Information-based cues at point of choice to change selection and consumption of food, alcohol and tobacco products: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundReducing harmful consumption of food, alcohol, and tobacco products would prevent many cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Placing information-based cues in the environments in which we select and consume these products has the potential to contribute to changing these behaviours.MethodsIn this review, information-based cues are defined as those which comprise any combination of words, symbols, numbers or pictures that convey information about a product or its use. We specifically exclude cues which are located on the products themselves. We conducted a systematic review of randomised, cluster- randomised, and non-randomised controlled trials to assess the impact of such cues on selection and consumption. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 12 targeted food (most commonly fruit and vegetables), one targeted alcohol sales, and none targeted tobacco products.ResultsTen studies reported statistically significant effects on some or all of the targeted products, although studies were insufficiently homogenous to justify meta-analysis. Existing evidence suggests information-based cues can influence selection and consumption of food and alcohol products, although significant uncertainty remains.ConclusionsThe current evidence base is limited both in quality and quantity, with relatively few, heterogeneous studies at unclear or high risk of bias. Additional, more rigorously conducted studies are warranted to better estimate the potential for these interventions to change selection and consumption of food, alcohol and tobacco products.Trial registrationPROSPERO. 2016;CRD42016051884.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5280-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Consolidating evidence on the effectiveness of interventions promoting fruit and vegetable consumption: an umbrella review

“…Of the 19 reviews, four included only randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster RCTs, [ 23 , 46 , 54 , 58 ] and seven undertook pooled quantitative analyses [ 23 , 26 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 54 , 55 ]. Eight reviews included primary studies undertaken in children and adolescents only (between 1 and 18 years), [ 22 , 23 , 46 , 51 , 54 , 55 , 57 , 58 ] two were in adults (> 18 years) only, [ 50 , 56 ] nine included all ages, [ 26 , 43 – 45 , 47 , 49 , 52 , 53 ] and one review did not specify ages included but gave the population as workers [ 48 ].…”

“…The primary outcome was the change in consumption of foods and beverages; data on sales/purchase were considered a proxy for consumption. 7 Pooled quantitative synthesis No June 2014 26 Carter et al, 2018 [ 45 ] RCT and non-RCT Age: all ages Setting: any out-of-home environment (e.g. grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, bars, school canteens, and workplace cafeterias) Primary studies of intervention strategies which involved the comparison of the effect of an information-based cue at point of choice on food, alcohol or tobacco selection or consumption to that of a non-information-based cue condition.…”

A Dieting Facilitator on the Fridge Door: Can Dieters Deliberately Apply Environmental Dieting Cues to Lose Weight?

“…There is little evidence about the effects of environmental dieting cues over longer periods of time ( Papies, 2016b ; Buckland et al, 2018 ). Indeed, some health intervention studies have examined the effects of environmental cues on food choices, sales, or consumption in places such as restaurants and cafeterias over time spans of up to several months (see Allan et al, 2017 ; Cadario and Chandon, 2018 ; see Carter et al, 2018 ). Such public health intervention studies are of significant practical value.…”

Nudging to move: a scoping review of the use of choice architecture interventions to promote physical activity in the general population

“…Since their introduction the terms choice architecture and nudge have been used in different ways, across a wide range of interventions, multiple behaviours, environmental contexts (e.g. physical activity [20–22], and food consumption [23–25] or levels of analysis [15, 26–30]). In most cases, intervention approaches were grouped based on common mechanisms like behavioural economics, gamification elements, or point-of-choice [24, 26, 31–36].…”

“…In most cases, intervention approaches were grouped based on common mechanisms like behavioural economics, gamification elements, or point-of-choice [24, 26, 31–36]. To date, there have been few systematic overviews on the effectiveness of selected choice architecture interventions in specific areas such as food consumption [23, 25, 36, 37], pro-environmental behaviour [38], or lifestyle risk factors [32]. Szaszi et al gave a domain-general overview of the used choice architecture intervention in the domains consumer choice, health, sustainability, education, transport, finance, health, and other [39].…”