General and specific graphic health warning labels reduce willingness to consume sugar-sweetened beverages

Elektra Schubert, Emma Smith, Maja Brydevall, Carmen Lynch, Elysha Ringin, Helen Dixon, Yoshihisa Kashima, Melanie Wakefield, Stefan Bode

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with obesity and other severe negative health consequences. The present study examined the effectiveness of two types of health warning labels (HWLs) in modulating dietary choices for SSBs: specific HWLs, presenting health consequences associated with consuming SSBs, and general HWLs, presenting health consequences of an unhealthy diet and obesity. While electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded, 63 participants completed a computer-based task in which they were first randomly allocated to view either SBB-specific, general, or non-warning control HWLs. They then viewed images of a range of SSB products, varying on perceived healthiness and tastiness, and rated their willingness to consume (WTC) each one. Linear mixed-effect model analyses revealed that general and specific HWLs both decreased WTC SSBs perceived as tasty, compared to the control condition. For general HWLs, this effect was reduced for SSBs perceived to be healthy, suggesting that specific HWLs may be more effective at reducing SSB consumption. The EEG data showed that SSBs considered unhealthy elicited greater N1 amplitudes, and tasty SSBs elicited greater late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes, possibly reflecting attentional allocation and craving responses, respectively. However, no strong differences between HWL types were found. Taken together, the results suggest that graphic HWLs, both general and specific, have the potential to reduce SSB consumption, but they do not strongly modulate craving-related neural responses to SSBs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number105141
JournalAppetite
Volume161
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2021

Keywords

  • Craving
  • Electroencephalography (EEG)
  • Health
  • Health warning labels (HWLs)
  • Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
  • Sugary drinks

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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