Effects of subjective feeling of environmental temperature on appetite and food intake in Chinese sociodemographic and ethnic groups

Abdelhadi Halawa

doi:10.1186/s42779-019-0019-1

Abstract

BackgroundA better understanding of the effect of environmental temperature variation on appetite and food intake may inform the public of adopting appropriate prophylactic eating behaviors. Seasonal weather temperature variation has been shown to have adverse effects on appetite and food intake in humans. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of environmental temperature variation on the appetite and eating patterns in Chinese adults.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of data obtained from 1297 Chinese adults, including two Chinese ethnic groups, Han (N = 897) and Hui (N = 400). Participants responded to a modified paper-and-pencil self-administered dietary habits and food intake survey. In addition to sociodemographic factors and ethnic group affiliation questions, the survey included a question regarding the effect of the subjective feeling of environmental temperature variation (SFETV) on appetite and food intake as an independent variable.t tests and chi-square analyses were performed to analyze the parametric and nonparametric variables respectively.ResultsNo significant difference was found in the effect of SFETV between the following dependent variables: male and female respondents (p < .998), married and single respondents (p < .281), full-time and part-time employed or retired participants (p < .187). Although it has not affected their SFETV responses, there was a statistically significant difference in the education level between the married and single respondents (p < .001). The single respondents were more likely to be college educated with a rate of (68.48%) compared with their married counterparts with a rate of 30.2%. There was a statistically significant difference between the eight cities and one rural town (p < .001). The appetite and food intake of the respondents from these cities were more likely to be affected by the SFETV. The appetite and food intake of the Han ethnic group were more likely to be affected by the SFETV with a rate of 28.09% juxtaposed to the Hui ethnic group with a rate of 12.64%.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that exposure to outdoor temperature variation (hot or cold) has a limited effect on the appetite and food intake of Chinese adults. However, the appetite and food intake of the permanent residents of the eight cities and one rural town were more likely to be affected by the exposure to outdoor temperature variation (hot or cold).

Highlights

There is a scarcity of published scientific research that has examined the possible effect of environmental temperature variation on appetite and food intake in Chinese adults
Regarding the effect of subjective feeling of environmental temperature variation (SFETV) on appetite and food intake, 77.95% of the female respondents indicated no effect on appetite and food intake, whereas 22.05% reported that SFETV does affect their appetite and food intake
With reference to the male respondents, 77.94% reported no effect of SFETV on their appetite and food intake, whereas 22.06% indicated that SFETV does affect their appetite and food intake

Summary

Introduction

There is a scarcity of published scientific research that has examined the possible effect of environmental temperature variation on appetite and food intake in Chinese adults. As a result of the rapid socioeconomic development coupled with rising modern lifestyle behavioral risk factors, the incidence of NCDs has increased sharply and is currently estimated to cause 85% of the total mortality rates among Chinese [1] This current scarcity of relevant secondary literature positions the present study to cast further light upon and reinforce the current insufficient body of scientific literature in this area of research in China and other developing countries. According to the 2011 Chinese census, the Han ethnic group constitutes the predominant ethnic group with nearly 89.1% of the total Chinese mainland population, whereas the Hui Nationality comprises the third-largest minority ethnic group in China with nearly 1.8% of the total mainland population Both ethnic groups have distinctive cultural characteristics, unique dietary practices, and discernable culinary preparation styles [2,3,4]. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of environmental temperature variation on the appetite and eating patterns in Chinese adults

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