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Adding a reward increases the reinforcing value of fruit
Nathalie De Cock1, Leentje Vervoort2, Patrick Kolsteren1
11Department of Food Safety and Food Quality,Ghent University,Coupure Links 653,Ghent,Belgium.
The British Journal of Nutrition
|April 7, 2017
Summary
Linking fruit to rewards slightly increased its reinforcing value (RV) in adolescents. This strategy shows promise for promoting healthier snack choices, though further research into reward types is needed.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral economics
- Adolescent nutrition
- Reward systems
Background:
- Adolescent snack choices often favor unhealthy options.
- Increasing the reinforcing value (RV) of healthy snacks may shift preferences.
- Understanding how rewards influence snack RV is crucial for dietary interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if linking fruit to a reward increases its RV in adolescents.
- To compare the RV of rewarded fruit with that of unhealthy snacks.
- To explore moderation effects of sex, hunger, BMI, and reward sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- A computerised food reinforcement task assessed snack RV in 165 adolescents.
- Participants were randomized into fruit, fruit+reward, or unhealthy snack groups.
- Reinforcing value was measured by total responses and breakpoint using progressive ratio schedules.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in total responses between fruit+reward and either fruit or unhealthy snack groups.
- Breakpoint was slightly higher for fruit compared to fruit+reward (P=0.050).
- No difference in breakpoint was observed between unhealthy snacks and fruit+reward (P=0.34).
Conclusions:
- Linking rewards to fruit offers a modest increase in its reinforcing value.
- This approach may be a viable strategy for encouraging healthier adolescent food choices.
- Further research is needed to identify rewards that yield larger effect sizes.