding of this study is that consumer food choice has a substantial direct influence on meal patterns and obesity; choosing a healthy diet increases the probability of belonging to the Mostly eat at home meal pattern cluster and the Not overweight BMI category. Results ofthis study suggest that the built food environment in rural northern New England provides adequate access to food for most respondents and that it does not determine where consumers eat meals. While those who choose a healthy diet are more likely to eat at home, choosing a healthy diet at any food venue decreases the probability of overweight or obesity. Policies increasing access to affordable healthy food and encouraging healthy food choices may be effective in combating obesity. Rural areas differ across the country; efforts to reduce obesity should be local or regional in nature to best reflect the needs of the region.
Two conceptual models were created to predict meal patterns and obesity using multivariate logistic regression. The first, the Meal Pattern Model, includes independent variables measuring the built food environment and consumer food choice, controlling for socioeconomic and demographic indicators, and predicts meal pattern cluster membership. Three meal pattern clusters were identified from self-reported meal patterns based on venues: Mostly eat at home, Eat at home and away, and Mostly eat away. The second, the BMI Model, includes the predicted meal pattern cluster membership and independent variables measuring the built food environment and consumer food choice, controlling for physical activity, socioeconomic, and demographic indicators, to predict if respondents were Not overweight, Overweight, or Obese based on BMI ranges calculated from self-reported height and weight ranges and CDC definitions.
Results show that food access has no direct influence on meal patterns, but does directly impact obesity. Access to alternative modes of transportation influence whether a respondent belongs to the Mostly eat at home or the Eat at home and away meal pattern cluster. Meal patterns have no direct influence on obesity. The most significant finding of this study is that consumer food choice has a substantial direct influence on meal patterns and obesity; choosing a healthy diet increases the probability of belonging to the Mostly eat at home meal pattern cluster and the Not overweight BMI category. Results ofthis study suggest that the built food environment in rural northern New England provides adequate access to food for most respondents and that it does not determine where consumers eat meals. While those who choose a healthy diet are more likely to eat at home, choosing a healthy diet at any food venue decreases the probability of overweight or obesity. Policies increasing access to affordable healthy food and encouraging healthy food choices may be effective in combating obesity. Rural areas differ across the country; efforts to reduce obesity should be local or regional in nature to best reflect the needs of the region.