[Analysis on eating away from home of adults in Beijing in 2010-2012].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the characteristics of adults who choose to eat away from home( EAFH) in Beijing, and figure out the differences of eating behaviors between people who choose to eat whether breakfast, lunch or dinner away from home.

METHODS

To select adults aged 18 years old and above, who participated in the 2010-2012 China Health and Nutrition Survey, and their eating behavior features were analyzed. The 24-hour dietary recall method for 3 consecutive days was used to collect food intake information.

RESULTS

The prevalence of EAFH among adults in Beijing was34. 2%. Higher prevalence among male than female. Adults aged 18- 29 showed higher prevalence than other age groups. Urban residents were more willing to eat away from home than rural residents. Single people ate away from home more frequently than who were married or divorced. EAFH prevalence were also higher among people graduated from college and people with higher income. The prevalence among the whole sample of eating breakfast away from home was 20. 0%, eating lunch away from home was 28. 2%, eating dinner away from home was 11. 3%.

CONCLUSION

Gender, age, living location, marital status, educational level and income, are all contributing factors to EAFH behavior. People prefer to having lunch than breakfast or dinner away from home.