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Milk and dairy products are an essential food and their position has been strengthened due to current trends and consumers' lifestyles. The objective of this paper was to examine dairy consumption trends in Slovakia and to study consumer behavior of dairy products. Dairy consumption trends were analyzed based on secondary data obtained from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Primary data were obtained from an online survey conducted on a sample of 1,138 respondents. The results showed that annual dairy consumption is at a level of approximately 190 kg per capita. Slovak consumers consider dairy products to be healthy foods, and the older generations consume them relatively often. The importance of functional dairy products is constantly growing, and they are preferred by the younger consumers. Moreover, freshness, quality, taste, health effects and a type of product are key factors determining the purchase and consumption of functional dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of mobile interaction technology has fundamentally transformed the delivery of tourism services, enabling travelers to access real-time information, engage in online interactions, and enjoy personalized services through smart devices. This innovative consumption model not only enhances tourist engagement and satisfaction but also drives innovation and transformation in the tourism industry. However, despite existing studies exploring the impact of technology on tourism, most research focuses primarily on the technology itself, lacking a systematic analysis of its deeper implications for reshaping consumption patterns, enhancing industry resilience, and addressing market uncertainties. Current studies are predominantly centered on applications related to big data and consumer behavior analysis, often overlooking how to measure the resilience of tourism consumption patterns through specific indicators and failing to investigate the long-term sustainability of consumption models transformed by interactive technologies. To address these research gaps, this study introduces a novel perspective by constructing a mobile interaction network model, defining resilience indicators for tourism consumption patterns, and systematically evaluating them using a comprehensive assessment approach. This study aims to provide a new theoretical framework for the digital transformation of the tourism industry and practical guidance for enhancing industry resilience and improving risk resistance capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO; it is also the world's most evidence-based eating pattern for promoting health and longevity. This study aims to investigate consumer segmentation based on consumption patterns and identify barriers to adherence to MedDiet. Data were collected in 2020 by telephonic survey based on PREDIMED, using a quota sampling technique by socio-demographic variables, such as gender, age, and regional representation of the Portuguese population. The final sample was composed of a total of 1000 respondents. The main results show that regardless of the awareness of the MedDiet (62%), Portugal witnessed a loss of the traditional MedDiet, with the exception of the stand-out statistic that 95% of respondents still use of olive oil as the main culinary fat. Five segments were identified: (1) MedDiet lifestyle followers (11%), (2) olive oil lovers (20%), (3) low-sugar diet foods seekers (11%), (4) healthy and balanced diet seekers (28%), and (5) low-fat diet foods seekers (30%). The main barriers to adhering to the MedDiet include lack of knowledge about the MedDiet, education level, financial comfort, and specific food preference, which by segment are: (1) being passionate about soda drinks, (2) an excess of sweets, (3) low level of pasta consumption, and a (5) lack of fruit, vegetables, and legumes. Segment (4) holds a leading position in MedDiet adherence. The main obstacle to consuming fish is its high price, taste, and challenges in cooking it. When it comes to bread and oleaginous nuts, the belief that these foods are "fattening" reduces consumption. Results help to tailor education strategy and increase adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents novel insights into the long-term chronological patterns related to the distribution and consumption of amphora-borne foodstuffs in Italy. The study specifically focuses on the consumption of wine, olive oil and fish sauces, which exhibit diverse provenances. Notably, it contributes significantly to our understanding of the Roman economy by utilising an open dataset and a replicable research method. The analysis reveals a pronounced growth pattern during the late Republican to early Imperial period. Importantly, quantitative evidence demonstrates that the diverse consumption pattern observed in the capital city of Rome is less exceptional than previously believed. The study draws upon a substantial dataset comprising 28,851 diagnostic amphora fragments excavated and documented from 28 different urban and rural settlements in the North Adriatic and Central Italy, spanning the period from the 4th c. BCE to the 7th c. CE. The analytical approach employs a probabilistic aoristic method, evenly distributing amphora frequencies across relevant date ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explores consumption patterns and food preferences across three East African cities through focus group discussions involving 70 adult men and women. The study reveals commonalities in food sources and staple foods among participants in Kampala, Nairobi, and Dar es Salaam. While most foods prepared at home were sourced from local markets, street vendors, and general shops, supermarkets played a significant role in introducing new processed and nutritious products. The rise in supermarket usage in East African cities has been associated with contemporary health issues such as obesity, prompting concerns about food quality from other sources like street vendors and traditional markets. Participants across the cities showed a preference for energy-dense staple foods like rice, Ugali, cassava, and beans, often accompanied by meat, vegetables, or fish. Differences in staple foods and eating preferences were observed, with Kampala offering a wider variety of options compared to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. The consumption of meat and meat products was influenced by participants' income levels, with affordability playing a significant role in food choices. Street foods emerged as a common feature in all three cities, with unique offerings like Chips Mayai in Dar es Salaam, Kikomando and Rolex in Kampala, and Mutura in Nairobi. Participants' food choices were influenced by factors such as affordability, accessibility, taste preferences, and cultural norms. The study also highlighted the importance of urban agriculture in some households, emphasizing selfsustainability in food production. Overall, the study provides insights into the diverse food consumption trends and patterns in East African urban settings, shedding light on the role of different food sources, staple foods, and street foods in shaping dietary practices among residents. Further research is needed to explore the impact of these consumption patterns on health outcomes and to develop strategies for promoting healthy eating habits in urban populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedentary lifestyles, such as consuming foods high in energy, protein, carbohydrates, and fat, sleeping less than 8 hours, smoking and drink an alcohol can approximately double the risk of obesity and hypertension. These factors can affect nutritional status and impact physical fitness and achievement in junior athletes. This study aims to identify the lifestyle and nutritional status of junior athletes aged 11-24 years during the match preparation period. The sample consisted of 110 junior athletes in Sumedang, West Java. This research using a cross-sectional approach. Results showed that the average athlete in Sumedang Regency consumed 2,035 Kcal daily, with male athletes consuming 2,218.8 Kcal and female athletes consuming 1,797.7 Kcal. More than half of the male athletes (64.5%) are smoked but did not consume an alcohol (95.2%). On other hand, most of female athletes neither smoke (85.4%) nor consume an alcohol. The data also shows there is a significant (p-value < 0.05) consumption among male and female athletes on cigarette consumption. Findings indicate that athletes did not meet the nutritional intake adequate even for normal individuals, while athletes require a higher nutritional adequacy due to their intensive training regimens. Athletes in Sumedang Regency are not meeting their nutritional needs and engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which may affect their physical fitness and performance. These lifestyle factors need to be addressed to improve their nutritional status and overall athletic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to establish the changes in the consumption of food grains over time in India especially Punjab to identify the differences between the urban and rural regions. To address the research question that seeks to know if there are considerable differences in consumption between these regions, the study adopts a descriptive research design and a positivist epistemology and ontology that rely on secondary data from a number of governmental agencies. The data compiled is for five years (1999-2000, 2004-05, 2009-10, 2011-12, and 2022-23) and the results are tested by Independent Sample t-test. In contrast with the hypothesis that there would be a huge difference between urban and rural areas, this study finds that there is a surprising level of similarity in consumers' behaviors. The results of the statistical tests reveal that there are no significant differences in the consumption behaviors between the two periods of time and therefore can be concluded that the consumption behaviors have become more similar with time. It is therefore possible to conclude that this has been caused by elements such as better transport networks, availability of a wider range of products, and shifts in consumers' behavior that have made the consumption experience more standardized. Therefore, there is a need to reconsider the measures that are being put in place to correct the regional imbalance in consumption levels and also emphasizes the need to understand these trends for economic planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding household energy-consumption patterns is essential for developing effective energy-conservation strategies. This study aims to identify 'out-profiled' consumers—households that exhibit atypical energy-usage behaviors—by applying four distinct feature-selection methodologies. Specifically, we utilized the chi-square independence test to assess feature independence, recursive feature elimination with multinomial logistic regression (RFE-MLR) to identify optimal feature subsets, random forest (RF) to determine feature importance, and a combined fuzzy rough feature selection with fuzzy rough nearest neighbors (FRFS-FRNN) for handling uncertainty and imprecision in data. These methods were applied to a dataset based on a survey of 383 households in Brazil, capturing various factors such as household size, income levels, geographical location, and appliance usage. Our analysis revealed that key features such as the number of people in the household, heating and air conditioning usage, and income levels significantly influence energy consumption. The novelty of our work lies in the comprehensive application of these advanced feature-selection techniques to identify atypical consumption patterns in a specific regional context. The results showed that households without heating and air conditioning equipment in medium- or high-consumption profiles, and those with lower- or medium-income levels in medium- or high-consumption profiles, were considered out-profiled. These findings provide actionable insights for energy providers and policymakers, enabling the design of targeted energy-conservation strategies. This study demonstrates the importance of tailored approaches in promoting sustainable energy consumption and highlights notable deviations in energy-use patterns, offering a foundation for future research and policy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing conflict and economic deterioration have led to acute food insecurity for a significant proportion of the Sudanese population, as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) shows. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of food insecurity in Sudan, focusing on consumption patterns and their impacts, using the IPC assessment framework. It is estimated that a significant number of people are currently in an emergency, while another large proportion is categorized under less severe but still extreme levels of hunger. In this study, we examine the multifaceted nature of food insecurity in Sudan, considering its historical, political, economic, and social dimensions. Consumption patterns and trends were analyzed, reflecting cultural influences, changes in diet, and demographic shifts. The central research question is to understand the key factors contributing to food insecurity in Sudan. This study fills a gap in the literature by using logistic regression and random forest analysis to assess food security, providing a unique perspective on this issue. Random forest outperforms logistic regression in terms of area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, precision, and recall. The model showed strong predictive abilities and confirmed that the independent variables analyzed significantly affect food security status. The chi-square test (94.85, p < 0.015, df = 20) confirmed the statistical significance of several factors, including gender, age, education, remittances, unemployment, inflation, assets, lack of money, and illness, as important determinants. In addition, IPC projections for Sudan suggest that 15 million people will face acute food insecurity at crisis level (IPC Phase 3) or worse between October 2023 and February 2024. These findings emphasize the urgent need for both short-term humanitarian assistance and long-term strategies to address the worsening food security crisis in Sudan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services distribute online audio-visual content, including music. These platforms don't make use of the typical cable or satellite feeds as traditional television does. Any kind of content can be delivered via the internet and can satisfy the entertainment needs of the viewers. The COVID-19 epidemic increased the level of acceptance for OTT media, even though OTT streaming just became widely used in the last ten years of this century. It evolved into a widely adopted digital trend. Since its debut, OTT has fundamentally altered how consumers access and view content. In this paper, a study is conducted on the consumption of the OTT platforms among viewers and their experience on pricing, usability, and quality of this new generation of digital entertainment. Analysis of the consumption includes determination of the OTT platforms used, time spent on them and their experience.

Purpose: The objective is to evaluate the association between various indicators of alcohol consumption and the degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet among the Spanish adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 44,834 participants ≥ 15 years of age from the 2017 National Health Survey and the 2020 European Health Survey in Spain. Alcohol patterns were defined based on (1) average intake: individuals were classified as low risk (1–20 g/day in men and 1–10 g/day in women) and high risk (> 20 g/day in men or > 10 g/day in women), (2) binge drinking, and (3) alcoholic beverage preference. Non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet was defined as scoring < 7 points on an adapted Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener index (range 0–10). Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using logistic regression models adjusted for relevant covariates. Results: Compared to non-drinkers, low and high-risk drinkers were more likely to report non-adherence to the Mediterranean diet: ORs 1.35 (95% CI 1.23; 1.49) and 1.54 (95% CI 1.34; 1.76), respectively. Similarly, reports of binge drinking less than once a month was associated with higher likelihood of non-adherence (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04; 1.31). Individuals reporting no preference for a specific beverage and those with a preference for beer or for spirits had lower adherence: ORs 1.18 (95% CI 1.05; 1.33), 1.31 (95% CI 1.17; 1.46), and 1.72 (95% CI 1.17; 2.54), respectively, while a preference for wine showed no association (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.90; 1.13). Conclusion: Alcohol consumption, even in low amounts, is associated with lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Therefore, alcoholic beverages should not be included in measures that define the Mediterranean diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the critical challenge of accurately forecasting electricity consumption by utilizing Exponential Smoothing and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models. The research aims to enhance the precision of forecasting in the dynamic energy landscape and reveals promising outcomes by employing a robust methodology involving model application to a large amount of consumption data. Exponential Smoothing demonstrates accurate predictions, as evidenced by a low Sum of Squared Errors (SSE) of 0.469. SARIMA, with its seasonal ARIMA structure, outperforms Exponential Smoothing, achieving lower Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) values on both training (2.21%) and test (2.44%) datasets. This study recommends the adoption of SARIMA models, supported by lower MAPE values, to influence technology adoption and future-proof decision-making. This study highlights the societal implications of informed energy planning, including enhanced sustainability, cost savings, and improved resource allocation for communities and industries. The synthesis of model analysis, technological integration, and consumer-centric approaches marks a significant stride toward a resilient and efficient energy ecosystem. Decision-makers, stakeholders, and researchers may leverage findings for sustainable, adaptive, and consumer-centric energy planning, positioning the sector to address evolving challenges effectively and empowering consumers while maintaining energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the consumption patterns of Roman non-elite rural communities in Central Hispania from the 1st to the 3rd century AD. Using similarity metrics, specifically Brainerd-Robinson analyses in artefact type co-presence networks, the study delves into the consumption patterns among these settlements, providing new insights into their local integration. A notable pattern emerges, revealing marked consumption similarities among these communities, suggesting access to shared trade networks and a common cultural framework. Yet, amidst these commonalities, instances of resilience against total cultural homogenisation are noted, exemplifying the local cultural adaptations in response to Roman homogenisation.

This paper presents the analysis of water supply behavior within an educational campus, serving as a use-case to demonstrate the broader applicability of an innovative IoT-based framework integrated with deep learning techniques. By retrofitting analog water meters with IoT devices, the study captures images of meter dials, which are then locally processed using a deep learning-based digit detection algorithm. This process converts the images into digits and transmits the data to the cloud for real-time analysis, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of water usage data. Focusing on two key regions within the campus—student hostels and faculty/staff quarters—the analysis thoroughly examines the impact of water supply patterns on both a monthly and weekly basis. It reveals how the distinct characteristics of each month, such as holidays, exams, and class schedules, significantly influence water consumption in these areas. The study particularly highlights the variations in water usage in student hostels, driven by the academic calendar and student lifestyle, in contrast to the more stable water demand observed in faculty/staff quarters. The integration of the data refinement algorithm uncovers the underlying consumption patterns within these campus residence. The findings from this detailed investigation are instrumental in understanding the water distribution patterns, particularly within Integrated Water Systems (IWS), and set a precedent for the potential scalability and adaptability of the framework. This study not only sheds light on the specific water management needs of an educational campus but also suggests that the successful application of this system in such a dynamic and varied setting indicates its potential for broader application, thereby contributing to more informed decision-making and promoting sustainable water management practices in various contexts.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the impact of socio-economic factors on household consumption patterns, particularly in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. Drawing from a diverse range of studies, the review examines how variables such as income, gender, family size, education, and occupation influence spending on essential categories like food and health, as well as discretionary non-food items including recreation, dining out, and vacations. The literature reveals that income and household size are consistently significant determinants of consumption, with marked variations between rural and urban areas. Studies also highlight the pandemic's role in altering consumption priorities, with increased spending on health and food, and reduced expenditure on non-essentials. This review synthesizes key findings and identifies gaps in the literature, emphasizing the need for further research into post-pandemic consumption behavior, particularly in developing regions like maharashtra, india. The findings offer critical insights for policymakers aiming to address consumption disparities and enhance household resilience in times of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (FAP) can contribute to the transition of our food system towards greater sustainability. However, in order to implement effective food policies aimed at promoting sustainable FAP consumption, data on individual consumption behavior are lacking. Based on a consumer survey carried out on the French market in 2023, the aim of this article was to gain a deeper understanding of the current consumption patterns in place in France in order to identify potential levers for aligning French FAP consumption with public health and resource conservation objectives. Using an ordered probit model and Welch's t-tests, our results show that French FAP consumption is currently driven by few people (the elderly, connoisseurs, and high-income households). In line with our findings, actions are proposed to guide French FAP consumers towards more sustainable behavior. In particular, we discuss the need to inform and educate consumers better. The promotion of local "under-utilized" species, the integration of environmental considerations into existing food policies, or even the need to exploit "out-of-home" consumption venues to promote sustainable FAP consumption among occasional consumers are discussed as interesting possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the consumption patterns of Roman non-elite rural communities in Central Hispania from the 1st to the 3rd century AD. Using similarity metrics, specifically Brainerd-Robinson analyses in artefact type co-presence networks, the study delves into the consumption patterns among these settlements, providing new insights into their local integration. A notable pattern emerges, revealing marked consumption similarities among these communities, suggesting access to shared trade networks and a common cultural framework. Yet, amidst these commonalities, instances of resilience against total cultural homogenisation are noted, exemplifying the local cultural adaptations in response to Roman homogenisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming services distribute online audio-visual content, including music. These platforms don't make use of the typical cable or satellite feeds as traditional television does. Any kind of content can be delivered via the internet and can satisfy the entertainment needs of the viewers. The COVID-19 epidemic increased the level of acceptance for OTT media, even though OTT streaming just became widely used in the last ten years of this century. It evolved into a widely adopted digital trend. Since its debut, OTT has fundamentally altered how consumers access and view content. In this paper, a study is conducted on the consumption of the OTT platforms among viewers and their experience on pricing, usability, and quality of this new generation of digital entertainment. Analysis of the consumption includes determination of the OTT platforms used, time spent on them and their experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of indeterminate monitoring of household appliances involves analyzing voltage and current signals detected at the power supply. Each electrical appliance exhibits a distinct consumption pattern (e.g., vacuum cleaners, ovens, etc.), including their switch-on and switch-off timings. The monitoring system determines these consumption patterns of electric appliances. This study introduces a wireless sensor network designed for subtle monitoring of household appliance consumption. This study addresses the challenges and issues concerning wireless sensor networks, alongside the notable advantages and capabilities in the areas mentioned above, such as network structure, performance methods, monitoring types, and energy consumption factor analysis. Through empirical investigation and scientific discourse, the study's findings indicate that a higher number of nodes and windows in a building correlates with a reduced rate of energy transfer. Conversely, employing fewer nodes and windows increases the speed at which energy is transferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic Corona epidemic has had profound implications on supply chains, from raw materials to finished items. Diets, hygiene and general well-being have all been impacted by these changes. Customers' preferences for eco-friendly and green products have increased as a consequence of food safety concerns, given that the current state of the environment is so detrimental to human health and well-being on a worldwide scale. As a result, customers' attitudes, perceptions, tastes and purchases are becoming more environmentally conscious. The purpose of green/eco-friendly marketing is to meet customers' wants and needs while simultaneously conserving the environment and boosting social benefits. This study's goal is to identify the primary drivers of consumer behavior in the purchase of environmentally friendly goods. Since social media is the most widely used for views, references and product information, this study effort suggests a system based on social media data called machine learning scheme for assessments of factors motivating consumers (MLS-AFMC). Regression analysis and machine learning techniques were used in this study to examine Indian green goods. Furthermore, client preferences and behavior are verified by this study's findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding household energy-consumption patterns is essential for developing effective energy-conservation strategies. This study aims to identify ‘out-profiled’ consumers—households that exhibit atypical energy-usage behaviors—by applying four distinct feature-selection methodologies. Specifically, we utilized the chi-square independence test to assess feature independence, recursive feature elimination with multinomial logistic regression (RFE-MLR) to identify optimal feature subsets, random forest (RF) to determine feature importance, and a combined fuzzy rough feature selection with fuzzy rough nearest neighbors (FRFS-FRNN) for handling uncertainty and imprecision in data. These methods were applied to a dataset based on a survey of 383 households in Brazil, capturing various factors such as household size, income levels, geographical location, and appliance usage. Our analysis revealed that key features such as the number of people in the household, heating and air conditioning usage, and income levels significantly influence energy consumption. The novelty of our work lies in the comprehensive application of these advanced feature-selection techniques to identify atypical consumption patterns in a specific regional context. The results showed that households without heating and air conditioning equipment in medium- or high-consumption profiles, and those with lower- or medium-income levels in medium- or high-consumption profiles, were considered out-profiled. These findings provide actionable insights for energy providers and policymakers, enabling the design of targeted energy-conservation strategies. This study demonstrates the importance of tailored approaches in promoting sustainable energy consumption and highlights notable deviations in energy-use patterns, offering a foundation for future research and policy development.

In current events, consumers are subject to various stimuli (advertising campaigns, popular magazines, social) that affect their marginal consumption propensity. However, as Economic Theory teaches us, the marginal propensity to consume does not necessarily translate into consumer spending. This is strongly affected by consumers' eating habits and other variables that determine where the consumption phenomenon occurs. The study aims to analyze post-modern consumer behavior toward beef consumption. An online questionnaire was administered to 535 Sicilian participants to achieve this goal. Statistical analyses were performed by R statistical software, using two-tailed P-values, and setting statistical significance at P ≤ 0.05. The results show that consumption choices are influenced by beef meat's impact on health. In addition, consumers consider the origin and certifications of the raw material to be extremely crucial.

Achieving sustainable and healthy food systems in support of human and planetary health is a global challenge. We systematically reviewed papers (n = 2322) showing how village chicken products (meat, eggs, and offal) contribute to sustainable and healthy food systems for children along a rural–urban gradient. A total of 72 articles, representing all different sections covered in this review, were finally included. Production of village chickens contributed positively on livestock-derived food consumption by children. Households who owned chickens were likely to move from medium to high dietary diversity. Children from households that owned chickens had lower odds of anemia (1.07) and higher height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-age (WAZ) scores. Egg intervention increased HAZ and WAZ for children by 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.88] and 0.61 [95% CI, 0.45–0.77], respectively. Village chicken ownership had positive effect on children's poultry meat and egg consumption. Per capita consumption of chicken by girls and boys combined was 38.2 g/day, where girls had 36.9 g/day and boys had 39.4 g/day. Children from households that owned chickens consumed eggs 2.8 more times per week compared to children from households without chickens. Moving along a rural–urban gradient, village chicken production was less common. Improved production and quality of village chicken products, and policies supporting optimal maternal and child intake these products are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat‐focused diets are highly debated considering their environmental and health consequences. A change in consumption patterns in industrialized countries seems inevitable. To inform marketers and policymakers on how to mitigate meat consumption as a means of obtaining sustainability goals, the present study identifies consumer segments based on their actual purchases of fresh meat cuts using German household scanner data for the year 2014. Our revealed‐preference approach suggests that pork and beef traditionalists and convenience‐oriented pork buyers may react to financial incentives. Poultry and premium red meat lovers may be influenced by targeted labeling and quality signals. Overall, low‐meat consumption patterns seem to be less prevalent in Germany than commonly portrayed. [EconLit Citations: C38, D12, E21, Q18]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Health shocks are common and have serious consequences for households in developing countries where health insurance is lacking. In this study, we examine whether out-of-pocket health expenditures crowd out household consumption of non-healthcare necessities, such as education items in Benin using a sample of 14,952 households from the global vulnerability and food security analysis survey. We estimated a system of conditional Engel curves with three stage least squared (3SLS) and seemingly unrelated regression (SURE) for seven categories of goods using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) in the form of budget shares corresponding to proportions of total non-health expenditure. Findings show that out of pocket health expenditure leads households to spend more on health care that in fine crowd out expenditure in other necessity goods such as education item. These findings highlight the need for social protection programs to mitigate the impact of health shocks on vulnerable households in Benin.

Indonesia has an obesity prevalence increased from 15.4 percent in 2013 (Riskesdas 2013) to 21.8 percent in 2018 (Ministry of Health RI, 2018) and in North Sumatra, the prevalence is 25.8 percent. Meanwhile, Indonesia's target in reducing obesity is contained in the 2020-2024 RPJMN by 21.8 percent so that North Sumatra has a difference of four percent. Poor food consumption patterns such as consuming foods that are high in fat, sugar, and calories and lack of physical activity that leads to sedentary activity can cause an increase in the incidence of obesity in adults, especially in employees who are more than seven hours just sitting in front of the computer. This study aims to determine the effect of consumption patterns and physical activity on the incidence of obesity in bank employees in Medan City. This research was conducted at Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) in Medan City in February 2023 with a case control research design. Obesity data were obtained by anthropometric measurements, consumption patterns using the Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire and physical activity using the Physical Activity Level questionnaire. The sample size was 150 respondents, consisting of a case sample of 50 respondents and a control sample of 100 respondents. Data analysis using chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. The results of chi-square analysis showed a significant effect of energy intake (ρ= 0.000, OR = 6.6), carbohydrate intake (ρ= 0.000, OR = 11.3), protein intake (ρ= 0.000, OR = 4.1), fat intake (ρ= 0.000, OR = 4.1) and physical activity (ρ= 0.001, OR = 4.1) on the incidence of obesity. The frequency of consumption (ρ= 1,000, OR = 1,046) and the type of food (ρ= 1,000, OR = 0.961) showed no influence on the incidence of obesity. Multiple logistic regression tests showed that the most dominant variable influencing obesity was carbohydrate intake (ρ= 0.000, OR = 11.3). The conclusion of this study is that there is an influence of consumption patterns and physical activity on the incidence of obesity in bank employees in the city of Medan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines an income and wellbeing paradox—the discrepancy between economic and subjective poverty—from a consumption perspective. The theoretical underpinning is that households allocate their monetary resources into different consumption categories, which may lead to varying levels of utility, thereby shaping their perceptions of poverty in different ways. Data were drawn from the first wave of the Hong Kong Panel Survey for Poverty Alleviation (N = 1386). Cluster analysis identified four consumption patterns among the economically poor: (a) food-dominant, (b) rent-dominant, (c) food & rent-dominant, and (d) balanced, and five among the economically non-poor: (a) food-dominant, (b) rent-dominant, (c) education-high, (d) mortgage-high, and (e) balanced. Logistic regression revealed that the food-dominant cluster (compared with the balanced cluster) reduced the probability of feeling non-poor among the economically poor, and the mortgage-high cluster (compared with the balanced cluster) increased the probability of feeling poor among the economically non-poor. However, the significant association between the mortgage-high cluster and subjective poverty became insignificant after controlling for assets. The mortgage-high cluster's positive impact on subjective poverty was most likely offset by the negative impacts of homeownership and assets. The study's findings expand our understanding of how individuals' perceived poverty status can be shaped by their consumption patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livestock sector is facing numerous challenges due to a transformation process caused by animal welfare concerns and environmental impacts. Different stakeholders in this process have their own individual interests and depend on each other in several ways. The discussions of livestock sector transformation are complex and show, that change processes need special ways to communicate. Mainly the method of motivational interviews is used as a method-of-choice-instrument especially when it comes to goal conflicts. This article will help to better understand communication processes between farmers and consumers in group discussions based on qualitative data analysis. A special focus beside the way of communication is on the aspects of animal welfare and livestock reduction. Results show insights into perspectives for communication strategies for different stakeholders. For perspectives on future animal husbandry systems it can be seen that there are three differing groups that will have to be addressed differently in upcoming political communication strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Indigenous knowledge; Local biodiversity; Consumption patterns; Food security and nutritional values; Conservation; Panchkutta; Thar desert; Rajasthan; India EN Indigenous knowledge Local biodiversity Consumption patterns Food security and nutritional values Conservation Panchkutta Thar desert Rajasthan India 347 356 10 05/02/23 20230401 NES 230401 Introduction Despite India's dominance in the production of cereal-based foods, at least 250 million rural people are nutritionally vulnerable due to a variety of technical, institutional, and socioeconomic circumstances (Johns & Sthapit, [11]). Our study examines this food system that evolved successfully in a very harsh environment using the example of I Panchkutta i production, since it is one of most unique traditional foods of arid zones and all the ingredients are also locally available. Ensuring Food and Nutritional Security in the Arid Climate of Rajasthan, India: Culturally Rich Foods of the Thar Desert - The Case of Panchkutta Existing environmental, food security, and nutritional policies need to integrate food, nutritional and ethnomedicinal insights reflected in locally developed products like I Panchkutta i in order to make them more inclusive. [Extracted from the article]

Health shocks are common and have serious consequences for households in developing countries where health insurance is lacking. In this study, we examine whether out-of-pocket health expenditures crowd out household consumption of non-healthcare necessities, such as education items in Benin using a sample of 14,952 households from the global vulnerability and food security analysis survey. We estimated a system of conditional Engel curves with three stage least squared (3SLS) and seemingly unrelated regression (SURE) for seven categories of goods using the Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System (QUAIDS) in the form of budget shares corresponding to proportions of total non-health expenditure. Findings show that out of pocket health expenditure leads households to spend more on health care that in fine crowd out expenditure in other necessity goods such as education item. These findings highlight the need for social protection programs to mitigate the impact of health shocks on vulnerable households in Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a reality that combines the virtual with the physical and in a context of information saturation, there are consumers who are more critical, demanding, and less loyal. In this context, it is timely to know the new habits of the Centennials, so as to understand their behaviors and consumption trends, aligning future communication strategies to their personality and interests. The Centennials or Generation Z are digital natives, concerned with technology, and complex to understand (Alonso-López; Terol-Bolinches, 2020). Generation Z –analyzed in this study– is composed of those born between 2000 and 2008, which corresponds to the youth currently between 14 and 22 years old (Vilanova; Ortega, 2017; Hernández; Andrade-del-Cid, 2020). The main objective of this research is to determine the patterns of consumption and online behavior exhibited by this generation in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Panama, with a focus on the characteristics of communication processes, online consumption patterns, and the cultural traits they possess. To achieve this, a mixed method is proposed consisting of a Twitter conversation analysis, survey application (n=550), in-depth interviews (n=36), and focus groups (n=2); all of which have been applied in the four selected countries. The main conclusions are that the preferred content of Centennials is humor (75%), with Instagram and TikTok being the most used networks. For they, the most important thing is to take care of their image and 40% are not interested in technological topics. Furthermore, cultural characteristics are shared among countries; however, language is the main difference between countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic has brought major changes to all aspects of the society, including social and economic changes. Various limitations are experienced by almost all levels of society. This study aims to 1) analyze changes in household income and expenditure of rice farmers before and during the pandemic and 2) describe the coping mechanisms of rice farmer households during the pandemic. The method used is a survey method. Data collection is done directly through interviews using a questionnaire. The samples used were 80 farmer households which were taken through simple random sampling technique. The data were processed quantitatively and explained descriptively, then presented in tabulated form and continued with paired-sample t test. The results show that 1) there is a significant decrease in household income, which is 5.65% during the pandemic compared to the income before the pandemic, 2) there is a shift (an increase of 1.88%) in household food consumption expenditures before and during the pandemic, while household non-food expenditure decreases by 3.65% during the pandemic, and 3) The survival strategies applied by farming households during the pandemic include a combination of active strategies and passive strategies by 62.5%, a combination of passive strategies and network strategies by 36% and those applying a combination of active strategies, passive strategies and network strategies by 15%. Farmer households are expected to be able to maximize the use of their yards, fish ponds, and livestock as an additional source of livelihood or an effort to reduce household non-food expenditure.

Adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of caffeine due to a lack of tolerance, their small size, changing brain physiology, and increasing independence. Concerns about adolescent caffeine consumption relate to potentially serious physiological and psychological effects following consumption. Motivations driving caffeine intake are not well understood among adolescents but are important to understand to reduce harmful behavioural patterns. This study explored caffeine consumption habits (sources, amount, frequency) of New Zealand adolescents; and factors motivating caffeine consumption and avoidance. The previously validated caffeine consumption habits questionnaire (CaffCo) was completed by 216 participants (15–18 years), with most (94.9%) consuming at least one caffeinated product daily. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and kola drinks were the most consumed sources. The median caffeine intake was 68 mg·day−1. Gender (boy) and being employed influenced the source, but not the quantity of caffeine consumed. One-fifth (21.2%) of adolescents consumed more than the recommended European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) safe level (3 mg·kg−1·day−1). Taste, energy, and temperature were the main motivators for consumption, and increased energy, excitement, restlessness, and sleep disturbances were reported effects following caffeine consumption. This study provides information on caffeinated product consumption among New Zealand adolescents, some of whom consumed caffeine above the EFSA safe level. Public health initiatives directed at adolescents may be important to reduce potential caffeine-related harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines changes in food consumption patterns within African communities, with specific reference to the Barolong Boo Ratshidi community in the Northwest Province of South Africa. The study uses a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews conducted with members of this community (or participants) to understand their views of food and consumption patterns. It also sought to understand the participants' understanding of the factors behind these changes and their effects as well as their understanding of the meanings underlying indigenous African foods. It was found that contrary to the widely held view that only the elderly members of communities are endeared to indigenous foods, this is not so because the youth also express preference for these foods while embracing changes that have effect on their consumption. This is so even though many of the youth are ignorant of the cultural meanings of indigenous African foods served on different occasions. Their enthusiasm for these foods is seen as an optimistic basis for future efforts meant to revitalize them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of the pace of urban construction in China, the proportion of newly built rural houses accounts for more than half of the total houses, and the amount of building materials required has gradually increased. However, the greenhouse gas emissions are increasing year by year affecting the global climate, and low carbon is gradually entering people's vision. At present, the ideal model of global economic development is "low-carbon economy", which aims to achieve low-carbon, low energy consumption and low pollution in the process of economic development. Consumption is the goal of producing processed products, but also the original intention of producing products and demand. The low-carbon consumption to a certain extent can change people's consumption concept. The low-carbon production can not only play a guiding role, but also improve people's quality of life. In this paper, a model of carbon dioxide emissions is constructed by establishing a low-carbon product consumption pattern system for energy-saving materials in rural buildings. The main indicators in the system include carbon dioxide emission indicators, economic indicators, localized material selection indicators and energy-saving building materials recoverability indicators are used to construct a calculated carbon dioxide emission model. The model is used to calculate the carbon emissions of energy-efficient building materials that rural residents need to purchase, which is divided into two stages: one is the stage of producing building materials, and the other is the stage of transporting building materials. Among them, the stage with higher emissions is the stage of production of building materials. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation and consumption mode selection model is established. According to the calculation results of the above indicators, the total score is 76.2. According to the low-carbon product consumption model standards divided in this paper, the corresponding low-carbon product consumption model is judged, which mainly has impulse consumption, price and rational type, so as to obtain the low-carbon consumption mode type of energy-saving materials in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household water supply can cause different environmental impacts associated with the consumption of energy and materials, the generation of waste, and other inputs and outputs necessary to treat and distribute water. These impacts depend on the population's consumption patterns, due to the potential availability of different water sources. In this work, the environmental impacts of water supply were evaluated from a production-consumption perspective, integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and a survey for determining the end uses and sources of water at household level. The proposed method was applied in the city of Chillán (Chile), where three main sources exist: tap, bottled, and well water. Two household profiles were evaluated, differentiated by the presence of wells within the household. The results show that bottled water generates impacts up to three orders of magnitude greater than the other sources. Although it is the source with the lowest volumetric contribution (<1%), it accounts for 39–92% of the household impacts. Households with well access present greater per capita consumption of water, mainly associated with outdoor activities, but the environmental impacts are similar between profiles. Overall, this study demonstrates the importance of integrating a consumption perspective into LCA studies, generating better information for decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents is one of age groups vulnerable to nutritional status. Adolescence requires higher nutrition in order to optimize physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth. Lifestyle and diet of adolescents will affect the fulfillment of nutritional needs. Nutrition education can be carried out properly and can be received directly depending on how the message is conveyed, how the message is received and where the message is delivered. Barriers to prevention of chronic energy deficiency in adolescents can be sourced from environmental influences. Several studies The existence of significant changes in behavior in eating patterns through interventions from nutrition education can prevent Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) in adolescents. This research aims to evaluate the impact of nutrition education on knowledge, attitudes and consumption patterns in prevention of CED in Young Girls SMPN 19 Padang Serai and SMKS Kampung Bahari, Bengkulu City. This study used quasi experiment with a two-group pre-test and post-test design. The intervention was carried out in the form of nutrition counseling using booklets or modules with a frequency of 3 meetings in 3 weeks. Nutrition education is promoting nutrition messages through education with a learning process using booklets individually and in groups using the lecture method. This study resulted an increased in knowledge, attitudes and consumption patterns after being given nutrition education in prevention of chronic energy deficiency of young women in Bengkulu City (p=0.000). There is an increase and influence between knowledge, attitudes and consumption patterns after being given adolescent nutrition education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A healthy diet can ensure a robust immune system that can resist any onslaught by viruses and bacteria. Aim: To assess the nutritional knowledge and consumption patterns of immunity boosting foods of adults before & after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown periods and the effect of the lockdown on daily food intake among respondents in selected towns in Osun state. Methods: Cross sectional data was collected from six largest local governments areas purposively selected from the three senatorial districts of Osun State (n = 1000) using a well-structured, self-administered questionnaire and the data collected was analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's correlation test The study assessed the food intakes of adults using a qualitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: The results indicated that the majority (89.8%) of the respondents had high knowledge of the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily food intake was affected by COVID-19 lockdown, consumption of healthy food among the respondents was high during lockdown as 77% strongly agreed that vitamins and minerals supplement can be considered healthy and immunity boosting, while there was a reduction in the consumption of healthy foods after the lockdown periods. The test of hypothesis showed that the occurrence of pandemic and nutritional knowledge had a significant relationship with the consumption of healthy foods. Conclusion: This study extends and confirms previous research on high nutritional knowledge of immunity-boosting foods in relation to COVID-19 among the respondents and a general reduction in the consumption of healthy foods after the COVID −19 lockdown periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The web publishing strategy of media organizations is a very important factor in their success. The aim of the strategy is to cover their audience’s news article consumption needs, but is this valid? In order to address this question, this paper compares data from two studies, namely a study that explored the publishing patterns of the top 22 Greek media websites and a second study that focused on web news article consumption habits. The results indicate that there are various deviations between the compared data, and thus the study concludes that Greek media organization publishing strategy is not aligned with the audience consumption needs. The identified discrepancies have to do with the published news articles after 14:00 during weekdays as well as the news articles that are available during weekends. Additionally, it seems that media organizations publish a very limited number of articles on specific thematic categories that the audience is interested in reading. Specific actions were also proposed in order to alleviate those deviations and thus improve the readability of the media organizations.

Introduction: Excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in adolescents has become a global issue. As its link to obesity and noncommunicable diseases is clear, it is imperative to understand SSB consumption behaviors in the future health-care professionals. The objective of this study is to document the prevalence, patterns, and clinico-social and behavioral factors predicting high intake of SSBs among medical students. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-reported, web-based, questionnaire. All the students and interns who were part of a publicly funded premiere teaching hospital between October and November 2019 were included in this study. The semi-structured questionnaire enquired regarding socio-demographic, clinical details, amount, behavioral patterns, and money spent in connection with SSB consumption. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 24. Results: The mean age of participants was 19.3 ± 1.6 years, 71.7% being males. The current prevalence of SSB consumption was 90.5%. Furthermore, 49.9% and 29.1% of participants preferred soft drinks and sweetened fruit juice, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.83, (1.03–3.25), current alcohol consumption (aOR: 4.09, 1.25–13.42), and recent (last week) consumption of a SSB predicted high intake of SSBs [aOR: 7.36, (3.41–15.87)] whereas, preference of energy/sports category of drinks predicted low intake of SSBs [aOR 0.10, (0.02–0.47)]. Conclusion: The consumption of SSBs among medical students was high. Targeted health education and behavior change interventions should be provided to males, alcohol users, and frequent consumers.

Achieving sustainable and healthy food systems in support of human and planetary health is a global challenge. We systematically reviewed papers (n = 2322) showing how village chicken products (meat, eggs, and offal) contribute to sustainable and healthy food systems for children along a rural–urban gradient. A total of 72 articles, representing all different sections covered in this review, were finally included. Production of village chickens contributed positively on livestock-derived food consumption by children. Households who owned chickens were likely to move from medium to high dietary diversity. Children from households that owned chickens had lower odds of anemia (1.07) and higher height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-age (WAZ) scores. Egg intervention increased HAZ and WAZ for children by 0.63 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.38–0.88] and 0.61 [95% CI, 0.45–0.77], respectively. Village chicken ownership had positive effect on children’s poultry meat and egg consumption. Per capita consumption of chicken by girls and boys combined was 38.2 g/day, where girls had 36.9 g/day and boys had 39.4 g/day. Children from households that owned chickens consumed eggs 2.8 more times per week compared to children from households without chickens. Moving along a rural–urban gradient, village chicken production was less common. Improved production and quality of village chicken products, and policies supporting optimal maternal and child intake these products are required.

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the consumption patterns of people the world over. The patterns and trends of consumption that drive markets were no longer relevant during the pandemic. Newer factors drove the consumption decisions and consumers have changed their patterns. COVID pandemic enforced citizens globally to adopt minimalism. This research is aimed at qualitatively understanding the consumer experiences during the lockdown period and their future orientation towards a minimalist lifestyle. Method Participants were young adults of 18 to 25 years of age from India. A constructivist paradigm was adopted to understand the subjective meaning of their choices. Data was collected through Focused group discussions and content analysis was used to arrive at the themes. Findings Data revealed that priority was given to buying essential items during times of crisis. Stockpiling, conscious buying and simple living were the cornerstones of the consumption patterns. Practical implications Findings have implications for sustainable consumption practices with a minimalist approach. Understanding the future orientation of consumers towards adopting a minimalist lifestyle could help market researchers better understand sustainable consumption patterns, thereby helping them in tailoring their product marketing. The far-reaching implications of the results focus on green consumption values and ecological responsibility. Value This paper seeks to explore attitudes and beliefs on sustainable consumption in a young adult population during the Covid-19 outbreak and has implications for sustainable consumption practices using a minimalistic approach in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research paper is to find the influence of the demographic factors on national culture and the influence of national culture on consumer necessities and luxuries of Pakistani Consumers. The study was set within the consumption context of Pakistani consumers. First a review of demographic factors and national culture is provided. Then the model is tested through SmartPLS and SPSS. It was observed that education and monthly income is significantly influencing the national culture of Pakistani consumers. However, the necessities are not but the luxuries are significantly influenced by the national culture. This research is helpful for the business organizations that deal in the consumer products in the aspect of distinguishing the consumer products into necessities and luxuries. The value of this paper is in clearing up some of the ambiguities about the relationship of demographic factors and national culture of Pakistani consumers and their association with the consumer necessities and luxuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]