In today’s society, purchasing food at supermarkets, convenience stores, or online has become a common practice due to its convenience. However, could this convenience impact our health? A large-scale global study has shown that buying food at these places comes at the cost of health, leading people to purchase more unhealthy foods and potentially face obesity issues.
A postdoctoral researcher, Tailane Scapin, and public health professor, Adrian Cameron, from Deakin University in Australia, highlighted in an article on The Conversation website that researchers from their university, in collaboration with colleagues from UNICEF, conducted a 15-year study to understand how residents in 97 countries purchase groceries and food.
They discovered that the number of supermarkets and convenience stores (referred to in this text as chain grocery stores) has significantly increased worldwide, with people spending more money at these stores and online platforms.
However, this increase comes at the expense of health. Residents in countries with the highest density of chain grocery stores tend to buy more unhealthy food and are more likely to be obese. These scholars referred to this phenomenon as a concerning “public health disaster.”
Their research analyzed data from the food industry database to understand the changes in food retailing globally over time. They also studied the types of stores, the amount of money people spent, and the sales volume of unhealthy processed foods.
They found that the density of chain grocery stores globally (number of stores per 10,000 people) increased by 23.6% over 15 years (from 2009 to 2023).
Their research data also covered the rise of online food shopping. For example, compared to 2014, global expenditure on online grocery shopping increased by 325% in 2023.
Simultaneously, the rise of these chain grocery stores (including their online platforms) is changing people’s diets.
The scholars mentioned that during the 15 years of their research, the sale of unhealthy processed foods in these chain grocery stores increased by 10.9%. The percentage of obese individuals in all countries increased from 18.2% to 23.7%. In countries with the highest growth in chain grocery stores, the obesity rate increased the fastest.
Laos is a prime example. Since 2009, the average number of chain grocery stores per person in the country has increased by 15% annually, and the percentage of obese individuals doubled from 2009 to 2023.
Despite supermarkets and large stores selling healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, these scholars have reasons to believe that the retail environment could be a major contributor to the rising obesity rates.
Highly processed foods:
Chain grocery stores often sell a large quantity of highly processed packaged foods that are high in sugar, salt, and fat, potentially harming health. A study on food and beverage products sold in supermarkets in 12 countries indicated that most products were classified as unhealthy.
In the rapidly expanding chain grocery stores in low- and middle-income countries, the research found that the least healthy products often appeared in supermarkets in countries such as India, China, and Chile.
High promotions:
Chain grocery stores frequently promote unhealthy foods through activities like discounts, advertisements in flyers, television, social media, placement at checkouts and aisle ends, etc. Additionally, on the internet, promotions of unhealthy foods are more frequent than healthy foods. For instance, on average, at least one-third of the foods displayed prominently on Australian supermarket websites are unhealthy.
More purchasing power:
Compared to independent small grocery stores, global large chain grocery stores have a significant influence on product categorization and pricing decisions. Consequently, they can control the supply chain and often collaborate with manufacturers of overly processed and unhealthy packaged foods.
The scholars noted that many social, political, cultural, and economic factors contribute to the increasing global obesity rate, with many linked to food pricing, supply, promotion, and the structure of the retail industry.
Therefore, they believe that governments and retailers should step up now to change where and how consumers purchase food.
Some countries have already taken action. For instance, in the UK, the government has legislated to prohibit placing unhealthy foods in prominent locations like checkouts and aisle ends. Starting in October this year, further restrictions on promotions of unhealthy foods (e.g., buy one get one free) will be enforced in the UK.
Retailers can also make a significant impact. For example, a large grocery chain in Norway initiated a comprehensive healthy eating campaign a few years ago, including expanding and showcasing healthy food displays and offering discounts on fruits and vegetables. From 2012 to 2020, vegetable sales in the store increased by 42%, and fruit sales increased by 25%.
However, most chain grocery stores still do not prioritize customer health and nutrition enough. These scholars observed this in supermarkets serving low-income individuals in the US. In the UK, although some supermarket retailers have made progress, there is still significant room for improvement across all evaluated retailers.
In conclusion, these scholars emphasized the urgent need to create a healthier retail food environment, support nutritious diets, and help reverse the growing obesity rates now more than ever before.