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Involvement of Young Australian Adults in Meal Preparation: Cross-Sectional Associations with Abdominal Obesity and Body Mass Index

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 08:14 authored by Kylie SmithKylie Smith, McNaughton, SA, Seana GallSeana Gall, Christopher BlizzardChristopher Blizzard, Dwyer, T, Alison VennAlison Venn
Previous research has shown that involvement in meal preparation is positively associated with better diet quality. However, it is unclear whether there is an association between involvement in meal preparation and being overweight or obese. This study investigated whether the level of involvement in meal preparation was associated with objectively measured weight status in young adults. During 2004-2006, a national sample of 1,996 Australian adults aged 26 to 36 years completed a self-administered questionnaire including questions on sociodemographic characteristics, diet, and physical activity. Participants were asked to report who usually prepared the main meal on working days and responses were categorized as "myself," "shared," or "someone else." Waist circumference, weight, and height were measured by trained staff. Moderate abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference >=94 cm for men and >=80 cm for women. Overweight was defined as body mass index (calculated as kg/m2) >=25. Prevalence ratios were calculated using log binomial regression. After adjusting for age, education, and leisure time physical activity, men who shared the meal preparation had a slightly lower prevalence of moderate abdominal obesity (prevalence ratio=0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86 to 0.99) than those whose meals were usually prepared by someone else. There was no association with having sole responsibility (prevalence ratio=0.99; 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.06). There were no associations between level of involvement in meal preparation and being overweight (shared responsibility prevalence ratio=0.99; 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.07; sole responsibility prevalence ratio=0.98; 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.05). For women, level of involvement was not associated with moderate abdominal obesity (shared responsibility prevalence ratio=0.93; 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.03; sole responsibility prevalence ratio =0.94; 95% CI: 0.86 to 1.03) or being overweight (shared responsibility prevalence ratio=0.93; 95% CI: 0.84 to 1.02; sole responsibility prevalence ratio=0.93; 95% CI: 0.85 to 1.02). In this sample of young adults, level of involvement in meal preparation was not strongly related to weight status.

History

Publication title

American Dietetic Association. Journal

Volume

111

Issue

8

Pagination

1187-1191

ISSN

0002-8223

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Amer Dietetic Assoc

Place of publication

216 W Jackson Blvd #800, Chicago, USA, Il, 60606-6995

Rights statement

Copyright © 2011 by the American Dietetic Association The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Behaviour and health

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