title: Gender difference in the association between food away-from-home consumption and body weight outcomes among Chinese adults.
abstract: The present study aimed to explore the associations between food away-from-home (FAFH) consumption and body weight outcomes among Chinese adults.
  
  
  
  FAFH was defined as food prepared at restaurants and the percentage of energy from FAFH was calculated. Measured BMI and waist circumference (WC) were used as body weight outcomes. Quantile regression models for BMI and WC were performed separately by gender.
  
  
  
  Information on demographic, socio-economic, diet and health parameters at individual, household and community levels was collected in twelve provinces of China.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional sample of 7738 non-pregnant individuals aged 18-60 years from the China Health and Nutrition Survey 2011 was analysed.
  
  
  
  For males, quantile regression models showed that percentage of energy from FAFH was associated with an increase in BMI of 0·01, 0·01, 0·01, 0·02, 0·02 and 0·03 kg/m2 at the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th quantile, and an increase in WC of 0·04, 0·06, 0·06, 0·04, 0·06, 0·05 and 0·07 cm at the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th quantile. For females, percentage of energy from FAFH was associated with 0·01, 0·01, 0·01 and 0·02 kg/m2 increase in BMI at the 10th, 25th, 90th and 95th quantile, and with 0·05, 0·04, 0·03 and 0·03 cm increase in WC at the 5th, 10th, 25th and 75th quantile.
  
  
  
  Our findings suggest that FAFH consumption is relatively more important for BMI and WC among males rather than females in China. Public health initiatives are needed to encourage Chinese adults to make healthy food choices when eating out.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wen-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition and Health,Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,29 Nanwei Road,Xicheng District,Beijing 100050,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong-Ru
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012737:Sex Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference
keywords: BMI; China; Food away from home; Gender difference; Waist circumference