The Effects of Restaurant Nutrition Menu Labelling on College Students' Healthy Eating Behaviours

Overview

Journal Public Health Nutr

Publisher Cambridge University Press

Date 2016 Nov 11

PMID 27829471

Citations 9

Authors

Mary G Roseman

Hyun-Woo Joung

Eun-Kyong Cindy Choi

Hak-Seon Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: According to the US Affordable Care Act, restaurant chains are required to provide energy (calorie) and other nutrition information on their menu. The current study examined the impact of menu labelling containing calorie information and recommended daily calorie intake, along with subjective nutrition knowledge, on intention to select lower-calorie foods prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Design: Full factorial experimental design with participants exposed to four variants of a sample menu in a 2 (presence v. absence of calorie information) ×2 (presence v. absence of recommended daily calorie intake).

Setting: Large, public university in the Southwest USA.

Subjects: Primarily undergraduate college students.

Results: Majority of participants were 19-23 years of age (mean 21·8 (sd 3·6) years). Menu information about calorie content and respondents' subjective nutrition knowledge had a significantly positive impact on students' intention to select lower-calorie foods (β=0·24, P<0·001 and β=0·33, P<0·001, respectively); however, recommended daily calorie intake information on the menu board did not influence students' intention to select lower-calorie foods (β=0·10, P=0·105). Gender played a significant role on purchase intent for lower-calorie menu items, with females more affected by the calorie information than males (β=0·37, P<0·001).

Conclusions: Findings support the role menu labelling can play in encouraging a healthier lifestyle for college students. College students who are Generation Y desire healthier menu options and accept nutritional labels on restaurant menus as a way to easily and expediently obtain nutrition information.

Citing Articles

The Impact of Calories Information Displayed on Menus on Fast Food Consumption Among Teachers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Binobead M, Abdullah Alnafisa N, Alshammari G, Mohammed Alotaibi N, Abdulaziz AlSedairy S Cureus. 2024; 16(11):e72876.

PMID: 39624531 PMC: 11610209. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.72876.

A Survey on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Students at Jazan University Regarding Calorie Menu Labeling in Restaurants and a Literature Review.

Arishi A, Bakri N, Kariri A, Mahzara N, Mahzari F, Zaybi F Cureus. 2024; 16(6):e61824.

PMID: 38975516 PMC: 11227441. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61824.

A Cross-Sectional Study of Gender Differences in Calorie Labeling Policy among Students: Dietary Habits, Nutritional Knowledge and Awareness.

Alotaibi N, Alshammari G, Alabdulkarem K, AlOtaibi A, Mohammed M, Alotaibi A Nutrients. 2023; 15(4).

PMID: 36839237 PMC: 9958862. DOI: 10.3390/nu15040879.

Influence of Using Food Delivery Applications on Adult Saudi Female Dietary Habits and Preferences during COVID-19 Lockdown Restrictions: Attitude Survey.

Algheshairy R, Alhomaid R, Almujaydil M, Alharbi H, Alsanei W Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(19).

PMID: 36232068 PMC: 9566569. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912770.

Consumers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Toward Calorie Labeling in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Assessment.

Alshehri N, Almarzooqi M Front Public Health. 2022; 10:893978.

PMID: 35910913 PMC: 9330236. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.893978.

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