title: Predictors of total calories purchased at fast-food restaurants: restaurant characteristics, calorie awareness, and use of calorie information.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine purchase patterns at fast-food restaurants and their relation to restaurant characteristics, customer characteristics, and use of calorie information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fast-food restaurants in New York State.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult fast-food restaurant customers (n = 1,094).
  
  
  METHODS
  Restaurant characteristics (fast-food chain type, presence of calorie labels, and poverty of location), participant characteristics (demographics, calorie knowledge, awareness, and use), and customer purchasing patterns (ordering low-calorie or no beverage, small or no fries, or < 3 items) were used as predictors of total calories purchased.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multiple regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a regression model including restaurant and customer characteristics, fast-food chain customer age, sex, calorie use, and calorie awareness were independently associated with total calories purchased (all P < .05; model R2 = .19). When 3 purchasing patterns were added to the model, calorie use (P = .005), but not calorie awareness, remained associated with total calories purchased. The 3 purchase patterns collectively accounted for the majority of variance in calorie totals (Δ model R2 = .40).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Promoting use of calorie information, purchase strategies, and calorie awareness represents complementary ways to support lower-calorie choices at fast-food chains.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chronic Disease Prevention, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY. Electronic address: ifb01@health.state.ny.us.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brissette
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowenfels
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spicer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: calorie label; fast food; overweight; point of purchase; restaurant