Low-quality and nutrient-poor takeaway, take-out and fast foods have increased in popularity over the past 40 years and have been implicated as contributors to obesity and non-communicable disease(Reference Kant, Whitley and Graubard1). There has been much debate regarding the determinants of takeaway food consumption, however, it is evident that the cause is multi-faceted with societal, environmental, socioeconomic, demographic, financial and behavioural factors being associated(Reference Janssen, Davies and Richardson2). Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between takeaway food consumption and several socio-demographic and lifestyle variables simultaneously.
A cross-sectional observational study of 1724 adults (aged 18–64 years) was conducted from August 2016 – October 2017 in Merseyside, UK. Consumption of 212 habitual and takeaway foods was measured using a food frequency questionnaire and socio-demographic (including age, education level, ethnicity etc.) and lifestyle factors (physical activity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption etc.) were self-reported. All data were analysed using descriptive statistics; data was non-normal therefore, the relationship between takeaway food intake and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors was examined using Spearman's rho.
The majority (46 %) of self-reported consumers consumed takeaway food 1–3 times per month. Nonetheless, over one third (37 %) consumed takeaway food at least once per week (10 % reporting consumption 2–4 times per week and 1 % consuming takeaway food 5 times per week or more). Having more children in the household, a physically active occupation, participating in moderate and vigorous physical activity, frequent smoking, increased alcohol consumption, poorer health status, and increased BMI were positively correlated with takeaway food consumption (P < 0·005) (Table 1). Increased age and a higher education level were negatively correlated with takeaway food consumption (<0·0005) (Table 1).
Table 1. Spearman's rho correlations for takeaway food consumption and socio-demographic/lifestyle factors
To conclude, the socio-demographic and lifestyle factors as shown above correlate to varying degrees with takeaway food consumption which agrees with previous research(Reference Lachat, Nago and Verstraeten3, Reference Adams, Goffe and Brown4). These findings could help inform policy and interventions to target the impacts of takeaway food on obesity and related non-communicable disease, by better understanding how takeaway food consumption links to other factors in adult lives.
