Consumers’ snack choices: current factors contributing to obesity

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to indicate the need for and create an insightful understanding of the current factors contributing to consumer's obesity levels due to their snack choices. Design/methodology/approach - This paper reports on previous literature using publications from the Emerald Insight Journals, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Web of Science electronic database from 1999 to 2018 that validate and support existing literature. The retrieved literature is organised and classified into specific constructs. Findings - Research into consumers' choice of snacks from an environmental, cultural and health perspective is still underrepresented in the international scientific literature. More research is required on the specific effects of specific levels of the stated factors contributing to obesity. Health and cross-cultural studies are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of the relation between snack choices and factors contributing to obesity that will help to implement more efficient health measures. Originality/value - This paper is of value to academics studying consumers' snacking behaviour and public health practitioners evaluating qualitative and quantitative methods to address the obesity epidemic. Keywords Culture, Health, Obesity Paper type Literature review