It is researchers in the UK who have investigated the connections between different food choices, income, occupations, and overweight in a number of households based in London and northern England.
The researchers used data on food purchases made digitally and self-reported information on how often the study participants bought food from restaurants via apps.
The researchers grouped the households based on income and type of occupation of the person who usually made the purchases. The occupations were divided into four groups according to a special scale based on whether they were white-collar or blue-collar and how qualified the work tasks were. Self-reported BMI of the person making the purchases was also collected. A total of 1,500 households were included in the analysis.
Provides a warning signal
The conclusion of the study, published in the journal BMJ Public Health, is that obesity was twice as common in households that frequently ordered meals for home delivery via apps than those that did not use them. It was also more common to order ready-made food via apps in households with occupations of lower socioeconomic status.
We know that dietary habits and also ill-health differ between different socioeconomic groups, says Christina Berg, professor of nutrition science at the University of Gothenburg.
This study provides a warning signal that new opportunities to shop for food and meals may contribute to reinforcing the inequalities.
New patterns affect
Although it is not possible to say in this type of observational study whether it is the ready-made food that lies behind the overweight, it suggests that new consumption patterns can affect us. Something that Christina Berg thinks is good to be aware of.
It cannot be said that it is nutritionally worse to order ready-made food than online groceries, it depends on the supply and what the customer chooses. But many fast-food restaurants have few healthy options, she says.
The researchers behind the study also write that the apps can make it easier to make unhealthy food choices.
One can also imagine that it is easy to make more spontaneous purchases for someone who is sitting on the couch and scrolling through menus in an app and can quickly get a ready-made meal with both drinks and dessert, says Christina Berg.
