Factors Associated with Home Meal Preparation and Fast-Food Sources Use among Low-Income Urban African American Adults

Ecol Food Nutr. 2018 Jan-Feb;57(1):13-31. doi: 10.1080/03670244.2017.1406853. Epub 2017 Dec 11.

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the factors associated with home meal preparation (HMP) and fast-food sources use (FFS) frequencies of low-income African-American adults and their healthy food beliefs and attitudes, food-related psychosocial factors, food acquisition patterns, food sources use, and BMI. We used cross-sectional data from 295 adults living in Baltimore, USA. HMP was inversely associated with FFS, which had lower odds of HMP ≥1 time/day and higher BMI scores. HMP was positively associated with positive beliefs and self-efficacy toward healthy foods, getting food from healthier food sources, and lower FFS. Higher odds of HMP ≥1 time/day were associated with getting food from farmers' market and supermarkets or grocery stores. FFS had an inverse association with positive beliefs and self-efficacy toward healthy foods, and a positive association with less healthy food acquisition scores. Higher odds of FFS ≥1 time/week were associated with getting food from corner stores, sit-down restaurants, and convenience stores.

Keywords: African-Americans; cooking, food deserts.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Baltimore
  • Black or African American*
  • Body Mass Index
  • Commerce*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diet
  • Diet, Healthy
  • Fast Foods*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Food Handling*
  • Food Supply
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Male
  • Meals*
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Poverty*
  • Restaurants
  • Self Efficacy
  • Urban Population*