Factors influencing diet and health concerns among Canadian consumers

• Author / Creator

  Chamanifard, Maryam

• This thesis focuses on Canadian consumers concerns and attitudes towards healthy eating. The analysis is based on two years (2007 and 2008) of the Nielsen Health and Wellness survey data (Nielsen, 2008) and Nielsen Homescan household food purchase data. These datasets are used to investigate, first participating Canadian consumers stated food and health behaviour, and second the actual revealed meat purchase patterns of the same households.
  The results from logistical regression models show how differences in social-demographic factors and food behaviours affect consumers’ health and dietary concerns. Significant variables are gender, age, family lifestyle, changing eating habits towards a healthier lifestyle, and information from products’ Nutrition Facts Tables. These variables are key factors that increase the probability of Canadians being more concerned about their future health, healthy eating, as well as obesity in their household.
  In the second analysis, meat purchase patterns across survey participants with varying stated levels of health and dietary concerns are investigated using descriptive data analysis. Although the first part of analysis suggested that consumers are getting more knowledgeable about making healthier food choices and diet-health related problems resulting from an unbalanced diet, no differences in meat purchase patterns related to households’ stated diet and health concerns were found.
  The discrepancies between stated and revealed food, diet, and health preferences among Canadians suggest that more emphasis needs to be placed on consumer information and education to improve healthy food choices in meat and other products. Also, the relationship between consumer socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and their impact on consumer health behavior requires further attention. Improved knowledge and information regarding Canadian consumers’ diet and health behavior can support more efficient marketing programs for healthier products and assist policy makers in designing more effective policies aimed at changing Canadians’ diets to promote healthier lifestyles.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Consumer
  • food
  • purchase
  • demographic
  • health
  • obesity
  • survey
  • meat

• Graduation date

  Spring 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R35G88

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.