IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/zbw/daredp/2104.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Dietary transition and its relationship with socio-economic status and peri-urban obesity

Author

Listed:
  • Purushotham, Anjali
  • Aiyar, Anaka
  • von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan

Abstract

In 2015-16, India was the seventh-largest economy in the world and had more than 200 million people at risk for obesity. Overconsumption of calories from processed foods, an outcome of a country's dietary transition, is known to be an important mechanism that drives risks for obesity. Testing the relationship between processed foods, socio-economic status and obesity has not been possible thus far due to the limited availability of relevant micro-level data. In this paper, we use novel cross-sectional data from a primary socio-economic survey conducted in the rural-urban interface of Bangalore, a mega-city in India, to explore the role of dietary transition in obesity. We show that calories from semi- and ultra-processed foods are positively associated with the prevalence of obesity (Body Mass Index, BMI, =25) among women. Households in the lower-income group are at higher risk of obesity due to excess consumption of calories from semi-processed foods while ultra-processed foods are associated with obesity among higher income groups. We also find that excess consumption of semi-processed food calories is strongly associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity among women who meet their recommended dietary allowance for calories. This suggests that there is a threshold effect before which consumption of calories from processed foods may improve BMI. Furthermore, in line with the literature, we show that labor-intensive physical activities seem to alleviate the effect of calories on obesity. The strength of the association between semi-processed foods and obesity reduces with occupations association with greater physical activity. Our study highlights how diet-related transitions during economic growth and urbanization impact different economic groups & the dual burden of malnutrition. Our results call for strategic interventions, that are focused on reducing obesity in India, to work on moderating the consumption of semi-processed foods among peri-urban households.

Suggested Citation

  • Purushotham, Anjali & Aiyar, Anaka & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2021. "Dietary transition and its relationship with socio-economic status and peri-urban obesity," DARE Discussion Papers 2104, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:daredp:2104
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/234978/1/1760362263.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Subir Bairagi & Samarendu Mohanty & Sampriti Baruah & Huong Trinh Thi, 2020. "Changing food consumption patterns in rural and urban Vietnam: Implications for a future food supply system," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 64(3), pages 750-775, July.
    2. Demmler, Kathrin M. & Ecker, Olivier & Qaim, Matin, 2018. "Supermarket Shopping and Nutritional Outcomes: A Panel Data Analysis for Urban Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 292-303.
    3. Popkin, Barry M., 1999. "Urbanization, Lifestyle Changes and the Nutrition Transition," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(11), pages 1905-1916, November.
    4. Kennedy, Eileen & Reardon, Thomas, 1994. "Shift to non-traditional grains in the diets of East and West Africa: role of women's opportunity cost of time," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 45-56, February.
    5. Haggblade, Steven & Hazell, Peter & Reardon, Thomas, 2010. "The Rural Non-farm Economy: Prospects for Growth and Poverty Reduction," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 1429-1441, October.
    6. Prabhu Pingali & Anaka Aiyar & Mathew Abraham & Andaleeb Rahman, 2019. "Transforming Food Systems for a Rising India," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-3-030-14409-8, December.
    7. Cawley, John, 2015. "An economy of scales: A selective review of obesity's economic causes, consequences, and solutions," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 244-268.
    8. Jochen Meyer & Stephan von Cramon‐Taubadel, 2004. "Asymmetric Price Transmission: A Survey," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 581-611, November.
    9. Heß, Sebastian & Bergmann, Holger & Sudmann, Lüder, 2006. "Die Förderung alternativer Energien - eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme," Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARE) Discussion Papers 187446, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    10. Pingali, Prabhu, 2007. "Westernization of Asian diets and the transformation of food systems: Implications for research and policy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 281-298, June.
    11. Cockx, Lara & Colen, Liesbeth & De Weerdt, Joachim, 2018. "From corn to popcorn? Urbanization and dietary change: Evidence from rural-urban migrants in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 140-159.
    12. Herrendorf, Berthold & Rogerson, Richard & Valentinyi, Ákos, 2014. "Growth and Structural Transformation," Handbook of Economic Growth, in: Philippe Aghion & Steven Durlauf (ed.), Handbook of Economic Growth, edition 1, volume 2, chapter 6, pages 855-941, Elsevier.
    13. J. V. Meenakshi, 2016. "Trends and patterns in the triple burden of malnutrition in India," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 47(S1), pages 115-134, November.
    14. Graskemper, Viktoria & Feil, Jan-Henning, 2021. "Values of farmers: Evidence from Germany," DARE Discussion Papers 2101, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
    15. Andaleeb Rahman & Sumit Mishra, 2020. "Does Non-farm Income Affect Food Security? Evidence from India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(6), pages 1190-1209, June.
    16. Thomas Reardon & C. Peter Timmer & Christopher B. Barrett & Julio Berdegué, 2003. "The Rise of Supermarkets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 85(5), pages 1140-1146.
    17. Prabhu Pingali & Yasmeen Khwaja, 2004. "Globalization of Indian Diets and the Transformation of Food Supply Systems," Working Papers 04-05, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    18. Gibson, John & Datt, Gaurav & Murgai, Rinku & Ravallion, Martin, 2017. "For India’s Rural Poor, Growing Towns Matter More Than Growing Cities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 413-429.
    19. Abay Asfaw, 2011. "Does consumption of processed foods explain disparities in the body weight of individuals? The case of Guatemala," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 184-195, February.
    20. Dang, Archana & Maitra, Pushkar & Menon, Nidhiya, 2019. "Labor market engagement and the body mass index of working adults: Evidence from India," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 58-77.
    21. Ellen M. Hoffmann & Monish Jose & Nils Nölke & Thomas Möckel, 2017. "Construction and Use of a Simple Index of Urbanisation in the Rural–Urban Interface of Bangalore, India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-21, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Purushotham, Anjali & Aiyar, Anaka & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan, 2023. "Processed foods, socio-economic status, and peri-urban obesity in India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    2. Aiyar, Anaka & Rahman, Andaleeb & Pingali, Prabhu, 2021. "India’s rural transformation and rising obesity burden," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    3. Aiyar, Anaka & Dhingra, Sunaina & Pingali, Prabhu, 2021. "Transitioning to an obese India: Demographic and structural determinants of the rapid rise in overweight incidence," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    4. Lara Cockx & Liesbeth Colen & Joachim De Weerdt & Sergio Gomez Y Paloma, 2019. "Urbanization as a driver of changing food demand in Africa: Evidence from rural-urban migration in Tanzania," JRC Research Reports JRC107918, Joint Research Centre.
    5. Pingali, Prabhu, 2007. "Westernization of Asian diets and the transformation of food systems: Implications for research and policy," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 281-298, June.
    6. Mottaleb, Khondoker A. & Mishra, Ashok K., 2020. "Income, Urbanization, and Consumption of Processed Foods: Implications for Nutrition and Health Policies for India," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304206, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    7. Ritter, Patricia I., 2023. "Soda expansion in the tropics: The effect on obesity rates among women without piped water at home," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    8. Prabhu Pingali & Mathew Abraham, 2022. "Food systems transformation in Asia – A brief economic history," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(6), pages 895-910, November.
    9. Jody Harris & Phuong Hong Nguyen & Lan Mai Tran & Phuong Nam Huynh, 2020. "Nutrition transition in Vietnam: changing food supply, food prices, household expenditure, diet and nutrition outcomes," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(5), pages 1141-1155, October.
    10. Purushotham, Anjali & Steinhübel, Linda, 2021. "You Eat What You Work – Livelihood Strategies and Nutrition in the Rural-Urban Interface," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315247, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Reardon, Thomas & Liverpool-Tasie, Saweda & Minten, Bart, 2022. "IFAD Research Series 78: The Small and Medium Enterprises’ quiet revolution in the hidden middle of food systems in developing regions," IFAD Research Series 321998, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    12. Christophe Béné & Jessica Fanzo & Steven D Prager & Harold A Achicanoy & Brendan R Mapes & Patricia Alvarez Toro & Camila Bonilla Cedrez, 2020. "Global drivers of food system (un)sustainability: A multi-country correlation analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, April.
    13. Boysen, Ole & Bradford, Harvey & Boysen-Urban, Kirsten & Balie, Jean, 2018. "Taxing Highly Processed Foods: Impacts On Obesity And Underweight In Sub-Saharan Africa," 58th Annual Conference, Kiel, Germany, September 12-14, 2018 275849, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA).
    14. Ibrahim Hassen Worku & Mekdim Dereje & Bart Minten & Kalle Hirvonen, 2017. "Diet transformation in Africa: the case of Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 48(S1), pages 73-86, November.
    15. Purushotham, Anjali & Mittal, Nitya & Ashwini, B.C. & Umesh, K.B. & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2022. "A quantile regression analysis of dietary diversity and anthropometric outcomes among children and women in the rural–urban interface of Bangalore, India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    16. Gómez, Miguel I. & Ricketts, Katie D., 2013. "Food value chain transformations in developing countries: Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 139-150.
    17. Kimenju, Simon & Qaim, Matin, 2014. "The Nutrition Transition and Indicators of Child Malnutrition," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 195709, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    18. Boysen, Ole & Boysen-Urban, Kirsten & Bradford, Harvey & Balié, Jean, 2019. "Taxing highly processed foods: What could be the impacts on obesity and underweight in sub-Saharan Africa?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 55-67.
    19. Fantu Nisrane Bachewe & Bart Minten, 2023. "Towards understanding vegetable and fruit markets for improved consumption and nutrition: The case of Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 989-1005, August.
    20. Steinhübel, Linda & Wenzel, Arne & Hulamani, Prashant & von Cramon-Taubadel, Stephan & Mason, Nicole M., 2021. "The role of space and time in the interaction of farmers' management decisions and bee communities: Evidence from South India," DARE Discussion Papers 2103, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Obesity; dietary transition; structural transformation; rural-urban interface; urbanization; India;
    All these keywords.

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:zbw:daredp:2104. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/iagoede.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.