Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
5070332 | Food Policy | 2015 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
The processed food sector in low- and middle-income countries has grown rapidly. Little is understood about its effect on obesity. Using data from 14,976 participants aged two and older in the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey, this paper examines patterns of processed food consumption and their impacts on obesity while considering the endogeneity of those who purchase processed foods. A major assumption of our analysis of the impact of processed foods on overweight and obesity was that the consumption of processed foods is endogenous due to their accessibility and urbanicity levels. The results show that 74.5% of participants consumed processed foods, excluding edible oils and other condiments; 28.5% of participants' total daily energy intake (EI) was from processed foods. Children and teenagers in megacities had the highest proportion of EI (40.2%) from processed foods. People who lived in megacities or highly urbanized neighborhoods with higher incomes and educational achievement consumed more processed foods. When controlling for endogeneity, only the body mass index (BMI) and risk of being overweight of children ages two to eighteen are adversely associated with processed foods (+4.97Â BMI units, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.66-8.28; odds ratio (OR)Â =Â 3.63, 95% CI: 1.45-9.13). Processed food purchases represent less than a third of current Chinese food purchases. However, processed food purchases are growing at the rate of 50% per year, and we must begin to understand the implications for the future.
Keywords
CHNSIOTFLMICNIHOLSSSBsOverweight and obesitystandard deviationChina Health and Nutrition Surveyordinary least squaresFood retailstandard errorDietWorld Health OrganizationGISGPSGeographic information systemGlobal Positioning Systembody mass indexBMIUrbanicityProcessed foodconfidence intervalNIH, National Institutes of HealthEnergy intakeodds ratioSugar-sweetened beveragesInternational Obesity Task ForceChinalow- and middle-income countryWHOkilometerkilogram
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Food Science
Authors
Yijing Zhou, Shufa Du, Chang Su, Bing Zhang, Huijun Wang, Barry M. Popkin,