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

Eating Behavior Clinical Trial

Official title:

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

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04988854
• Other study ID #: #1688
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 26, 2020
• Est. completion date: February 25, 2021

Study information

• Verified date: July 2021
• Source: Aston University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 117
• Est. completion date: February 25, 2021
• Est. primary completion date: February 25, 2021
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 4 Years to 6 Years

Eligibility

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.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Eating Behavior

Intervention

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.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United Kingdom	Aston University	Birmingham

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Aston University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United Kingdom, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Raw broccoli intake	Children's intake of raw broccoli (amount of grams consumed)	5 minutes
Primary	Willingness to try raw broccoli	Children's willingness to try raw broccoli	5 minutes
Primary	Frequency of taste exposures to raw broccoli	Children's number of oral taste exposures to raw broccoli	5 minutes