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Can Calorie Labels Increase Caloric Intake

This study is not yet open for participant recruitment.
Verified November 2011 by Carnegie Mellon University
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Eric VanEpps, Carnegie Mellon University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01473225
First received: November 10, 2011
Last updated: November 16, 2011
Last verified: November 2011
History of Changes
  Purpose

This study is a test of possible mechanisms by which calorie labels might lead people to increase calorie intake. The investigators hypothesize that calorie labels might increase calorie intake because 1) people infer that higher calorie foods are tastier, 2) calorie labels invoke thoughts of dieting, leading people to overconsume as a reaction, 3) people try to maximize calories consumed per dollar spent, and 4) calorie labels change one's goal motivation toward food, causing people to eat more.


Condition Intervention
Food Consumption
 Other: Calorie information
Other: No calorie information

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single Blind (Subject)
Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Official Title: Can Calorie Labels Increase Caloric Intake? A Test of Possible Perverse Effects of Calorie Labels

Further study details as provided by Carnegie Mellon University:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • Calories consumed [ Time Frame: At time of intervention (30 minutes) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    The investigators will assess how many calories are consumed by participants by weighing the cereal provided before and after participants complete the taste test portion of the study. This will happen within 30 minutes of the intervention, which is an experimental manipulation of whether or not calorie labels are present.


Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • Attitudes toward food [ Time Frame: At time of intervention (30 minutes) ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
    Using survey measures, the investigators will assess how people feel toward the food item they just tasted, rating it in terms of perceived tastiness, healthiness, overall quality, and value. These ratings will be on a Likert scale from 1-5.


Estimated Enrollment: 200
Study Start Date: November 2011
Estimated Primary Completion Date: February 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Calorie label Other: Calorie information
Nutrition label featuring calorie information will be provided.
Active Comparator: No calorie label Other: No calorie information
No nutrition label will be provided in this condition.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must be able to taste items used in study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Food allergies to items used in study
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01473225

Contacts
Contact: Eric M VanEpps 412-268-2869 evanepps@andrew.cmu.edu

Locations
United States, Pennsylvania
Carnegie Mellon University Not yet recruiting
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
Contact: Eric M VanEpps     412-268-2869     evanepps@andrew.cmu.edu    
Principal Investigator: Eric M VanEpps            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Carnegie Mellon University
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Eric M VanEpps, BA Carnegie Mellon University
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Eric VanEpps, Principal Investigator, Carnegie Mellon University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01473225     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: P30AG034546
Study First Received: November 10, 2011
Last Updated: November 16, 2011
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013