PURCHASES OF REDUCED-FAT/REDUCED-CALORIE CANDY/GUM AT A C-STORE

Reduced-fat/reduced-calorie candy and gum is clearly more popular with women than men, with females far more likely to note that they bought these items occasionally or frequently. Similarly, adults age 40 to 54 were more likely than either their younger or older peers to indicate that they bought this type of candy frequently. Regionally, adults in the Northeast and South Central regions were those least likely to have made these types of purchases, while those in the West were most likely to buy these products occasionally.

About a third of all teens surveyed had never bought reduced-fat/reduced-calorie candy or gum at a c-store, a behavior that has remained consistent over time. Another third indicated that they made these purchases occasionally, representing a decline in buying behavior since 1997. Fewer than one in 10 teens noted that they bought these types of products frequently. Like their adult counterparts, teen girls were far more likely to be occasional or frequent buyers of reduced-fat/reduced-calorie candy or gum at c-stores.