Abstract
Background
A better understanding of the effect of environmental temperature variation on appetite and food intake may inform the public of adopting appropriate prophylactic eating behaviors. Seasonal weather temperature variation has been shown to have adverse effects on appetite and food intake in humans. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effect of environmental temperature variation on the appetite and eating patterns in Chinese adults.
Methods
Cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from 1297 Chinese adults, including two Chinese ethnic groups, Han (N = 897) and Hui (N = 400). Participants responded to a modified paper-and-pencil self-administered dietary habits and food intake survey. In addition to sociodemographic factors and ethnic group affiliation questions, the survey included a question regarding the effect of the subjective feeling of environmental temperature variation (SFETV) on appetite and food intake as an independent variable.t tests and chi-square analyses were performed to analyze the parametric and nonparametric variables respectively.
Results
No significant difference was found in the effect of SFETV between the following dependent variables: male and female respondents (p < .998), married and single respondents (p < .281), full-time and part-time employed or retired participants (p < .187). Although it has not affected their SFETV responses, there was a statistically significant difference in the education level between the married and single respondents (p < .001). The single respondents were more likely to be college educated with a rate of (68.48%) compared with their married counterparts with a rate of 30.2%. There was a statistically significant difference between the eight cities and one rural town (p < .001). The appetite and food intake of the respondents from these cities were more likely to be affected by the SFETV. The appetite and food intake of the Han ethnic group were more likely to be affected by the SFETV with a rate of 28.09% juxtaposed to the Hui ethnic group with a rate of 12.64%.
Conclusions
The findings suggest that exposure to outdoor temperature variation (hot or cold) has a limited effect on the appetite and food intake of Chinese adults. However, the appetite and food intake of the permanent residents of the eight cities and one rural town were more likely to be affected by the exposure to outdoor temperature variation (hot or cold).
Measurement invariance of the World Assumptions Questionnaire across race/ethnic group, sex, and sexual orientation.
