Do you think graphic health messages on food and beverage packaging like those that scare the bejeezus out of you on cigarette boxes could steer people towards better eating habits?
Some researchers in Australia seem to think so. A recent Australian Study published in the journal “Appetite” asked participants to rate healthy and unhealthy foods and choose which they would like to eat at the end of the experiment. Next they were shown negative and positive health messages. Some were text only, and others had pictures. Study participants were then given another opportunity to choose their desired foods.
By monitoring brain activity, the scientist found that warning labels fired up a part of the brain involved in self-control, and specifically combining images and negative messages was the most effective way to persuade people to steer away from unhealthy options like chips, fries, and all that deep-fried stuff for fresh fruits and veggies.
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