Ethnic differences in fast-food advertising exposure and body mass index among Asian American/Pacific Islander and White young adults. Issue 4 (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Flisco, Victoria Diana Cruz; O'Shea, Ciara; Ing, Claire Townsend; Boushey, Carol J.; Pokhrel, Pallav
• Is Part Of: Obesity research & clinical practice. Volume 16:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: FFA fast-food advertising -- BMI body mass index -- AAPI Asian American/Pacific Islander -- NHPI Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander -- US United States -- USAPI US-Affiliated Pacific Islands -- HFSS high fat/salt/sugar -- TV television -- SES socioeconomic status -- KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken -- WHO World Health Organization -- SAS Statistical Analysis System -- GLM general linear model -- Tukey HSD Tukey honestly significant difference -- SD standard deviation -- LSD Fisher's least significant difference; Fast-food -- Advertising -- Obesity -- Body mass index -- Ethnic groups; Obesity -- Research -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; Obésité -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Obésité -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Obesity -- Research; Obesity -- Treatment; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2022.07.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1871-403X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Fast-food advertising (FFA) is a potential contributor to obesity. Few studies have examined the relationship between FFA exposure and body mass index (BMI) among young adults. Furthermore, these studies have rarely examined ethnic differences in the relationship between FFA exposure and BMI, specifically across Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) subgroups. Objective: This study aimed to investigate ethnic differences in the association between FFA exposure and BMI in a sample of predominantly AAPI young adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in 2018 from 2622 young adult college students (ages 18–25 years; 54% women) on O'ahu, Hawai'i. FFA exposure was assessed using a cued-recall measure. Multiple regression and analysis of covariance were used to analyze the data. Results: A significant association was found between higher FFA exposure and higher BMI ( p < 0.05; 2-tailed) in the entire sample, adjusting for ethnicity, other demographic variables, and levels of physical activity. However, when examined by ethnic group, the association between FFA exposure and BMI was not statistically significant. A statistically significant main effect of ethnicity on BMI was found. Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) reported the highest mean BMI [27.07 (SD ± 7.74) kg/m 2 ] compared with the other four ethnic groups ( p < 0.001). The effect of ethnicity on FFA exposure was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: FFA exposure appears to adversely influence BMI in a population of predominantly AAPI young adults. Although we did not find ethnic differences in FFA exposure or in the association between FFA exposure and BMI, the current data make a case for similar future investigation with larger subgroup sample sizes. Regulations that curtail FFA exposure among young adults may be needed.