Using Video Gaming to Evaluate Front of Pack Labeling With Children
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Child Obesity
In brief
Regulated nutrition information is complex, using decimal places and percentages. Front of pack (FOP) labels provide simplified nutrition information on the front of packages. It has been suggested that the traditional approach to nutrition labeling is difficult for children to use; this is unfortunate as childhood is a critical time for developing long-lasting eating habits and children influence purchase decisions. Materials and Methods Children aged 6-10 played a video game in which participants fed "Munchy Monster" the healthier of two cereal products presented on a computer screen. Across trials the FOP format varied in a 2 (color/no color) x 2 (facial emotion icon/no facial icon) factorial design. Within a trial both cereals presented the same FOP format, with one cereal healthier than the other. Results Data suggest that color coding and/or facial icon significantly benefits selection accuracy and speed, particularly for the youngest children. Minimal training (awareness of the FOPs existence and that it might contain nutrition information) further improved accuracy and speed of responses. Conclusions FOPs that leverage visual indicators assist even young children in assessing the nutritional value of a product.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03482336
- Run by
- Michigan State University
- People needed
- 80
- Starts
- 2016-02-02
- Expected to finish
- 2016-04-12
- Last updated by the study team
- 2018-03-29
Who can join
Age: 6 and older, up to 10. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- 6-10 years of age
- Legally sighted
- have parent or legal guardian present (written consent of parent)
- have transportation to the test site
- be willing to share contact information for reminders be willing to have deidentified data stored provide written or verbal assent (depending on the age of the child)
You may not qualify if…
- legally blind
- no assent
Where it is running
- School of Packaging — East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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