Profiling Healthy Eating Consumers: A Psychographic Approach to Social Marketing

Abstract

This paper explores the profile of healthy and unhealthy eating consumers in terms of attitudinal variables and personality traits. Data from 3,462 respondents to the 1997 DDB Needham Life Style Study were analyzed. The results show the healthy eaters to be environmentally conscious, socially conservative, and financially healthy. They are usually high self-monitors, and innovative. On the other hand, unhealthy eaters are typically insensitive to their environment and health. They are also low self-monitors and hold liberal attitudes toward sexual issues. Practical and social implications are discussed for social marketers regarding target segmentation and message design.