“Digital Solutions to the Obesity Crisis: Evaluating the Impact of Online Grocery Delivery Services”
by Alireza Golmohammadi
Belk College of Business
Place: MA-330
https://zoom.us/j/3370698252?pwd=OWRmQ1hNNWhRWng2QnhsTENzK1hGUT09&omn=98245489794
Abstract
Despite extensive efforts in developed nations to combat obesity, rates continue to rise, particularly in the U.S., with low-income populations being disproportionately affected. This study examines the potential of third-party online grocery delivery services (OGDS) to mitigate obesity. Utilizing a staggered difference-in-differences approach, we analyze the impact of OGDS’s entry on obesity rates. Our findings reveal that OGDS entry is associated with a significant reduction in obesity rates, averaging -.64%, which translates to an annual medical cost saving of $2.91 billion. However, the positive impact of OGDS entry is less pronounced in low-income areas, indicating an exacerbation of socioeconomic disparity in obesity rates, which is a serious public health concern. Further analyses suggest that the entry of OGDS is associated with increased grocery store sales and reduced fast-food sales, alongside promoting physical exercise. Nonetheless, OGDS may drive healthy food options away from low-income areas. By highlighting the potential of online platforms in combating obesity, this research addresses a critical gap in the literature, particularly given the limited effectiveness of many traditional public health interventions. Our findings underscore the complex role of OGDS in addressing obesity and the need for targeted policy interventions to ensure equitable health benefits across socioeconomic strata.
Bio
Alireza Golmohammadi is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Belk College of Business, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research focuses on quantitative marketing strategy, digital marketing and social media analytics, and unstructured data analytics, using econometric modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning methods. His work has been published in leading journals such as Journal of Marketing, MIS Quarterly, Journal of Service Research, and Marketing Letters.
