Refrigerator ownership and the nutrition-health trade-off: evidence from Chinese households.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study investigates the dynamic effects of household refrigerator ownership on dietary patterns and the risk of overweight and obesity. The objective is to offer policy guidance for developing countries that are facing health challenges during their nutritional transition.

Methods

This study utilizes six waves of tracking data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS, 1997-2011, n = 16,665). To address the estimation bias caused by endogeneity, the Control Function approach is employed. Furthermore, to elucidate the pathways through which refrigerator ownership influences overweight and obesity, a three-stage mediation model is used to assess the mediating effects of food purchases and processed food consumption on these outcomes.

Results

SUBMITTER: Zheng M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12279700 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature