Long-haul truck drivers want healthful meal options at truck-stop restaurants.
Long-haul truckers are confined, by parking regulations and other constraints, to dining at truck-stop restaurants. Objectives were to (a) compare truckers' anthropometrics with recommended guidelines; and (b) assess eating/exercise habits, importance of healthful food choices, and attitudes about restaurants' provision of healthful options. Hypotheses were: (a) overweight/obese drivers will place less importance on healthful food choices than will drivers of optimal weight; (b) importance of healthful food choices and attitudes about their provision will be positively correlated. Questionnaires included Food Choices Index, Nutrition Attitude Survey, and demographic information; bioelectrical impedance assessed weight, body fat, and body mass index. Subjects (n=92) were truckers at a Midwestern truck-stop restaurant; 79 were overweight, 52 were obese. Mean rating of importance of healthful choices was above average. There was no difference in importance of healthful food choices for overweight/obese and optimal weight drivers, t(89)=-1.312; P=0.19. Drivers placing more importance on healthful food choices had more positive attitudes about restaurants' provision of such options, r(90)=0.74, P<0.001. Overall, drivers indicated they would choose healthful foods if available and appetizing. Registered dietitian-directed wellness programs that include education, support, and cooperation of truck-stop restaurants are critical to reduce obesity and risk of disease in this population.
School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
Pamela J
PJ
Whitfield Jacobson
Aimee D
AD
Prawitz
Judith M
JM
Lukaszuk
D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012147:Restaurants; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014186:Transportation