Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China
Dietary patterns in China have changed dramatically over the past few decades as the Internet has become rapidly available. Based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (2006–2011), we use a two-way fixed effects model and an instrumental variable approach to determine the impact of Inte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2630 |
| _version_ | 1797408451792470016 |
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| author | Baojie Ma Xin Jin |
| author_facet | Baojie Ma Xin Jin |
| author_sort | Baojie Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dietary patterns in China have changed dramatically over the past few decades as the Internet has become rapidly available. Based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (2006–2011), we use a two-way fixed effects model and an instrumental variable approach to determine the impact of Internet use on the dietary quality of rural residents. The results indicate that Internet use could significantly improve the dietary quality of Chinese rural residents, with an increase of about 10.4% in the China Food Pagoda Score (CFPS), mainly due to the increase in the dietary quality score for five food groups: fruits, meats, eggs, oil, and salt. We also found that Internet use significantly increased the consumption amounts of milk and its products (4 g), fruits (31 g), eggs (8 g), and vegetables (34 g), while also decreasing the intake of salts (2 g) and oil (6 g). A possible mechanism is that Internet use improves the dietary knowledge of rural residents, thus optimizing their dietary structure. Moreover, the effect of the Internet was greater among females and those who prepare food for a family. Rural residents without a college degree enjoyed more benefits. In summary, governments should further promote Internet penetration in rural areas for health purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f44b35f38d4408b8a3c0a70c6e829c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:59:40Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f44b35f38d4408b8a3c0a70c6e829c52023-12-03T14:16:08ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-06-011413263010.3390/nu14132630Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural ChinaBaojie Ma0Xin Jin1China Academy for Rural Development (CARD), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaChina Academy for Rural Development (CARD), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaDietary patterns in China have changed dramatically over the past few decades as the Internet has become rapidly available. Based on data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (2006–2011), we use a two-way fixed effects model and an instrumental variable approach to determine the impact of Internet use on the dietary quality of rural residents. The results indicate that Internet use could significantly improve the dietary quality of Chinese rural residents, with an increase of about 10.4% in the China Food Pagoda Score (CFPS), mainly due to the increase in the dietary quality score for five food groups: fruits, meats, eggs, oil, and salt. We also found that Internet use significantly increased the consumption amounts of milk and its products (4 g), fruits (31 g), eggs (8 g), and vegetables (34 g), while also decreasing the intake of salts (2 g) and oil (6 g). A possible mechanism is that Internet use improves the dietary knowledge of rural residents, thus optimizing their dietary structure. Moreover, the effect of the Internet was greater among females and those who prepare food for a family. Rural residents without a college degree enjoyed more benefits. In summary, governments should further promote Internet penetration in rural areas for health purposes.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2630internet usedietary qualityrural Chinafixed effectinstrumental variable |
| spellingShingle | Baojie Ma Xin Jin Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China Nutrients internet use dietary quality rural China fixed effect instrumental variable |
| title | Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China |
| title_full | Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China |
| title_fullStr | Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China |
| title_short | Does Internet Use Connect Us to a Healthy Diet? Evidence from Rural China |
| title_sort | does internet use connect us to a healthy diet evidence from rural china |
| topic | internet use dietary quality rural China fixed effect instrumental variable |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/13/2630 |
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