Household Fast Food Expenditures and Children's Television Viewing: Can They Really Significantly Influence Children's Dietary Quality?

Abstract

Previous studies have found a strong relationship between food-away-from-home expenditures and television viewing, and children's diet. This study revisits this issue by examining the impact of household fast food expenditures and children's television viewing on children's dietary quality. Results indicate that both factors have statistically significant and negative effects. However, the elasticities of children's diet quality with respect to both factors are quite inelastic. Results also suggest that the effects of these two factors differ between children younger than 11 years old and children at least 11 years old. Relevant policy implications are discussed.

Keywords

• children's diet and health
• fast food expenditures
• healthy eating index
• obesity
• television viewing