Do sugar content material labels assist us make more healthy decisions in the course of the holidays? A research in Acta Psychologica discovered that they won’t. Using cellular eye-tracking glasses, researchers discovered that festive, sugar-rich meals are extra visually charming and fascinating than their sugar-free counterparts, even when dietary labels spotlight their sugar content material. These findings counsel that merely labeling meals as “sugar-free” could not successfully curb cravings throughout this indulgent time of yr.
The vacation season is a time of celebration, however additionally it is marked by overindulgence in sugary and high-calorie meals, resulting in seasonal weight acquire. With high-sugar meals prominently featured in festive traditions, individuals typically battle to withstand their cravings. Nutritional labeling, supposed to information more healthy meals decisions, has been extensively adopted, however its effectiveness stays unclear. Previous research counsel that sugar content material labels could even enhance cravings for some people.
The researchers aimed to discover whether or not sugar labels affect visible consideration and preferences in a real-world setting. By specializing in Christmas-themed treats, the research additionally sought to grasp whether or not the festive context amplifies the enchantment of sugary meals, thereby making them tougher to withstand.
The research concerned 58 members aged 17 to 49 years, most of whom had a standard physique mass index and celebrated Christmas. Participants wore cellular eye-tracking glasses whereas viewing a buffet desk that includes six objects: 4 cookies (with and with out sugar, and with or with out Christmas associations) and two non-food objects (gift-wrapped presents labeled as Christmas or birthday presents). Each merchandise was accompanied by a label indicating its sugar content material or affiliation with Christmas.
Participants seen the buffet for 2 minutes whereas their gaze patterns had been recorded. Afterward, they rated their liking and wanting of every merchandise and supplied details about their dietary preferences. At the top of the session, they had been supplied a alternative between a high-calorie gingerbread cookie and a low-calorie clementine to evaluate their meals preferences additional.
Eye-tracking knowledge analyzed included complete fixation period (how lengthy members checked out every merchandise), imply fixation period (the common time spent on particular particulars), and the variety of fixations (what number of particulars members examined). The researchers additionally examined how health-conscious members had been primarily based on their dietary preferences.
The outcomes confirmed that Christmas-associated objects, each meals and non-food, drew extra consideration than their non-Christmas counterparts. Participants spent extra time Christmas-themed cookies and presents, suggesting that festive associations enhance the visible enchantment of these things. Among the cookies, these labeled as containing sugar obtained longer gaze durations than their sugar-free counterparts.
Participants additionally rated sugar-containing cookies as extra fascinating than sugar-free alternate options. This desire was significantly sturdy for Christmas-themed cookies, which had been rated greater in each liking and wanting in comparison with non-festive cookies. The sugar-free cookies had been much less favored, even after they had a Christmas affiliation.
Eye-tracking knowledge indicated that sugar-free cookies had been seen with a extra important inspection sample, characterised by shorter however extra frequent fixations. This sample is commonly related to evaluating damaging or less-preferred objects, suggesting that members scrutinized sugar-free cookies extra to evaluate their acceptability as substitutes for sugary treats.
Surprisingly, members’ self-reported well being consciousness didn’t considerably correlate with their gaze habits or preferences. Even those that prioritized well being of their dietary decisions confirmed a robust desire for sugar-containing cookies over sugar-free alternate options.
Importantly, when given a alternative between a high-calorie gingerbread cookie and a low-calorie clementine, many members opted for the gingerbread cookie, reinforcing the findings that sugary, festive treats are extra interesting regardless of well being concerns.
While the research offers worthwhile insights, it has limitations. The small pattern measurement and comparatively homogenous group (predominantly younger adults with regular physique mass index) restrict the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the research solely used a restricted collection of objects, equivalent to cookies and presents. Expanding the vary of stimuli to incorporate different sorts of meals and non-food objects might present a extra complete understanding of visible consideration biases.
“Despite these limitations, it’s price highlighting that the current research represents the primary investigation into the results of sugar content material data on gaze habits when viewing actual meals,” the researchers concluded. “This research serves as a worthwhile basis for future analysis to construct upon. Subsequent research ought to contain bigger and extra numerous samples, in addition to embody a wider vary of stimuli, to broaden the understanding of real-world meals notion.”
“In abstract, significantly in the course of the Christmas season, solely emphasizing the dietary worth of meals would possibly yield outcomes opposite to the supposed targets. Approaches aiming to stop holiday-related weight acquire ought to thus undertake a multifaceted perspective, avoiding unique fixation on the sugar content material of Christmas treats.”
The research, “Cookie cravings – Examining the impact of sugar content information on Christmas treat preferences via mobile eye-tracking,” was authored by Jonas Potthoff, Christina Herrmann, and Anne Schienle.
