Is Dietary Knowledge Enough? Hunger, Stress, and Other Roadblocks to Healthy Eating
by
Lisa Mancino and Jean Kinsey
Economic Research Report No. (ERR-62) 29 pp, August 2008
cover image for err62
Poor diets and rising obesity rates among Americans persist despite increased public awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. This report presents a consumer demand model to illustrate how both long-term health objectives and immediate visceral influences—long intervals between meals and eating away from home—can drive individuals’ food choices. The model predicts that cognitive dietary information will have less influence on food choices in the face of immediate visceral factors. Using data from the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals and the companion Diet Health and Knowledge Survey, the analysis finds that when individuals extend the period between meals or consume more of their food away from home, they are significantly more likely to consume more calories and lower diet quality.
Keywords: Diet quality, food choices, behavioral economics, visceral influences, obesity rates, health, nutrition, healthy lifestyle, hunger, stress, eating away from home, dietary knowledge
In this publication...
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Report summary, Pdf file 856 kb
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Abstract, Contents, and Summary, Pdf file 1,468 kb
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Introduction, Pdf file 82 kb
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Theoretical Background, Pdf file 90 kb
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Theoretical Model, Pdf file 98 kb
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Empirical Implications and Economic Model, Pdf file 84 kb
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Data, Pdf file 112 kb
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Results, Pdf file 96 kb
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Conclusion, Pdf file 77 kb
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References, Pdf file 80 kb
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Entire report, Pdf file 1,406 kb
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