Date of Defense
Spring 4-2008
Department
Marketing
Abstract
Even with advances in food science, the availability of food nutritional information, and the considerable efforts to improve diet and fitness of consumers in the United States, healthy eating initiatives have not produced the desired long-term results. Obesity has become a major health problem in the United States. This study examined how supermarket shopping behaviors, impulse buying, food choices, and nutritional information interest of consumers may be reflected in an individual's body mass index (BMI). Much of the prior research focused on two variables that have been suggested may be linked to attitudes and behaviors regarding food: (1) consumer time preferences / time management and time pressures, and, (2) impulse buying tendencies. A survey was developed utilizing questions about long-term orientation impulse buying, shopping behaviors, time management / time pressures, and nutritional information interest, as well as socio-economic demographics. The study found that while some time preference factors are linked with BMI and nutrition interest, and impulse buying behaviors are associated with nutrition interest, BMI is not associated with impulse buying behaviors.
Recommended Citation
Carl, Danielle M., "Factors Associated with Supermarket Shopping Behaviors, Time Preferences, Impulse Buying, Nutritional Information Interest and Body Mass Index" (2008). Honors Theses. 407.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/407
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Campus Only