Eating Out Leads to Weight Gain

Americans spend a large share of their food budget (42 percent) on food away from home (FAFH), which has been found to be less nutritious than food prepared at home. For the average consumer, eating one meal away from home each week increases daily intake by about 134 calories and translates to roughly two extra pounds each year, according to a new study from the USDA’s Economic Research Service.

Using data from 1994-96 and 2003-04, the study applied fixed-effects estimation to control for such unobservable influences and found that, for the average adult, FAFH increases daily caloric intake and reduces diet quality. The effects vary depending on which meals are consumed away from home.

On average, breakfast away from home decreases the number of servings of whole grains and dairy consumed per 1,000 calories and increases the percent of calories from saturated and solid fat, alcohol, and added sugar (SoFAAS) in a day. Dinner away from home reduces the number of servings of vegetables consumed per 1,000 calories for the average adult. Breakfast and lunch away from home increase calories from saturated fat and SoFAAS on average more among dieters than among non-dieters. Some of the overall negative dietary effects decreased between 1994-96 and 2003-04, including those on whole grain, sodium, and vegetable consumption.

Sources:

• USDA’s Economic Research Service: The Impact of Food Away From Home on Adult Diet Quality