Pooled prevalence of food away from home (FAFH) and associated non-communicable disease (NCD) markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Swapnil Godbharle; Angeline Jeyakumar; Bibek Raj Giri; Hema Kesa

doi:10.1186/s41043-022-00335-5

Pooled prevalence of food away from home (FAFH) and associated non-communicable disease (NCD) markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Health Popul Nutr. 2022 Nov 30;41(1):55. doi: 10.1186/s41043-022-00335-5.

Authors

Swapnil Godbharle^{1

2}, Angeline Jeyakumar^{3

4}, Bibek Raj Giri⁴, Hema Kesa³

Affiliations

¹ Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL), School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. swapnilg660@gmail.com.
² Department of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India. swapnilg660@gmail.com.
³ Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL), School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Health Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India.

Abstract

Background: Food away from home (FAFH) is an 'eating behavior' widely practiced across nations, more common in developed nations. Likewise, in developing countries an increase of close to 50% indicates an upsurge in FAFH consumption. While various indices and tools are used to assess diet quality, diversity, or healthy eating, FAFH is less utilized to study dietary behaviors and the associated disease risk.

Objective: To calculate the pooled estimate of FAFH and identify the associated non-communicable disease (NCD) markers.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: Independent electronic searches were conducted across 6 databases: Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane library, Ingenta, and CAB direct. Observational studies investigating the association between FAFH and NCD markers published between the year 2011 and 2021 were eligible for inclusion. Studies that included overweight or obese participants, pregnant women, or those under institutional care at baseline were excluded. The guidelines for reporting meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology were adhered to in the preparation of this systematic review.

Results: The random effects combined estimate for the overall prevalence of FAFH was 39.96% (95% CI 29.97-53.29). High heterogeneity (τ² = 0.63, I² = 100%) and high risk of bias were observed among the selected studies. The test for overall effect was observed to be z = 25.11 (p < 0.001). Eleven out of fourteen studies showed a positive association between FAFH and anthropometric changes. Twelve out of seventeen studies showed a positive association between FAFH and cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarkers.

Conclusion: Our work confirms FAFH as an evolving dietary behavior in both developing and developed countries, emphasizing the lack of representation from low-income countries. The association of FAFH with obesity and non-communicable disease risk is reinforced by our analyses. These findings should enable policy decisions to meet the rising demand of FAFH with healthier options to prevent the risk of NCD.

Keywords: Anthropometric changes; Dietary behavior; Food away from home; Non-communicable diseases.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomarkers
Diet, Healthy
Female
Food
Humans
Noncommunicable Diseases* / epidemiology
Obesity / epidemiology
Observational Studies as Topic
Pregnancy
Prevalence

Substances

Biomarkers