Naughty but nice: a laboratory study of health information and food preferences in a community sample.
The influence of information about the fat content of food and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention on taste ratings and food intake in a test meal was examined. Forty Ss were allocated at random to CVD information or control conditions. Ss rated 2 brands of yogurt and 2 cheese sandwiches, with 1 flavor of each food labeled full-fat and the other low-fat. In fact, fat levels were identical, and the label-flavor pairings were counterbalanced. Overall, Ss gave lower liking ratings to the low-fat labeled foods. However, Ss in the information condition tended to eat a smaller proportion of the full-fat sandwiches. The results supported the utility of a laboratory setting for evaluating the influence of health-relevant information on responses to food.
Imperial Cancer Research Fund Health Behaviour Unit, Institute of Psychiatry, London, England.
J
J
Wardle
W
W
Solomons
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged