title: Food Away from Home and Childhood Obesity.
abstract: Childhood obesity is associated with a number of serious health risks that can persist into adulthood. While trends in food away from home and fast-food consumption have paralleled trends in childhood obesity, it is important to identify whether this is a causal relationship. This paper reviews recent literature in this area to summarize if there is a consensus in research findings. We group the literature into two areas - consumption of and access to food away from home (FAFH). While no consensus findings have been reached in either area, the evidence of an association between FAFH consumption and childhood obesity has gained strength. Further, there is evidence that FAFH meals add calories to children's diets. The literature on the role of FAFH access and childhood obesity has continued producing mixed results.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service, 355 E St. SW, Washington, DC, 20024, USA. lmancino@ers.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mancino
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service, 355 E St. SW, Washington, DC, 20024, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service, 355 E St. SW, Washington, DC, 20024, USA.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Economic Research Service, 355 E St. SW, Washington, DC, 20024, USA.
authors.forename: Biing-Hwan
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: Body mass index; Childhood obesity; Diet quality; Fast-food consumption; Food-away-from-home consumption