why we eat what we eat Flashcards
Trading down
Research by Hanson and Connor (2014) explored the link between food insecurity and dietary quality. They found that individuals who experience food insecurity—uncertainty about having enough food—are more likely to “trade down” by buying less expensive, energy-dense foods that are high in fats and sugars.
Explanation: Financial limitations force consumers to focus on stretching their food budget, often leading to purchases of inexpensive, processed foods that are filling but contribute to poor diet quality and increased risk of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Study: META ANALAYSSIS- by Sibhatu and Qaim (2018) looked at how food price inflation impacts food consumption patterns. They found that as food prices rise, particularly for healthier items like fresh produce and lean proteins, consumers are more likely to shift toward cheaper, processed, and packaged foods.
Explanation: Price increases for healthier food push consumers, particularly those with limited income, toward “trading down” to processed, calorie-rich foods that are cheaper but nutritionally poor
Jetter and Cassady (2006)- highlighted due to time, family and low SES convenience foods are brought more and these are unhealthier
covid and online food ordering boom
Jia et al (2024)
* Systematic review; global
* Nine electronic databases were searched between Jan 2020 and Oct 2023.
* Studies that reported the frequency or change in use of online groceries, meal delivery applications, and/or meal-kit delivery services before and during the pandemic were included.
* Use of meal delivery apps was associated with perceived obesity status, weight gain, emotional eating, snacking behaviour, and a shift to unhealthier
food orders.
- One study showed that
more frequent users of meal delivery apps had lower vegetable intake and higher sugar-sweetened beverage
consumption compared to less frequent users
online food purchasing behaviour
- UK: online shopping expenditure for processed products
surpassed the expenditure for fresh products (Revoredo
Giha et al., 2022). - USA: consumers from low-income households may be
buying less fresh fruits and vegetables online compared to
in-store (Trude et al., 2022). - USA: A virtual supermarket program found that although
nearly 50% participants increased their purchases of
healthier products, an equally large proportion reported
buying more juices and sugar-sweetened beverages
(Lagisetty et al., 2017)
GOV.uk food stats
Average Spending: On average, households in the UK spend around 10-15% of their income on food and non-alcoholic drinks. This percentage varies significantly between income groups, with higher-income households spending more on food in absolute terms but a smaller share of their overall income.
Food Choices: Lower-income households are more likely to opt for cheaper, less nutritious foods, as they prioritize affordability over quality due to financial constraints
what is a food desert and what is a food swamp
food desert- Food desert: geographical areas in which the residents have restricted or non-existent access to healthful, affordable food options, such as fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and dairy products, and whole
grains, because of the absence of grocery stores and other entities within a convenient traveling distance (United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. 2009.
food swamp- Food swamp: Areas where access to less nutritious food (i.e., fast
food availability) is greater than access to nutrient-dense (healthy) food.
While living in a food desert may be associated with decreased fruit
and vegetable intake, living in a food swamp may additionally be
associated with higher snack and dessert consumption.
food deserts
Food deserts are areas where residents have limited access to supermarkets or grocery stores that offer fresh produce and other nutritious options. Studies have identified that around 23.5 million people in the U.S. live in such areas, with 11.5 million of these being low-income individuals. These communities are often located more than a mile away from a large grocery store, making access to fresh and affordable food difficult (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2020)
Several factors contribute to the formation of food deserts, including socioeconomic conditions, inadequate transportation, and geographic isolation. Research shows that improving access to grocery stores alone may not always result in healthier eating habits. For instance, while increased access to grocery stores does boost fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, income levels, educational attainment, and community-specific factors also play a critical role. People in low-income communities are still more likely to consume fast food and unhealthy options despite better access to grocery stores Althoff et al., 2021)
food swamps
England’s poorest areas are fast-food hotspots, with five times more outlets than in the most affluent areas.
* Children from poorer areas are disproportionately exposed to takeaways selling fried chicken, burgers and pizzas
* Poorer areas also have more visible advertising for unhealthy foods than wealthier areas
Hager et al., 2016.
Girls with a lower BMI-for-age z-score were (actually correlated to higher BMI) :- more likely to live in food deserts or swamps- consumed more snacks and desserts than the girls with higher BMI-for-age z-scores. Proximity to one or more convenience store was associated with a statistically significant increase in consumption in snacks and desserts following other trends that childhood BMI may be impacted by proximity to unhealthy food
options rather than food desert status alone.
food deserts in UK study
(Janatabadi et al., 2024)
13.8 million people in the UK have limited access to store and online groceries.
*
There is a clear urban-rural divide in both store and online access to food.
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Deprived households are disproportionately affected by access to food.
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People with access to store and online groceries reported better health conditions.
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Online access is as practical as store access pertaining to health conditions.
