Comparison of price change and health message interventions in promoting healthy food choices

Health Psychol. 2002 Sep;21(5):505-12. doi: 10.1037//0278-6133.21.5.505.

Abstract

This study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of an environmental intervention for improving diet by comparing the impact of health messages, lowered prices, and their combination on the purchase of healthy food items in a restaurant. Price decreases alone, rather than a combination of price decreases and health messages, were associated with a higher level of increased purchases of some healthy food items as compared with control items over a 4-month period. Price decreases may be a more powerful means than health messages of increasing consumption of healthy foods. Health messages may have paradoxical effects if foods labeled as healthy are assumed to taste bad.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Commerce
  • Female
  • Food Preferences / psychology*
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Promotion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motivation
  • Nutritional Sciences / education*
  • Obesity / prevention & control*
  • Obesity / psychology
  • Restaurants / economics*