The consequences of unemployment on diet composition and purchase behaviour: a longitudinal study from Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - The consequences of unemployment on diet composition and purchase behaviour

T2 - a longitudinal study from Denmark

AU - Smed, Sinne

AU - Tetens, Inge

AU - Lund, Thomas Bøker

AU - Holm, Lotte

AU - Ljungdalh Nielsen, Annemette

N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 081

PY - 2018/2/1

Y1 - 2018/2/1

N2 - Objective To explore and describe quantitatively the effect over time of unemployment on food purchase behaviour and diet composition. Design Longitudinal data from 2008-2012, with monthly food purchase data aligned with register data on unemployment measured as a dichotomous indicator as well as a trend accounting for the duration. Setting A household panel which registers daily food purchases combined with detailed nutritional information and registration of the duration of unemployment at individual level. The structure of the data set facilitates the detection of effects or associations between duration of unemployment and diet composition, purchase behaviour in terms of food expenditure, and share of food purchased on offer and in discounters while controlling for important confounding factors. Subjects Danish households of working age (n 3440) adjusted to household equivalents. We use fixed-effects econometric methods to control for unobserved heterogeneity. Results In the short run, unemployment led to substitution in favour of discount stores and increases in food expenditure and in consumption of saturated fat, total fat and protein due to increased consumption of animal-based foods. In the medium run food expenditure declined together with consumption of fresh animal-based foods and saturated fat, total fat and protein. In the even longer run these nutrients were substituted by carbohydrates and added sugar. Conclusions Unemployment has a substantial influence on diet composition, but effects vary with duration of the unemployment period, which may have potential health implications. This ought to be taken into consideration in evaluations of existing reforms and in future reforms of welfare systems.

AB - Objective To explore and describe quantitatively the effect over time of unemployment on food purchase behaviour and diet composition. Design Longitudinal data from 2008-2012, with monthly food purchase data aligned with register data on unemployment measured as a dichotomous indicator as well as a trend accounting for the duration. Setting A household panel which registers daily food purchases combined with detailed nutritional information and registration of the duration of unemployment at individual level. The structure of the data set facilitates the detection of effects or associations between duration of unemployment and diet composition, purchase behaviour in terms of food expenditure, and share of food purchased on offer and in discounters while controlling for important confounding factors. Subjects Danish households of working age (n 3440) adjusted to household equivalents. We use fixed-effects econometric methods to control for unobserved heterogeneity. Results In the short run, unemployment led to substitution in favour of discount stores and increases in food expenditure and in consumption of saturated fat, total fat and protein due to increased consumption of animal-based foods. In the medium run food expenditure declined together with consumption of fresh animal-based foods and saturated fat, total fat and protein. In the even longer run these nutrients were substituted by carbohydrates and added sugar. Conclusions Unemployment has a substantial influence on diet composition, but effects vary with duration of the unemployment period, which may have potential health implications. This ought to be taken into consideration in evaluations of existing reforms and in future reforms of welfare systems.

KW - Economic recession

KW - Unemployment

KW - Nutrition

KW - Coping strategies

KW - Diet composition

U2 - 10.1017/s136898001700266x

DO - 10.1017/s136898001700266x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29115198

SN - 1368-9800

VL - 21

SP - 580

EP - 592

JO - Public Health Nutrition

JF - Public Health Nutrition

IS - 3

ER -