Correlates of high fat/calorie food intake in a worksite population: the Healthy Worker Project.

Behavioral and sociodemographic correlates of high fat/calorie food consumption were examined in a population-based sample of working adults (N = 2038 men; N = 2335 women). Relative weight, dieting history, and cigarette smoking were significantly related to total energy intake from high fat/calorie foods. Relative weight was positively related to the intake of meat, eggs, fried potatoes, and fats. Current dieting to lose weight was associated with a lower intake of all foods, except alcohol and fats. These foods were unrelated to dieting status in men and positively related to dieting status in women. Physical activity and smoking were related to higher intake of high fat/calorie foods. Smokers consumed fewer sweet foods than nonsmokers, however. These results underscore the importance of controlling for dieting status, as well as other behavioral and demographic variables, in population studies of dietary intake. They also suggest factors that may be important in the etiology of unhealthy eating patterns and potential targets for dietary intervention.