Household Income and Vegetable Consumption among White, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese Americans

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to examine racial/ethnic differences in vegetable consumption between White and three major groups of Asian Americans. We hypothesize that racial/ethnic differences in frequency of vegetable consumption is significantly related to respondents’ household income.

Methods: We used the 2009 California Health Survey Interview (CHIS) data set that has a total sample of 47,167 respondents aged 18 and over. The selected sample used in this study consisted of four racial and ethnic groups included Whites (31,582), Chinese (1,014), Korean (909), and Vietnamese (1,411). We used Ordinary Least Square regression and adjusted for complex survey sampling designs in all analyses. Interaction effect is visually presented.

Results: Chinese and White respondents reported a greater frequency of weekly vegetable consumption than Korean and Vietnamese respondents. The significant interaction effect of race/ethnicity and household income revealed that White respondents with an annual household income from $150,000 and over consumed vegetables more frequently than White respondents with an annual household income under $150,000. However, among three selected Asian groups, respondents with an annual household income from $150,000 and over consumed vegetables less frequently than those with an annual household income under $150,000. Other demographic variables including sex, age, marital status, education, BMI also had significant associations with frequency of vegetable consumption.

Conclusion: Culture and economic wealth might play an important role in vegetable consumption. Knowledge regarding racial/ethnic differences in vegetable consumption are important for community-based health education and intervention programs for Asian Americans.