Associations Between Adolescent Food Environments and Dietary Intake

Objective: To examine aspects of the home and neighborhood food environment as predictors of adolescent diet.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Research laboratory in Nebraska.

Participants: Data drawn from the adolescent phase of a larger longitudinal study. Participants included 204 adolescents (mean age of 15.3 years) and caregivers.

Main outcome measures: Independent variables included the home food environment assessed via a validated questionnaire and the neighborhood food environment assessed via geographic information system methods and in-person audits. Dietary outcome variables were assessed using the Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating questionnaire and a 24-hour recall measure.

Analysis: Hierarchical multiple regression analysis. P < 0.05 indicated a significant predictor.

Results: Home fruit and vegetable availability predicted greater Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Healthy Eating Index score (P = 0.03), greater Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating-measured fruit and vegetable intake (P = 0.003), greater nutrient-dense food consumption (P = 0.01), and less fast-food intake (P = 0.02). Home fat and sweet availability positively predicted energy-dense, nutrient-poor food (P = 0.01), less healthful food (P < 0.001), and sugary food intake (P < 0.001). Convenience store counts positively predicted nutrient-dense food consumption (P = 0.04). Fast-food counts positively predicted sugary beverage consumption (P = 0.01).

Conclusions and implications: Findings suggest that, compared with the neighborhood food environment, the home food environment displays a greater number of associations with adolescent diet. Future research is needed to determine if the home food environment may act as a modifiable intervention target to address the elevated rates of adolescent obesity.