NCT04988854

Using Models' Facial Expressions to Enhance Healthy Eating Behaviour in Children

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 117 (actual)
• Sponsor: Aston University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 4 Years – 6 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study examined the effect of adults' facial expressions (FEs) whilst eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and intake of a typically less preferred vegetable. Investigating others' FEs in isolation (e.g., without statements about food tastiness) will improve understanding of the role of FEs in modelling of eating and contribute to developing strategies to help children learn pleasure from nutritious foods. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesised that children's acceptance (willingness to try, and frequency of taste exposures) and intake of raw broccoli would be higher after exposure to models eating raw broccoli with positive FEs, compared to models consuming raw broccoli with neutral FEs, or a non-food control video.

Detailed description

Research has shown that seeing positive facial expressions towards food are effective for increasing children's desire to eat foods rated as disliked. However, the effect of adults' positive facial expressions whilst eating a raw vegetable on children's acceptance and consumption of nutritious foods that are less preferred (e.g., vegetables) remains to be established. This study examined the effect of unfamiliar adult models' facial expressions eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and consumption of raw broccoli. Children aged 4-6-year-olds were randomised to watch a video of unfamiliar adult models eating raw broccoli with a positive or neutral facial expression, or a non-food control video. Children's acceptance (willingness to try and frequency of taste exposures) and consumption of raw broccoli was assessed. Data about parent and child characteristics was provided by parents.

Conditions

• Eating Behavior

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Facial expression video	Children are randomly allocated to one of three conditions: positive, neutral or no-food control, where they will watch either a positive, neutral, or no-food control video.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-10-26
• Primary completion: 2021-02-25
• Completion: 2021-02-25
• First posted: 2021-08-04
• Last updated: 2021-08-04

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom