Estimating the impact of various menu labeling formats on parents’ demand for fast-food kids’ meals for their children: An experimental auction

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Should Fast-Food Franchisees Pursue Entrepreneurial Orientation?

Entrepreneurship Research Journal ◽

10.1515/erj-2019-0377 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Ehsan Asgharian ◽

Misagh Tasavori ◽

Jim Andersén

Keyword(s):

Firm Performance ◽

Significant Role ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽

Fast Food ◽

Business Systems ◽

Unidimensional Construct ◽

Different Dimensions ◽

Competitive Aggressiveness ◽

The Impact

Abstract Although it is widely accepted that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) improves firm performance, scholars have advised that particular attention should be paid to the context. In this research, we investigate a less explored context of franchising where business systems and procedures are usually dictated to franchisees by franchisors. Therefore, whether a franchisor should allow franchisees to pursue EO (innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) is not clear. In the context of franchising, the majority of prior studies have mainly focused on the employment of EO as a unidimensional construct and at the franchisor level. In this research, we take a bottom-up perspective and evaluate the impact of different dimensions of EO on franchisees’ performance. Our analysis of a multi-group of 183 restaurant franchisees located in Sweden and Iran reveals that only the pursuit of proactiveness and competitive aggressiveness improves a franchisee’s performance and other dimensions do not play a significant role in improving performance in this context.

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Stakeholder responses toward fast food chains’ CSR

Corporate Communications An International Journal ◽

10.1108/ccij-05-2017-0047 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 117-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yeonsoo Kim ◽

Mari Luz Zapata Ramos

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Issue ◽

Public Relations ◽

Fast Food ◽

Corporate Image ◽

Food Chains ◽

Supportive Communication ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Related ◽

The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how stakeholders perceive the motives behind fast food companies’ public health-related corporate social responsibility (CSR) and general social issue-related CSR initiatives, and their responses toward CSR in terms of supportive communication intent, investment intent, and purchase intent. The authors further examine the impact of perceived CSR motives on intent and whether a healthier chain image has an effect on stakeholder responses. Design/methodology/approach An online experiment was conducted. This study employed a randomized 2 (CSR type: health-related CSR vs generic social issue-related CSR)×2 (chain image: healthier chain vs general fast-food chain) full factorial design using general stakeholder samples. Findings For an ordinary fast food restaurant, generic social issue-related CSR programs elicited significantly more positive perceptions of CSR motives, supportive communication intent and investment intent, than public-health related CSR. When a company has a healthier image, stakeholders do not distinguish between CSR types. Stakeholders perceive both CSR types as stemming from mutually beneficial motives and show neutral to slightly positive reactions to both CSR. A positively perceived CSR motive plays a determinant role in anticipating communication, investment, and purchase intents. Originality/value This is the first study that examines stakeholder perception of motives behind and responses toward fast food chains’ health-related vs generic social issue-related CSR initiatives, in light of corporate image. The study findings help public relations practitioners, public health professionals, parent groups, and legislators understand stakeholders’ reactions toward CSR initiatives in the fast food industry and help them monitor practices for improvements.

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Experimental Markets and Environmental Policy

Agricultural and Resource Economics Review ◽

10.1017/s1068280500004706 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 117-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jason F. Shogren

Keyword(s):

Environmental Policy ◽

Transaction Costs ◽

Experimental Auction ◽

Dynamic Choice ◽

Auction Markets ◽

Experimental Markets ◽

Reduction Mechanisms ◽

Sequential Reduction ◽

The Impact ◽

Coasian Bargaining

Experimental markets can be a useful tool to guide and evaluate environmental policy. This paper reviews four experiments to illustrate. Two institutional experiments are considered—Coasian bargaining with positive transaction costs, and a gaming experiment of dynamic choice in a conflict. Two valuation experiments are also discussed—the impact of sequential reduction mechanisms on the value of risk, and experimental auction markets to elicit the value of safer food.

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Taming the Obesity Beast: Children, Marketing, and Public Policy Considerations

Journal of Public Policy & Marketing ◽

10.1509/jppm.26.2.236 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 236-242 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Kathleen Seiders ◽

Ross D. Petty

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Special Section ◽

Marketing Research ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Policy Interventions ◽

Longitudinal Tracking ◽

Fast Food Restaurants ◽

Role Of Parents ◽

Packaged Food ◽

The Impact

This essay explores the policy implications of the findings in this special section for potential remedies and opportunities for further research in the critical area of obesity. Children are an important focus here both because of the dramatic increase in childhood obesity in recent decades and because they lack the cognitive development and social experience to process marketing communications with the sophistication of adults. In addition, children's food purchase decisions are substantially influenced by their parents. Although packaged food marketers are setting their own voluntary restrictions on products to be marketed during entertainment content targeted at children, the impact of such restrictions is limited because children are substantial viewers of general entertainment content. This essay suggests that more prominent nutrition disclosure oriented toward obesity concerns for both packaged foods and fast-food restaurants should be more fully considered. It further suggests that increased marketing research is needed to better understand children as consumers, the role of parents as gatekeepers, and the differences between ethnic population segments. Marketing research also can contribute to the assessment of the effectiveness of different regulatory approaches adopted by various countries and the viability of mass educational approaches versus individual encouragement by parents, doctors, and others. The authors note that because obesity is a long-term health problem, a longitudinal tracking study would be useful in studying both health effects over time and the effectiveness of various policy interventions.

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How Fast Foods Impact Coronary Artery Disease Incidence: A Cross-Sectional Study

European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences ◽

10.24018/ejmed.2021.3.5.1033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 52-55

Author(s):

Khudayenoor ◽

Ayesha Shaheen ◽

Aimen Fatima ◽

Zohaib Saleem ◽

Hafeez Arshad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Fast Food ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fast Foods ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Artery Disease ◽

The Impact

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a very ordinary health problem around the globe. CAD is affected by numerous factors like diabetes, obesity, smoking, gender, and diet. However, the association of CAD with diet is understudied in our region that’s why our study was aimed to evaluate the effect of diet on CAD incidence. This cross-sectional study was completed among local population of Rawalpindi, Pakistan in almost 6 months from November 2020 to April 2021. People were taken in our study via set criteria. Data was collected by self-structured proforma. Data analysis was performed by applying IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were applied for quantitative variables. Statistical tests like Chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis were applied to know the association, direction, and strength of study variables. Our current study displays overall high prevalence CAD (17.48%) among study population. Mean value of age for study participants was 45.42 with SD of ±8.01years. Prevalence of CAD was more common among females, faster food eaters and fresh fruit and raw vegetables non-eaters. Gender, fast food, and fresh fruits and vegetables were associated with CHD significantly with p-values 0.030, 0.0007, and 0.0006 respectively. Strength and direction for fast food and CAD association was very strong and positive while for association between fresh fruits and raw vegetables and CAD was very strong and negative with correlation coefficient +0.812 and -0.831 respectively. In a nutshell, current study indicates high prevalence of CAD especially among females, fast food eaters and fresh fruits and raw vegetables non-eaters. Higher consumption of fast foods leads to higher incidence of CAD and vice versa while higher consumption of fresh fruits and raw vegetables bring down the incidence of CAD incidence and vice versa. So, we need to create awareness among people about the impact of food on CAD and gender specific interventions for each gender to lower down the CAD incidence.

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Markers of hikikomori in young people dur

Scientific Visnyk V.O. Sukhomlynskyi Mykolaiv National University. Psychological Sciences ◽

10.33310/2078-2128-2021-21-2-70-74 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 70-74

Author(s):

Inna Chuhueva ◽

Viktoriia Sakovska

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Educational Activity ◽

Psychological State ◽

Defence Mechanism ◽

High Susceptibility ◽

New Era ◽

Long Time ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Impact ◽

Very High

The article summarizes the definition of the term “hikikomori”, analyzes the situation of quarantine restriction: its essence and features of the impact on adolescence. Peculiarities of manifestation of hikikomori markers at adolescence are determined. We consider the studied phenomenon in the system of approaches like a way to meet needs, as a set of manifestations of syndromes of a new era, as a psychological defence mechanism, as a psychological state and process. Depending on the intensity of markers, we divide hikikomori into counter-dependent, poorly adaptable and interdependent, super dependent. The parameters that determine the level of manifestations of hikikomori include antisocial solitude at home, antisocially with leaving the house, selective society. The levels of manifestation of hikikomori include physical, emotional, social. Quarantine restrictions, as unusual living conditions that require forced solitude, selfisolation can be a factor that encourages the emergence of markers of hikikomori in adolescents. Such people have a shift in activity in cyberspace and at night, inseparable stay with the gadget (during meals, in the bathroom, in the toilet, etc.). Neglect of the organization of life (do not clean the bed after sleep, do not clean the room for a long time, do not change clothes during the day and wear night pyjamas around the clock, neglect a healthy diet, eat outside the regime, mostly fast food, etc.). In communication with others, they show irritability with the desire to avoid contact and solitude in their room. Also, at such a person, disorganization of educational activity hastily is observed. It is difficult for them to organize the learning process; they show procrastination (postponement of tasks). If the classes are as videoconferencing, they do not include video and microphone. They are away from contact with the group and the teacher, even if they need contact for feedback, they ignore it. An empirical study of the susceptibility to hikikomori markers in adolescents revealed that about 40% of subjects have a high susceptibility to hikikomori markers, and almost 11% of young men – very high.

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Impacts of fast food and the food retail environment on overweight and obesity in China: a multilevel latent class cluster approach

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980011002047 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 88-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Xiaoyong Zhang ◽

Ivo van der Lans ◽

Hans Dagevos

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Latent Class ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Community Level ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Food Retail ◽

Retail Environment ◽

Dietary Knowledge ◽

Food Retail Environment ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo simultaneously identify consumer segments based on individual-level consumption and community-level food retail environment data and to investigate whether the segments are associated with BMI and dietary knowledge in China.DesignA multilevel latent class cluster model was applied to identify consumer segments based not only on their individual preferences for fast food, salty snack foods, and soft drinks and sugared fruit drinks, but also on the food retail environment at the community level.SettingThe data came from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) conducted in 2006 and two questionnaires for adults and communities were used.SubjectsA total sample of 9788 adults living in 218 communities participated in the CHNS.ResultsWe successfully identified four consumer segments. These four segments were embedded in two types of food retail environment: the saturated food retail environment and the deprived food retail environment. A three-factor solution was found for consumers’ dietary knowledge. The four consumer segments were highly associated with consumers’ dietary knowledge and a number of sociodemographic variables.ConclusionsThe widespread discussion about the relationships between fast-food consumption and overweight/obesity is irrelevant for Chinese segments that do not have access to fast food. Factors that are most associated with segments with a higher BMI are consumers’ (incorrect) dietary knowledge, the food retail environment and sociodemographics. The results provide valuable insight for policy interventions on reducing overweight/obesity in China. This study also indicates that despite the breathtaking changes in modern China, the impact of ‘obesogenic’ environments should not be assessed too strictly from a ‘Western’ perspective.

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