Appearance-based health promotion messages for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption: gender, age and adverse effects

Abstract

Aim This study sought to investigate the effects of body-weight-based compared to health-based public health messages for encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption, dependent on gender and age, while also gauging adverse consequences. Subject and methods Using an independent groups design, male and female participants, aged 18–65 years, were randomized to view either a weight-based (N = 245) or a health-based (N = 231) public health message for increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and intentions to consume, immediate selection and subsequent consumption of fruit and vegetables and biscuit/cake-bars, adverse consequences and various confounders were assessed. Results Weight-based messages resulted in greater immediate selection and subsequent fruit and vegetable consumption compared to health-based messages in females (smallest Beta = 0.375, p = 0.04), specifically younger females (least significant Beta = 0.683, p = 0.04). No effects were found in males. Intentions to consume fruit and vegetables, biscuit/cake-bars and subsequent biscuit/cake-bar consumption were predicted only by confounders. Adverse consequences of the messages were low (χ2(1) = 44.16, p < 0.05; smallest t(148) = 10.22, p < 0.01), and did not differ between weight-based and health-based messages (χ2(2) = 2.72, p > 0.05; largest t(278) = 0.75, p = 0.46). Conclusions This work demonstrates a role for weight-based compared to health-based public health promotion messages for increasing fruit and vegetable selection and consumption in young females. Adverse consequences following the messages were low, but care may still be needed.

‘eat Five a Day’ Vs ‘eat One More’: Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption When Goals Are Provided, and When Goals Are More Achievable or Perceived to Be Easier

“…Variables known to be associated with FV consumption were found to be associated with FV consumption in our studies, to include higher past FV consumption, higher awareness of FV consumption, higher FV liking, more positive attitudes and higher FV-related self-e cacy. These relationships have been previously reported [22,35,36,[44][45][46][47][48][65][66][67][68][69][70].…”

“…Various additional characteristics of potential impact on FV consumption were also assessed [19,22,25,[44][45][46][47][48]]. These characteristics were: gender; age; liking for FV; perceived awareness of FV consumption; and the perceived importance of other people.…”

“…Various characteristics of potential impact on FV consumption [19,22,25,[44][45][46][47][48]51] were also assessed by questionnaire. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) [52] was used as a theoretical framework for the study, alongside goal-setting theory [28,29] to further explain the variance in our outcomes, hence the use of some particular constructs.…”

“…In studies 2 and 3, the bene ts of consuming FV were related speci cally to a healthy body weight. FV are bene cial for body-weight, both as energy-dilute foods for those who are overweight [3,4], and as often acceptable nutritious foods for those who are underweight [43], and we have recently demonstrated increased value of a weight-based, compared to a health-based, health promotion message for increasing FV selection and consumption without negative side effects [44,45].…”