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A cross-sectional investigation of relationships between food pleasure and worry, eating behaviors, and cultural attributes among Mexican American adults

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Food pleasure and worry may operate differently across cultural contexts; however, no studies have examined food pleasure or worry and eating-related outcomes among Mexican Americans. This study explored whether: (1) food pleasure/worry were associated with individual-level cultural attributes; (2) food pleasure/worry were associated with eating-related outcomes; and (3) relationships between food pleasure/worry and eating-related outcomes were moderated by cultural attributes. Data were collected with 3,329 Mexican American adults recruited through online panels to complete an online survey between November and December 2022. Participants had unique IP addresses, were aged 18-100, lived in the U.S., were able to read in English or Spanish, and had Mexican heritage. The survey assessed food pleasure, food worry, six cultural attributes (e.g., language use), and five eating-related outcomes believed to be associated with eating pleasure (e.g., sugary drink consumption) or nutrition monitoring (e.g., use of Nutrition Facts labels). Most participants rated food pleasure as important (83.6%) and had no food worry (83.1%). Rating food pleasure as important (vs. not) was associated with more Latino-oriented cultural attributes, higher sugary drink intake, consuming food prepared outside the home, and greater importance of sugary drinks at social gatherings. Having food worry (vs. not) was associated with being foreign-born, lower sugary drink intake, lower importance of sugary drinks at social gatherings, and greater likelihood of using Nutrition Facts labels. There was no strong evidence of moderation by cultural attributes. Food pleasure was associated with more obesogenic behaviors, and food worry was associated with more nutrition monitoring behaviors. More nuanced measurement of these food attitudes is needed to elucidate how food pleasure and worry influence eating behaviors, as well as whether nutrition interventions should target these food attitudes to promote healthy eating among Mexican American adults.

Source: International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2026.101498