A Review on the Impact of Online Food Delivery Services on Health, Lifestyle, and Eating Habits

Online Food Delivery, Eating Behaviour, Lifestyle Changes, Health Impact, Dietary Habits, Consumer Behaviour, Nutrition, Digital Food Environment.

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has transformed the global food service industry, leading to the widespread adoption of Online Food Delivery (OFD) services. The proliferation of smartphones, internet connectivity, digital payment systems, and platform-based business models has accelerated the growth of OFD platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Swiggy, and Zomato. These platforms have reshaped food consumption patterns by offering consumers greater convenience, accessibility, and variety. However, alongside these benefits, concerns have emerged regarding their impact on health, lifestyle, and eating behaviours.

This review synthesizes existing literature on the influence of OFD services on dietary habits, health outcomes, and lifestyle changes. Drawing from studies in public health, nutrition, consumer behaviour, digital marketing, and food service management, the review reveals that frequent use of OFD platforms is associated with increased consumption of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods, higher caloric intake, unhealthy snacking, irregular meal schedules, and reduced dependence on home-cooked meals. The literature also indicates potential links between OFD usage and obesity, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and sedentary lifestyles, particularly among young adults, university students, and working professionals. Nevertheless, OFD services contribute positively by improving food accessibility, expanding dietary choices, and enhancing convenience in increasingly time-constrained environments.

The review identifies several research gaps, including limited longitudinal evidence, insufficient studies from developing countries, inadequate attention to mental health outcomes, and a lack of research on healthy food nudging strategies within digital food environments. Future research should adopt interdisciplinary approaches to examine the long-term consequences of OFD usage and develop interventions that encourage healthier and more sustainable food choices. This review contributes to the growing literature on digital food ecosystems and offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, public health professionals, and food delivery platform operators.