Working Paper: NBER ID: w15277
Authors: Daniel S. Hamermesh
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: Eating; Grazing; Obesity; Health Economics; Time Use
JEL Codes: I12; J10
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| higher wage rates (J38) | increased grazing incidents (Q15) |
| increased grazing incidents (Q15) | decreased primary eating (I12) |
| increased eating frequency (D19) | lower body mass index (BMI) (I32) |
| increased eating frequency (D19) | better self-reported health (I19) |
| time spent eating (C41) | increased food purchases (D12) |
| increased eating time divided across more meals (D15) | decreased food purchases (D12) |