Anxiety Sensitivity and Fast-Food Ordering Habits Among African-American Adults

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dc.contributorReitzel, Lorraine R.
dc.contributorChen, Tzu-An
dc.contributorZvolensky, Michael J.
dc.contributorMcNeill, Lorna H.
dc.contributorObasi, Ezemenari M.
dc.contributor.authorNitturi, Vijay
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-11T17:49:16Z
dc.date.available2021-02-11T17:49:16Z
dc.date.issued2020-09-29
dc.description.abstractBackground: African American adults experience high rates of overweight/obesity, which is linked to chronic diseases and is exacerbated by fast-food consumption. Anxiety sensitivity, a relatively stable fear of anxiety-related sensations, has been linked to high caloric intake. Here, we examine whether anxiety sensitivity is associated with fast-food ordering habits within an African American convenience sample. Methods: Of 124 adults (79.4% women; Mage=49.3±11.6; 84.8% overweight/obese), 107 (86.3%) reported eating from a fast-food restaurant in the last month. Participants completed the Anxiety Sensitivity-Index 3, which has a total score and physical, cognitive, and social concerns subscales. Investigator-generated items were frequency of ordering “supersized” quantities of fast-food (e.g., cheeseburgers, fries), and healthy items (e.g., salads, oatmeal, yogurt), respectively, from “never” to “always.” Covariate-adjusted ordinal logistic regression models were used to assess relations between measures of interest. Results: Anxiety sensitivity (total and physical concerns) was associated with greater odds of more frequently ordering supersized unhealthy fast-food; and anxiety sensitivity (total and cognitive concerns) was associated with lower odds of more frequently ordering healthy items from fast-food restaurants. Conclusions: Results suggest that adults with greater anxiety sensitivity may engage in fast-food ordering habits that may contribute to the overweight/obesity epidemic. Future studies should replicate results and determine the potential for anxiety sensitivity-reduction interventions to affect dietary choices that contribute to overweight/obesity. This project was completed with contributions from Lorna H. McNeill from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
dc.description.departmentPsychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, Department of
dc.description.departmentHonors College
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/7480
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.relation.ispartofSummer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.titleAnxiety Sensitivity and Fast-Food Ordering Habits Among African-American Adults
dc.typePoster

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