Race/Ethnicity and Sex as Moderators of the Associations of Working Hours, Income, and Education with Fast-food Consumption in the US

Abstract

Objectives: Fast-food consumption is highly prevalent but varies across socioeconomic status. Yet, it is possiblethat race/ethnicity and sex could moderate these associations. The aim of this study was to determine how race/ethnicity and sex interact with working hours and socioeconomic status measures on fast-food consumption.Methods: Using a cross-sectional study of the 2007-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,the number of fast-food meals per week was the dependent variable and weekly hours worked, householdincome, and educational attainment were the independent variables. We used negative binomial regressionsand multiplicative interaction terms. Results: Household income was positively associated with fast-foodconsumption and there was also variation by educational attainment. Race/ethnicity and sex moderatedthe associations between educational attainment and fast-food consumption such that non-Hispanic whitewomen and men who were college graduates consumed fewer fast-food meals per week than those who hadnot completed high school. This pattern was not observed in other groups. Conclusion: Policy and publichealth programs that target fast-food consumption should consider the intersections of race/ethnicity and sex.