Inducing consumers to use calorie information: a multinational investigation

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Nutrition Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Many individuals set daily calorie intake goals to manage weight.
• Understanding factors that influence adherence to calorie budgets is crucial for public health.
• Previous research has not fully explored interventions for calorie regulation after high consumption periods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if an intervention prompting calorie intake estimation can help individuals with daily budgets regulate their intake.
• To examine the effectiveness of this intervention following high prior calorie consumption.

Main Methods:

• An online experiment with 3,032 participants across five countries (Australia, China, Germany, India, UK).
• A 2x2 between-subjects design: calorie budget setting (yes/no) and intervention (intake reminder/control).
• Participants were contacted in the afternoon and asked to estimate prior calorie intake if in the intervention group.

Main Results:

• Among individuals setting daily calorie budgets, the intake estimation intervention significantly reduced their intended calorie intake for the remainder of the day.
• This reduction was particularly pronounced after high prior calorie consumption, amounting to an average of 176 fewer intended calories.
• The intervention's effectiveness was observed in individuals actively managing their daily intake budgets.

Conclusions:

• A timely intervention requiring individuals to estimate their calorie intake can effectively lower subsequent intended calorie consumption.
• This strategy is beneficial for individuals who set daily calorie budgets, especially when they have already consumed a substantial amount of calories.
• The findings suggest a practical approach to support self-regulation of calorie intake and potentially aid in weight management.