Changes in the American Consumer's Food Consumption Pattern

Obesity in the United State has increasingly been cited as major health issue. Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey show that the proportion of adults who are obese has more than doubled from 15% in 1971–1974 to 34% In 2003–2006 for adults 20-74 years.In 1990, obese adults made up less than 15 percent of the population in most US states however by the year 2010 , 36 states had obesity rates of 25 percent or higher and 12 of those states had obesity of 30 percent or higher (CDCP 2012).

Cutler et al. (2006) suggested that increases in food consumptions prompted by falling cost of food is the major cause behind the surge in obesity since 1980. A study of pricing effects on food choices shows that price reduction strategies promote the choice of targeted foods by lowering their cost relative to alternate food choices (Jacobson and Brownell 2000).

In an effort to promote a healthy, balanced diet and to reduce the incidence of diet related health conditions/disease. US department for agriculture and Human services jointly publish the dietary guidelines for Americans every 5years from 1980 to provide targeted Dietary recommendations (Wells and Buzby 2008).

Reducing the percentage of Americans who are either overweight or obese to meet Public objectives may influence agricultural production (Johansson and Brownell2006).

Although papers has been published on dietary assessment of some major Trends in U.S. Food Consumption comparing years between 1970-2005, the objective of this paper is to identify food consumption via trend analysis during past decade so that the information will be useful for agribusiness firms as well as individuals in the agricultural sector. Apart from identifying the changes in in ...

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...d system recommendations. Food policy (24), 117-133.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey NHANES 2005-2006

Puthnam J.J. and Allshore J.E. (1999). Food consumption prices and expenditures, 1970-1997. Food and Rural EACONOMIC Division, Economic Research Service, USDA Statiscal Bulletin 965

Tokoyama Y., Chern W. S., Ishibaashi K. and Taniguchi K. (2002) Analysis of food consumption Behavior by Japanese households.

Wells H.F. and Buzby J.C. (2008). Dietary assessment of major food trends in U.S. food consumption, 1970-2005.Economic Research Service, Economic Information Bulletin 13.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2005), sixth edition, www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/

United States Department of Agriculture (2012). Commodity Consumption by Population Characteristics. Economic Research Services (ERS)