Grazing, Goods and Girth: Determinants and Effects

Daniel Hamermesh

No 4378, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Using the 2006-07 American Time Use Survey and its Eating and Health Module, I show that over half of adult Americans report grazing (secondary eating/drinking) on a typical day, with grazing time almost equaling primary eating/drinking time. An economic model predicts that higher wage rates (price of time) will lead to substitution of grazing for primary eating/drinking, especially by raising the number of grazing incidents relative to meals. This prediction is confirmed in these data. Eating meals more frequently is associated with lower BMI and better self-reported health, as is grazing more frequently. Food purchases are positively related to time spent eating ? substitution of goods for time is difficult ? but are lower when eating time is spread over more meals.

Keywords: household production; time use; BMI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2009-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Published - published as "Incentives, time use and BMI: The roles of eating, grazing and goods" in: Economics and Human Biology, 2010, 8 (1), 2-15

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Related works:
Working Paper: GRAZING, GOODS AND GIRTH: DETERMINANTS AND EFFECTS (2009)
Working Paper: Grazing, Goods and Girth: Determinants and Effects (2009)
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