Promoting Healthy Lifestyle by Influencing Consumers’ Online Food Choices: The Use of Digital Nudging

Abstract

Escalation in the number of online food ordering platforms, along with extensive junk food marketing, lucrative offers and discounts, innovation in food flavors, and doorstep delivery of food, have triggered the consumption of high-calorie and unhealthy food products which pose serious threats to the health and future well-being of individuals by making them more obese. To date, several public policy frameworks have been developed to confront obesity; however, their efficacy seems debatable. Directionally, the objective of this study is to highlight the potential influence of “digital nudging” which aims at steering individuals in desired directions, at the same time delimiting their freedom of choice. The study also establishes the effectiveness of digital nudges promoting a healthy lifestyle by steering individuals toward healthier food choices. The author strongly believes that this conceptual perusal will offer immense inputs to healthy food marketers and researchers alike in addressing the matters of obesity. Addressing the menace of obesity calls for joint efforts of the government, the public, researchers, and more specifically food product manufacturers/marketers who should incorporate healthier food options into their portfolios. E-tailers are also urged to adopt such practices in virtual markets and promote healthier food options to effectively tackle obesity.

Citation

Mishra, V. (2024), "Promoting Healthy Lifestyle by Influencing Consumers’ Online Food Choices: The Use of Digital Nudging", Singh, N., Kansra, P. and Gupta, S.L. (Ed.) Digital Influence on Consumer Habits: Marketing Challenges and Opportunities, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 171-188. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80455-342-820241011