scholarly journals The Effects of Positive Affect and Episodic Future Thinking on Temporal Discounting and Healthy Food Demand and Choice Among Overweight and Obese Individuals: Protocol for a Pilot 2×2 Factorial Randomized Controlled Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara M Levens ◽  
Sara J Sagui-Henson ◽  
Meagan Padro ◽  
Laura E Martin ◽  
Elisa M Trucco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Guided Imagery ◽  
Temporal Discounting ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Food Demand ◽  
Episodic Future Thinking ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Reward Mechanisms ◽  
Choice Tasks

BACKGROUND Unhealthy behaviors (eg, poor food choices) contribute to obesity and numerous negative health outcomes, including multiple types of cancer and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. To promote healthy food choice, diet interventions should build on the dual-system model to target the regulation and reward mechanisms that guide eating behavior. Episodic future thinking (EFT) has been shown to strengthen regulation mechanisms by reducing unhealthy food choice and temporal discounting (TD), a process of placing greater value on smaller immediate rewards over larger future rewards. However, these interventions do not target the reward mechanisms that could support healthy eating and strengthen the impact of EFT-anchored programs. Increasing positive affect (PosA) related to healthy food choices may target reward mechanisms by enhancing the rewarding effects of healthy eating. An intervention that increases self-regulation regarding unhealthy foods and the reward value of healthy foods will likely have a greater impact on eating behavior compared with interventions focused on either process alone. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to introduce a protocol that tests the independent and interactive effects of EFT and PosA on TD, food choice, and food demand in overweight and obese adults. METHODS This protocol describes a factorial, randomized, controlled pilot study that employs a 2 (affective imagery: positive, neutral) by 2 (EFT: yes, no) design in which participants are randomized to 1 of 4 guided imagery intervention arms. In total, 156 eligible participants will complete 2 lab visits separated by 5 days. At visit 1, participants complete surveys; listen to the audio guided imagery intervention; and complete TD, food demand, and food choice tasks. At visit 2, participants complete TD, food demand, and food choice tasks and surveys. Participants complete a daily food frequency questionnaire between visits 1 and 2. Analyses will compare primary outcome measures at baseline, postintervention, and at follow-up across treatment arms. RESULTS Funding notification was received on April 27, 2017, and the protocol was approved by the institutional review board on October 6, 2017. Feasibility testing of the protocol was conducted from February 21, 2018, to April 18, 2018, among the first 32 participants. As no major protocol changes were required at the end of the feasibility phase, these 32 participants were included in the target sample of 156 participants. Recruitment, therefore, continued immediately after the feasibility phase. When this manuscript was submitted, 84 participants had completed the protocol. CONCLUSIONS Our research goal is to develop novel, theory-based interventions to promote and improve healthy decision-making and behaviors. The findings will advance decision-making research and have the potential to generate new neuroscience and psychological research to further understand these mechanisms and their interactions. CLINICALTRIAL ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN11704675; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11704675 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/760ouOoKG) INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR DERR1-10.2196/12265

scholarly journals Understanding socio-economic inequalities in food choice behaviour: can Maslow's pyramid help?

2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank J. van Lenthe ◽  
Tessa Jansen ◽  
Carlijn B. M. Kamphuis
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Hierarchy Of Needs ◽  
Choice Behaviour ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Education Group ◽  
Dairy Consumption ◽  
Economic Inequalities

Socio-economic groups differ in their material, living, working and social circumstances, which may result in different priorities about their daily-life needs, including the priority to make healthy food choices. Following Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, we hypothesised that socio-economic inequalities in healthy food choices can be explained by differences in the levels of need fulfilment. Postal survey data collected in 2011 (67·2 % response) from 2903 participants aged 20–75 years in the Dutch GLOBE (Gezondheid en Levens Omstandigheden Bevolking Eindhoven en omstreken) study were analysed. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs (measured with the Basic Need Satisfaction Inventory) was added to age- and sex-adjusted linear regression models that linked education and net household income levels to healthy food choices (measured by a FFQ). Most participants (38·6 %) were in the self-actualisation layer of the pyramid. This proportion was highest among the highest education group (47·6 %). Being in a higher level of the hierarchy was associated with a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as more healthy than unhealthy bread, snack and dairy consumption. Educational inequalities in fruit and vegetable intake (B= − 1·79, 95 % CI − 2·31, − 1·28 in the lowest education group) were most reduced after the hierarchy of needs score was included (B= − 1·57, 95 % CI − 2·09, − 1·05). Inequalities in other healthy food choices hardly changed after the hierarchy of needs score was included. People who are satisfied with higher-level needs make healthier food choices. Studies aimed at understanding socio-economic inequalities in food choice behaviour need to take differences in the priority given to daily-life needs by different socio-economic groups into account, but Maslow's pyramid offers little help.

Abstract MP07: Automated, Personalized Feedback and Behavioral Nudges to Improve Workplace Food Choices and Prevent Weight Gain: Choosewell 365 Randomized Controlled Trial

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne N Thorndike ◽  
Jessica L McCurley ◽  
Emily D Gelsomin ◽  
Eric B Rimm ◽  
Yuchiao Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Prevent Weight Gain

Importance: Workplace health promotion programs often have limited reach and effectiveness because they are time-intensive and not integrated with the work environment. Objective: Conduct a randomized controlled trial testing an automated intervention combined with workplace cafeteria traffic-light labels to prevent weight gain and increase healthy food choices. Methods: 602 hospital employees who regularly used 6 on-site cafeterias and paid with their ID were randomized in 2016-18. Cafeteria labels identified healthy (green), less healthy (yellow), and unhealthy (red) items. Participants completed visits, surveys, and dietary recalls at baseline and 12 months (end of intervention). The intervention group received personalized emails (2/week) and letters (1/month) that were automatically generated by a software platform that integrated cafeteria sales, health, and survey data. Emails included a log of weekly purchases (item, traffic light label, and calories) and health tips. Letters included social norm comparisons and small incentives for healthy purchases. The control group received standard lifestyle advice in monthly letters. A Healthy Purchasing Score was calculated by weighting purchased items by traffic light labels (red=0; yellow=0.5; green=1) using 12 mo of purchases during both baseline (pre-intervention) and intervention. Differences in differences in health outcomes, purchases, and dietary quality were compared, with missing values imputed. Results: Participants were 43.6 years (mean), 79% female, and 81% white. The intervention group increased healthy purchases compared to control, but changes in BMI and health outcomes were not different (see Table). Conclusion: An automated intervention linked to the workplace food environment increased healthy food choices but did not prevent weight gain. To improve health, this scalable healthy eating intervention could be augmented with additional technology to improve other health behaviors, such as physical activity, both at work and home.

A Validation and Reliability Study of the Physical Activity and Healthy Food Efficacy Scale for Children (PAHFE)

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina M. Perry ◽  
R.J. De Ayala ◽  
Ryan Lebow ◽  
Emily Hayden
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Validity Evidence ◽  
High Degree

The purpose of this study was to obtain validity evidence for the Physical Activity and Healthy Food Efficacy Scale for Children (PAHFE). Construct validity evidence identifies four subscales: Goal-Setting for Physical Activity, Goal-Setting for Healthy Food Choices, Decision-Making for Physical Activity, and Decision-Making for Healthy Food Choices. The scores on each of these subscales show a moderate to high degree of internal consistency (0.59 ≤ α ≤ 0.87). The Decision-Making for Healthy Food Choice subscale and the Decision-Making for Physical Activity subscale scores show significant convergent validity evidence. These results provide support for using this self-efficacy scale to measure children's perceived confidence to make decisions about healthy eating and physical activity. The PAHFE may be considered to be a useful predictor of both physical activity and eating behaviors.

scholarly journals Reception of health messages: effects of stigmatization and forcefulness

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Schnepper ◽  
J Blechert ◽  
F M Stok
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Health Messages ◽  
Health Message ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Limited Effectiveness ◽  
Unhealthy Diet ◽  
Positive Effect

Abstract Background Diet-related health messages often use scare tactics and negative imagery. However, they show limited effectiveness. Improving these messages is important to prevent further increases of obesity rates and consequential sicknesses. When designing a health message, image choice and wording are central. Controversy revolves around the use of stigmatizing images. Body weight influences the effect of stigma on the participants, and detrimental effects are observable in individuals with overweight. Wording has to be concrete but not too forceful. Methods In this study, female subjects (N = 162) saw a stigmatizing versus non-stigmatizing health message with forceful versus non-forceful wording (2 × 2-design). Effects on a virtual food choice task (healthy versus unhealthy), diet intentions and concerns to be stigmatized were assessed. Results In the non-stigmatizing and non-forceful condition, participants made the highest number of healthy food choices. In the two stigma conditions, higher body mass index correlated with higher concern to be stigmatized, highlighting the adverse effect a health message can have. Conclusions In a female student sample, a non-stigmatizing and non-forceful text had the most positive effect on healthy food choices without evoking concerns to be stigmatized. This should be considered when promoting a healthy lifestyle.

scholarly journals Consumers' Perceptions of Healthy Food Availability in Online Food Delivery Applications (OFD Apps) and Its Association With Food Choices Among Public University Students in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Zhen Rong Eu ◽  
Mohd Jamil Sameeha
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Food Environment ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Public University ◽  
Food Delivery ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Healthy Food Availability ◽  
Significant Difference

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to study consumers' perceptions of healthy food availability in online food delivery applications (OFD apps) among public university students in Malaysia and its association with their food choices. A total of 290 subjects aged 19–29 years old were recruited from 20 public universities in Malaysia via snowball sampling. Data was collected through an online questionnaire which consisted of socio-demographic status, use of OFD apps (most frequently used brand, usage frequency, food choice, and expenditure per transaction), factors affecting food choice in OFD apps, consumers' perceptions of healthy food availability in OFD apps and recommendation for improvements. The most frequently used apps among the subjects was Food Panda (46.6%), however, majority of the subjects in this study (41.4%) rarely used OFD apps. Also, most of the subjects ordered unhealthy food (77.6%) and spent up to RM15–RM19 for each transaction (43.1%). There was no significant difference between the use of OFD apps and gender (p > 0.05). Among the five food choice motives, “price and convenience” motive was the most influencing food choice factor in OFD apps. Majority of the subjects (76.9%) had a negative perception of healthy food availability (variety, price, and quality of healthy food) in OFD apps. No significant association was found between consumers' perceptions of healthy food availability in OFD apps and their food choices made in OFD apps among the subjects in this study (p > 0.05). Also, majority (85.9%) responded they are keen to purchase healthy foods through OFD apps if they are given an option. However, most Malaysian public university students perceived that there were not much variety of healthy food, of good quality and affordable price, available in OFD apps. This finding suggests that the online food environment in Malaysia are perceived as unhealthy. Future studies can explore the online food environment particularly its impact on community health and well-being. Public health professionals and policymakers need to address the online food environment issues as part of the obesogenic food environment in Malaysia especially when OFD is one of the most convenient service in this country.

scholarly journals An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews on Food Choice and Nutrition Published between 2017 and-2019

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2398 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perez-Cueto
Keyword(s):  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Food Choice ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Population Group ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Umbrella Review ◽  
Food Purchases ◽  
Good Nutrition

The objective of this umbrella review was to provide an update on the latest knowledge in the field of food choice and nutrition. Databases Scopus and ISI-Web of Science were searched for “food choice” AND nutrition. Papers were included if they were systematic reviews published between January 2017 and August 2019 on any subpopulation group. In total, 26 systematic reviews were kept. Data were extracted with a predetermined grid including first author, publication year, country, population group, explanatory constructs (intervention focus) and reported outcomes. Common indicators for outcome measures on food choice and nutrition studies are nutrition knowledge, healthy food choices, food purchases and food and nutrient intake. The most common strategy implemented to alter food choice with a nutritional aim is nutrition education, followed by provision of information through labels. Among children, parent modelling is key to achieving healthy food choices. In general, combining strategies seems to be the most effective way to achieve healthier food consumption and to maintain good nutrition in all age groups.

scholarly journals Food Choice Determinants and Perceptions of a Healthy Diet among Italian Consumers

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Rungsaran Wongprawmas ◽  
Cristina Mora ◽  
Nicoletta Pellegrini ◽  
Raquel P. F. Guiné ◽  
Eleonora Carini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Choice ◽  
Emotional Eating ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Healthy Diet ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Information Strategies

Healthy food choices are crucial for a healthy lifestyle. However, food choices are complex and affected by various factors. Understanding the determinant factors affecting food choices could aid policy-makers in designing better strategies to promote healthy food choices in the general public. This study aims to evaluate the food choice motivations and to segment consumer groups, according to their food choice motivations, in a sample of 531 Italian consumers (collected by convenience sampling), through offline and online survey platforms. K-means cluster analysis was applied to identify consumer groups using six food choice motivation categories (health, emotional, economic and availability, social and cultural, environmental and political, and marketing and commercial). The results suggest that the strongest determinants for the food choices of Italian consumers are Environmental factors and Health. Two consumer profiles were identified through the segmentation analysis: Emotional eating and Health-driven consumers. The respondents were found to have a good awareness of what comprises a healthy diet. There is a potential market for healthy and sustainable food products, especially products with minimal or environmentally friendly packages. Food labels and information strategies could be promoted as tools to assist consumers to make healthy food choices.

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