Association between Take-Out Food Consumption and Obesity among Chinese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Yuhe Jiang,Yawen Cheng,Chenyu Zhang,Xueqing Zeng,Zhijie Su,Yiming Wang,Shaowei Wu,Jiarui Liu,Xinran Xu,Junbo Wang,Wenzhong Yang,Ruimao Zheng,Bingbing Guo,Bingwei Wang,Zonghan He,Miao Zhao,Nan Li

doi:10.3390/ijerph16061071

Abstract

Background: The frequency of take-out food consumption has increased rapidly among Chinese college students, which has contributed to high obesity prevalence. However, the relationships between take-out food consumption, body mass index (BMI), and other individual factors influencing eating behavior among college students are still unclear. This study explored the association of take-out food consumption with gender, BMI, physical activity, preference for high-fat and high-sugar (HFHS) food, major category, and degree level among Chinese college students. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from 1220 college students in Beijing, China, regarding information about take-out food consumption, physical activity, and preference for HFHS food using a self-reported questionnaire. The logistic linear regression model was used to analyze the association between take-out food consumption and personal and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Out of 1220 college students, 11.6% of college students were overweight or obese. Among the personal and lifestyle characteristics, high frequency of take-out food consumption was significantly associated with a non-medical major, high preference for HFHS food, degree level, and higher BMI, but not physical activity. Conclusion: Among Chinese college students, consumption of take-out food may be affected by major category, preference for HFHS food, degree level, and BMI. This could provide guidance on restrictions of high take-out food consumption, which contributes to high obesity prevalence and high risk for metabolic diseases.

Highlights

Obesity, as an emergent public health issue, is a predisposing factor for many chronic diseases [1,2,3,4,5], such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases [6], musculoskeletal disorders, and various types of cancer
According to the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ), we investigated the information about physical activity, which included time spent in bed, sedentary time, time spent standing, time spent walking, other physical activities, and exercise during one week [33]
For factors influencing take-out food consumption, we found that degree level was significantly associated with take-out food consumption; preference for high-fat and high-sugar (HFHS) food had a positive effect on frequency of take-out food consumption; high body mass index (BMI) was associated with an odds ratios (OR) of 1.99; and medical students had lower take-out food consumption than non-medical students

Summary

Introduction

As an emergent public health issue, is a predisposing factor for many chronic diseases [1,2,3,4,5], such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases [6], musculoskeletal disorders, and various types of cancer. The number of restaurants of a major fast-food provider, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), has increased to over 4200 in more than 800 cities and towns in China [14]. Another fast-food provider, McDonald’s, has opened over 2000 restaurants across China from 1984 to 2014 [15]. Chinese college students, which has contributed to high obesity prevalence. This study explored the association of take-out food consumption with gender, BMI, physical activity, preference for high-fat and high-sugar (HFHS) food, major category, and degree level among Chinese college students

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion