Digitalisation challenges adults' health, nutrition and lifestyle choices

Abstract

Background: Fast digitalisation has transformed lifestyle patterns, food environments, and purchasing method behaviours among the urban populations. Increasing of the dependence on smart gadgets, digital platforms and online services has transformed dietary habits, a lack of physical activity, and food obtaining practices. These lifestyle changes contribution for the changes in intake of nutritional food and the risk of obesity in adults.
Aim: The present study aimed to identify the influence of digitalisation on food shopping behaviour, dietary intake, physical activity, and Body Mass Index (BMI) among metropolitan (urban) adults.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 1,048 adults aged 25-45 years residing in a metropolitan (urban) region. Participants were categorised according to food shopping modes as digital, traditional, and hybrid (combination of both). Data collecting method was structured using a questionnaire method. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and one-way ANOVA with significance value set at p < 0.05.
Results: The most common shopping mode was hybrid (46.3%), digital (40.6%) and the last traditional (13.2%). Shopping mode and physical activity showed the data was significant (p=0.004**), whereas the traditional shoppers reported higher physical activity levels. Digital and hybrid shopping modes have a significantly higher frequency of consumption for fast food and have a high nutrients intake level as compared to the traditional shopping mode. Differences in energy intake and shopping modes for both genders show a statistically significant result (p < 0.05). However, no statistically significant relation was found between Shopping Mode and BMI, shows that the relationship between them was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The digital services have significantly influenced the behaviour of adults in the urban region in shopping for food and their dietary patterns. An increase in the dependence on digital and hybrid shopping modes contributes to the higher consumption of fast foods and an increase in dietary intake. Public health strategies are being created to promote healthy and balanced dietary patterns, including active lifestyles, made an essential to reduce the risk of potential health issues associated with increasing dependence on the digitalised method for food environments.