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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Eating Behavior
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Facial expression 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 117
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Birmingham, United Kingdom, B4 7ET
    • Aston University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 4 years to 6 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Child must be aged 4-6-years old. Parent and child must be living in the UK.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with food allergies, food intolerances, or medical conditions that affect eating behaviour were not eligible to take part.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Positive Condition; Children were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a positive facial expression (positive video)	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.
Experimental: Neutral Condition; Children were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a neutral facial expression (neutral video)	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.
Experimental: No-Food Control Condition; Children were exposed to a video of adult models putting pens away whilst showing a neutral facial expression (no-food control video)	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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Raw broccoli intake	Children's intake of raw broccoli (amount of grams consumed)	5 minutes
Willingness to try raw broccoli	Children's willingness to try raw broccoli	5 minutes
Frequency of taste exposures to raw broccoli	Children's number of oral taste exposures to raw broccoli	5 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Aston University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Katie Edwards, BSc, Aston University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 26, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 25, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): February 25, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 26, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 26, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): August 4, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 4, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 26, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Children
• Other Study ID Numbers: #1688

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: Non-identifiable data will be available upon request.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: IPD will be available upon request.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: IPD will be provided when requested by researchers. The investigators will review requests.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No