The Influence of Home Food Environments on Eating Behaviors of Overweight and Obese Women

Abstract Objective To describe home food environments and examine which aspects are associated with fruit and vegetable intake and percent calories from fat among overweight and obese women. Design Baseline data from a weight gain prevention trial collected through telephone interviews. Setting Participants were recruited from 3 federally qualified health centers in rural Georgia. Participants Overweight and obese patients (n = 319) were referred by their providers if they had a body mass index (BMI) > 25 and lived with at least 1 other person. Participants were primarily African American (83.7%), with a mean BMI of 38.4. Main Outcome Measures Fruit and vegetable intake and percent calories from fat. Analysis Descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Results Participants reported a large variety of both fruits and vegetables and unhealthy foods in their homes, and an average of 2.6 family meals from non-home sources per week. Eating family meals with the television on was common. Availability of fruits and vegetables in the home ( P < .001) and frequency of fruit shopping ( P = .01) were associated with fruit and vegetable intake. The number of unhealthy foods in the home ( P = .01) and food preparation methods ( P = .01) were associated with percent calories from fat. Conclusions and Implications Home food environments may be effective intervention targets for nutrition programs designed for overweight and obese women.