The Effect of China’s Family Structure on Household Nutrition

Yan Wang,James L Seale,Thomas I Wahl,J Junfei Bai

doi:10.4236/fns.2019.102015

Abstract

China’s one-child policy has created entitled children or “little kings” who are spoiled by their parents and doting grandparents that want to provide the “best food” for their child to ensure the future of the family. In addition, seniors’ food preferences may influence the household’s diet. The extended family structure, typically including one child and seniors, will likely affect food expenditures, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet? Using household data collected from 11 Chinese cities, the results of this study suggest that the presence of a child or seniors, as well as higher income levels, and wife’s education level have significant effects on healthy household food consumption.

Highlights

China’s one-child policy, part of China’s family planning strategy, was introduced between 1978 and 1980 and formally phased out in 2015
The extended family structure, typically including one child and seniors, will likely affect food expenditures, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet? Using household data collected from 11 Chinese cities, the results of this study suggest that the presence of a child or seniors, as well as higher income levels, and wife’s education level have significant effects on healthy household food consumption
The results indicates that eggs, seafood, fruit, and dairy consumption is below recommended levels for a significant number of households

Summary

Introduction

China’s one-child policy, part of China’s family planning strategy, was introduced between 1978 and 1980 and formally phased out in 2015. To children affecting the food consumption behavior of households it is likely that seniors’ food preferences influence the household’s consumption patterns as their dietary and health concerns are accommodated. This family structure, including one child or seniors, will likely affect food expenditures as the family strives to provide the best for the child and seniors, but does this provide the most nutritious or healthiest diet?

Methods

Results

Conclusion