<p dir="ltr">As obesity is a pressing public health issue in the U.S., policymakers and health advocates continue to seek ways to improve consumers’ dietary behaviors. One challenge is the prominence of food away from home (FAFH) spending among U.S. households. FAFH meals are typically more calorically dense and nutrient poor. To further complicate this, there has been a substantial rise in the use digital food ordering and delivery systems, yet little is known about consumer ordering behavior on these platforms. While hunger is a key driver for eating, FAFH is also influenced by other factors, including biological (appetite, taste), economic (cost, income), psychological (mood, stress), and social factors (peers). Existing research has highlighted the significant impact of peer influence on decision-making regarding food consumption. However, the context of online food ordering presents unique challenges due to limited peer interaction. Thus, to study the peer effect in online food ordering, we conducted an online experiment. We simulated an online restaurant ordering experience and asked respondents to place a food order at a hypothetical restaurant. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of five treatments that told them how many calories an average peer ordered from the restaurant (800, 1200, 1600, 2000 calories, or a control treatment with no peer information). We examine the potential for peer effects on total calories ordered and the likelihood of ordering from different menu categories (e.g., appetizer, entrée, side, dessert, beverage) as well as calories ordered from them. Our study revealed that people adjust their calorie intake based on their peers' online food orders. The influence depends on the individual's calorie intake levels. Appetizers, entrée, and dessert calorie count showed a consistent pattern in response to peer, although the effect on desserts is not significant. Additionally, people tend to choose a greater variety of items when they have information about their peers' orders. These findings underscore the importance of considering peer influence in the design of online food-ordering platforms and related policies, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions to address dietary behaviors in digital environments.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/26270605 |
| Date | 16 July 2024 |
| Creators | Pratibha Bist (19114201) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/thesis/_b_PEER_EFFECT_ON_ONLINE_ORDERING_BEHAVIOR_IN_FOOD_AWAY_FROM_HOME_SETTING_b_/26270605 |
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