Recent literature primarily from English speaking countries has made it very clear that there is a
higher risk of obesity among individuals who live under economic constraints, especially if they live in so-called food insecure households. The reason for this association, however, is not well understood.
It is an obvious assumption that the association is related to food intake. But might alterations in
people’s food values also play a role? And do different kinds of coping strategies that people embark on when they are economically pressured have an influence? To examine these questions we use longitudinal data collected in 2008 and 2012 from a Danish household panel. Using data from the 2012 data only (N=1650), we show initially that obesity, also in Denmark, is clearly related to level of constraint (and especially food insecurity). We examine whether specific coping strategies employed because of food budget constraints (this includes: abstaining from luxury, prioritizing cheaper food, household efficiency) is associated with a reduced risk of obesity.
Using a combined dataset with respondents that completed both the 2008 and 2012
questionnaire (approximately N=1080) we then examine whether people who (in 2012) report that they are budget restrained have changed food values from 2008 to 2012 (we look at health
considerations and importance attached to food quality) Following that, it is analyzed to what extent changes in food attitudes explain the higher obesity levels in the group of respondents that are budget constrained.