Differences in dietary patterns of nonsmoking adults married to smokers vs. nonsmokers

Purpose. To compare dietary intakes of nonsmoking adults married to smokers or nonsmokers. Design. Respondents to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), 1994 to 1996 (response rate = 76.1% for 2 days of dietary intake). Nonsmoking adults aged 18 and older were grouped according to the smoking status of their spouse. Setting. In-home interviews in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Subjects. The selected sample included 757 men and 754 women who were married to nonsmokers, and 197 men and 262 women who were married to smokers. Measures. Selected demographic variables, food group servings, food energy, and densities of selected nutrients were compared using X² and analysis of covariance. Results. Men and women married to smokers had greater (p ≤ .025) energy-adjusted intakes of total and saturated fat but significantly lower (p ≤ .05) energy-adjusted intakes of fiber and vitamin A. Men married to smokers consumed significantly more (p < .025) energy-adjusted cholesterol and ethanol but significantly less calcium (p = .026); women married to smokers consumed significantly less (p = .014) energy-adjusted folate. Men married to smokers consumed significantly more (p ≤ .05) alcoholic beverages, coffee, and soft drinks; women married to smokers consumed significantly less water (p = .014) but more cheese and table sweeteners (p ≤ .05). Conclusions. Nonsmoking men and women who were married to smokers had compromised dietary intakes. Nonsmoking men whose wives smoked, in particular, had unhealthy diets due to elevated intakes of fat and cholesterol and low intakes of vitamin A, calcium, and fiber. Health professionals should continue to provide tobacco cessation instruction and dietary guidance, but also be aware of at-risk patients' immediate family members who likely share an increased risk of disease because of poor diet quality and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.