Role of food choice motives in the socio-economic disparities in diet diversity and obesity outcomes in Kenya

Cecilia Chemeli Maina, Lukas Kornher and Joachim von Braun

PLOS ONE, 2024, vol. 19, issue 5, 1-20

Abstract: Background: The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, along with high diet diversity, is observed among higher socio-economic groups in Sub-Saharan Africa. One contributing factor to these observed variations is food choice motives. However, the role of these motives in explaining the observed differences has not been thoroughly explored in this context. Objective: This study investigates whether there are significant differences in food choice motives among socio-economic groups and whether these variations can partly explain the socio-economic disparities in diet diversity and overweight and obesity outcomes. Methods: This study utilizes cross-sectional data from four counties in Kenya: Kiambu, Murang’a, Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru. The survey employed a three-stage cluster sample design to gather data using structured questionnaires on food choice motives, diet diversity, and anthropometrics from 381 adults in 2022. The mediating effects of 8 food choice motives (health, mood, convenience, sensory appeal, natural content, price, weight control, and familiarity) were analyzed using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method. Results: The results show that individuals with higher household incomes place greater importance on health, mood, sensory, and weight concerns. The probability of an overweight and obesity outcome increases by 19% for a standard deviation change in the asset score, and by 8% for a standard deviation change in the years of schooling. Sensory motives significantly mediated these relationships. Sensory motives explained 29% of the income-BMI association and 30% of the education-BMI relationship. Higher education was also associated with increased diet diversity (β = 0.36, P

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0302510

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302510

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