Nutrition labels decrease energy intake in adults consuming lunch in the laboratory

Abstract

Increased visibility of food labels is a potential method to reduce the rate of obesity. However, few empirical studies have investigated the impact of nutrition labeling on food selection or energy intake. This study tested the hypothesis that nutrition labeling in combination with nutrition label education would promote reductions in energy intake using a laboratory-based paradigm. Forty-seven male (n=24) and female (n=23) participants visited the Nutrition and Health Research Laboratory for a single lunch session during the months of May through August 2009. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two video groups (Nutrition Labeling Education or Organic Food Movement) and one of two labeling conditions (Nutrition Labels or No Labels). Participants watched a short educational video and then consumed a buffet lunch. Data were analyzed using a three-way analysis of covariance with sex, video condition, and labeling group as the between-subject factors and age and race as covariates. There were main effects of sex and nutrition label condition on lunch energy intake with females consuming less than males and people with nutrition labels consuming less energy than those without, regardless of sex or video condition. Examination of energy intake from low-energy-density and high-energy-density foods showed that the nutrition labeling group consumed less energy from both low-energy-density and high-energy-density food sources. These data support the use of nutrition labels as a way to reduce energy intake.