Eating context and its association with ultra-processed food consumption by British children

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the patterns of eating context and its association with ultra-processed food consumption by British children. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of UK children aged 4–10 years old (n = 1772) from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/2014. Data on food consumption, meal context and ultra-processed food consumption were assessed through a four-day food diary. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the patterns of eating context and these patterns’ association with the daily consumption of ultra-processed food was verified by linear regression analyses. Ultra-processed foods comprised 65.4% of the total daily energy intake. At lunch, higher ultra-processed food consumption was associated with the patterns “Eating with family while watching TV” (64.9% in the lowest tertile to 68.1% in the highest tertile) and “Eating away from home” (65.2%–67.7%, respectively), while the eating pattern “Eating at school with friends” was associated with lower ultra-processed food consumption (66.6%–64.7%, respectively). At dinner, higher ultra-processed food consumption was associated with the patterns “Eating with family while watching TV” (64.6%–67.1%, respectively) and “Eating alone in the bedroom” (63.9%–66.5%, respectively). Eating alone, eating whilst watching TV, and eating away from home stood out as patterns of eating context associated with the increased consumption of ultra-processed food.