A survey of older Americans to determine frequency and motivations for eating fast food

Senior citizens were surveyed at 11 senior centers in two states to determine their use of fast food restaurants for food and socialization purposes. Six and 11 percent of respondents in New Jersey and Texas, respectively, eat in fast food restaurants at least once a week. One-fifth of respondents in both states frequent fast food restaurants so they do not have to cook. One-quarter of respondents cited economics as the reason for fast food restaurant patronage. The study provided evidence that seniors patronize fast food restaurants in large numbers, have strong reasons for doing so, and their patronage and motivations do not differ geographically.