Examining Eating Rate in Women Recruited From Low-Income Sites

Author

Anne Therese Edwards, University of Rhode IslandFollow

Date of Award

2015

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nutrition and Food Science

Department

Nutrition and Food Sciences

First Advisor

Kathleen Melanson

Abstract

Obesity is a major health problem in the United States. Food insecurity is related to obesity, especially in women. Obesity is associated with a fast eating rate (ER) and failure to reduce ER during meals. The purpose of this research is to measure ER in food insecure women in community settings utilizing a novel, mobile measurement system using laptop computers. Low-income women (n=20), ages 18-65 (mean±SD age= 46.5±13.7 years) with a body mass index (BMI) over 18.5 kg/m² (mean±SD BMI=35.7±6.6 kg/m²) were recruited from a food pantry and free clinic in Rhode Island. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Adult Food Security Survey Module was used: participants scored in the secure (n=0), marginal (n=1), low (n=4), or very low (n=15) range. Scores of high and marginal were categorized food secure (n=1), and of low and very low as food insecure (n=19). Women were video recorded eating a test meal (400g, 842 kcal vegetable frittata), which was covertly weighed pre and post consumption. Eating rate (g/min), duration (min), energy intake (kcals), total intake (g), kcals/minute, bite size (g/bite), and quartile eating rate (bites/quartile) were calculated. Video recordings were divided into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) and bites/quartile was calculated. Thirteen video recordings were included: food secure (n=1) (mean±SD ER 53.9 g/min) and food insecure (n=12) (mean±SD ER 55.1±19.1g/min). Quartile results found that Q1 eating rate was slower (n=7), faster (n=3), or the same as Q2 (n=2). Two patterns emerged: accelerated eaters with faster Q4 ER (n=6), or decelerated eaters with decreased Q4 ER (n=7). The novel methodology limited the study and modifications to methodology need to be made.

Comments

Thesis includes two different abstracts. One in page ii and the other on page 2-3.

Recommended Citation

Edwards, Anne Therese, "Examining Eating Rate in Women Recruited From Low-Income Sites" (2015). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 627.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/627