Eating out of Home: Influence on Nutrition, Health, and Policies: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Eating out of home (EOH) is a common practice worldwide but research gaps have been identified. The aims of this review were (a) to find a common definition for EOH, (b) to determine the nutritional contribution of EOH, and (c) to analyze the relationship of EOH with health parameters in adults. Fifty-seven articles were finally selected. The definition of EOH was not harmonized between researchers and the comparison between studies was quite difficult. Restaurant and fast food were the terms most used, followed by chain restaurant, à la carte, sit-down restaurant, eating at table, full service, ready to eat, takeaway, buffet and buffet by weight, bar, cafes, and cafeterias, either alone or attached to at least one of the above. The profile of the main EOH participant was a highly educated, high-income, and unmarried young man. EOH was related to a body mass index (BMI) or being overweight in a different way depending on age, sex, or EOH frequency. A high rate of EOH led to poorer diet quality, characterized by higher intakes of energy, total and saturated fats, sugar, and sodium, as well as lower intakes of fiber, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and micronutrients. Regarding beverages, a higher intake of soft drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juices, beer, and other alcohol was observed when EOH. There is a need for a methodological consensus for analyzing the impact of EOH on dietary intake and health to avoid bias. Additionally, measures and policies should be utilized to help consumers to make healthier choices when EOH is compatible with business regarding those running EOH establishments.

The Relationships between Food Literacy, Health Promotion Literacy and Healthy Eating Habits among Young Adults in South Korea

“…First, as contemporary food industries and technologies have developed rapidly [ 72 ], people are beginning to prefer a wide range of processed food due to the affordable price and ready availability [ 27 , 73 ]. Moreover, as a result of the time-pressured social environment, people are becoming increasingly dependent on eating out and snacking, which involve a high calorie intake but only limited nutrition [ 74 , 75 , 76 ]. Irregular lifestyles characterized by insufficient sleep, excessive drinking, and/or high stress levels also disrupt the secretion of the hormones that control appetite and instigate compulsive overeating [ 77 ].…”

Is Better Knowledge about Health Benefits of Dietary Fiber Related to Food Labels Reading Habits? A Croatian Overview

“…Additionally, studies have confirmed that eating outside the home is occurring more frequently due to lifestyle changes, but the effect of this may vary depending on the country and eating out is not always necessarily unhealthy. In some countries, this may be an indicator of a higher socioeconomic status, while in other countries, this is a cheaper way of eating, usually marked by frequent fast food consumption and poor lifestyle habits [ 54 ]. For example, in our study, reading labels on food products showed a weak positive association with eating outside the home.…”

Carbon Footprint of Away-From-Home Food Consumption in Brazilian Diet

“…A high frequency of eating out is also related to poorer diet quality. In general, individuals who consume food away from home present lower intakes of fiber, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and micronutrients than non-consumers [ 2 ]. Beyond individual health, away-from-home food has many other implications for the environment that should not be overlooked.…”

“…In 2017–2018, one-third of the expenditures on food were for away-from-home foods (AFHF) [ 1 ]. It is well-known that AFHF consumption has a substantial impact on daily caloric intake due to the high content of total fat and saturated fat in foods prepared away from home [ 2 ]; however, little attention has been given to the contribution of away-from-home food to environmental sustainability.…”