Determinants of Fast Food Consumption

Socioeconomic determinants are investigated for both the likelihood of consuming fastfood and household expenditure on fastfood using the 1994-98 USDA Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. The logit model is used to estimate an empirical relationship between probability an individual will consume fastfood and socioeconomic variables. The Tobit model is used to estimate an empirical relationship between expenditure on fastfood and socioeconomic variables. Significant socioeconomic variables impacting the likelihood of consuming fastfood and household expenditure on fastfood included age, income, household size, hours at work, eating occasion and education level.