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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2021 Dec 8;18(24):12924.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph182412924.

Cafeteria Online: Nudges for Healthier Food Choices in a University Cafeteria-A Randomized Online Experiment

Christine Kawa  1 , Patrizia M Ianiro-Dahm  1 , Jan F H Nijhuis  2 , Wim H Gijselaers  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Cafeteria Online: Nudges for Healthier Food Choices in a University Cafeteria-A Randomized Online Experiment

Christine Kawa et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Many people do not consume as much healthy food as recommended. Nudging has been identified as a promising intervention strategy to increase the consumption of healthy food. The present study analyzed the effects of three body shape nudges (thin, thick, or Giacometti artwork) on food ordering and assessed the mediating role of being aware of the nudge. Students (686) and employees (218) of a German university participated in an online experimental study. After randomization, participants visited a realistic online cafeteria and composed a meal for themselves. Under experimental conditions, participants were exposed to one out of three nudges while choosing dishes: (1) thin body shape, (2) thick body shape, and (3) the Giacometti artwork nudge. The Giacometti nudge resulted in more orders for salad among employees. The thin and thick body shape nudges did not change dish orders. Awareness of the nudge mediated the numbers of calories ordered when using the Giacometti or thin body shape nudges. These findings provide useful insights for health interventions in occupational and public health sectors using nudges. Our study contributes to the research on the Giacometti nudge by showing its effectiveness when participants are aware (it is effective under conditions where it is consciously perceived).

Keywords: body shape nudge; cafeteria; food choice; health intervention; nudge awareness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Online food choice scenario depicting the task of composing a typical meal as participants normally would. Participants were asked to imagine having their usual budget as well as the usual prices of the dishes).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Nudges are shown in the different experimental conditions—from left to right, thin body shape nudge, thick body shape nudge, and Giacometti nudge.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example of the food choice scenario in the thin body shape nudge condition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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