Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Lee Caplan

Abstract

According to recent studies, the consumption of ultra-processed food is a major issue that leads to fatal outcomes within the United States, which is relevant because this type of food has become more accessible over the years. Using data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey III (NHANES III), previous researchers found that frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with greater chances of all-cause mortality in U.S. adults, but little research has focused on factors that can impact ultra-processed food consumption, such as food environment. The purpose of this quantitative longitudinal study was to examine the effect of food environment on the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and all-cause mortality in U.S. adults. The social ecological model of health was used to explore if additional factors suggested in the literature play a role in how ultra-processed food intake effects all-cause mortality in the United States. Secondary data from NHANES (2009-2010) was used for this study. A sample of 191 participants were included in this study. The study found that there was no statistically significant relationship between food environment and all-cause mortality and between food environment and ultra-processed food intake, and that food environment does not moderate the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and all-cause mortality. Limitations included the dataset was old and not designed for the study, my study was underpowered, and there were not enough covariates to capture consumption behavior. Further research is needed to add to the field and help influence policies to increase healthy food sources for society which would hopefully minimize cardio related illnesses, thus leading to positive social change.

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