Citizen approval of nudging interventions promoting healthy eating: the role of intrusiveness and trustworthiness

Evers, Catharine; Marchiori, David; Junghans, Astrid F.; Cremers, Jolien; Ridder, Denise T. D. de

doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6097-y

Cited by 43 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This is relevant as acceptability influences implementation at government level. Evidence of public approval of nudging for health reasons (121) and specifically to promote healthy eating (122,123) may propel a move towards greater transparency. This would address some of the ethical dimensions relating to nudges, previously outlined (54) .…”

Section: Research Priorities and Future Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A nudge in the right direction: the role of food choice architecture in changing populations' diets

Ensaff

2021

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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Populations' diets typically fall short of recommendations. The implication of this on ill health and quality of life is well established, as are the subsequent health care costs. An area of growing interest within public health nutrition is food choice architecture; how a food choice is framed and its influence on subsequent food selection. In particular, there is an appeal to manipulating the choice architecture in order to nudge individuals' food choice. This review outlines the current understanding of food choice architecture, theoretical background to nudging and the evidence on the effectiveness of nudge strategies, as well as their design and implementation. Interventions emphasising the role of nudge strategies have investigated changes to the accessibility, availability and presentation of food and the use of prompts. Empirical studies have been conducted in laboratories, online and in real-world food settings, and with different populations. Evidence on the effectiveness of nudge strategies in shifting food choice is encouraging. Underpinning mechanisms, not yet fully explicated, are proposed to relate to salience, social norms and the principle of least effort. Emerging evidence points to areas for development including the effectiveness of choice architecture interventions with different and diverse populations, and the combined effect of multiple nudges. This, alongside further examination of theoretical mechanisms and guidance to engage and inspire across the breadth of food provision, is critical. In this way, the potential of choice architecture to effect meaningful change in populations' diets will be realised.

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Section: Research Priorities and Future Developmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A nudge in the right direction: the role of food choice architecture in changing populations' diets

Ensaff

2021

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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“…In general, the acceptance of health nudges is higher or very high if they are put in place by independent experts such as physicians, psychologists or nutritionists, while the government as the initiator is regarded as rather critical [ 3 ]. Evers et al [ 15 ] were able to show that the acceptability of nudges is highest in the case of independent experts, and lowest in the case of policy makers. Nudges initiated by the industry have greater approval rates than those introduced by policymakers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When asking for citizens´opinions on specific nudging examples (possibly without even mentioning the term 'nudging'), a different picture emerges. In all studies that have been carried out so far, the majority of respondents support the introduction of those nudges that promote health [3,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What do Germans really think about health-nudges?

Krisam

Maier²,

Janßen

et al. 2021

BMC Public Health

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Background In recent years, policymakers have increasingly used behaviourally informed policies, including ‘nudges’. They have been implemented to produce desirable social outcomes such as healthier eating and physical activity. In Germany, a small research team at the Federal Chancellery acts as the central unit to promote the introduction of nudges in the design of public life. Despite this, the nudging concept itself as well as the understanding around it has not spread widely among German citizens. When reporting about the concept, German media is often very critical of the concept. Methods Using a for age, sex and educational level nationally representative online survey with 1000 participants, we investigate whether German citizens know about the concept of nudging. We also explore if they approve of the theoretical concept as well as a list of seven specific interventions regarding healthy eating and physical activity. A particular focus is placed on whether the level of approval is dependent on the target group of the intervention, as well as different intervention-initiators. Results We find that nearly 80% of the respondents have never heard of nudging. However when being provided with a definition, we find that a strong majority (90%) supports the concept of nudging as well as all the specific interventions. Acceptance rates are higher if interventions are targeted at the general population compared to only children. All initiators – statutory health insurers, the government, private companies, and independent experts – are accepted as nudge initiators. Conclusion Amongst Germans nudges are an accepted method to promote health behaviours. Policy makers from various fields in Germany should take that into account to improve future health policy.

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“…A nudge can be defined as any aspect of the choice architecture that alter people's behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives [10]. The use of nudges to promote healthier diets has been shown to be acceptable to the public [11], feasible in a range of settings [12] and, depending on context and type of nudge, moderately effective [13]. Salience nudges (i.e., drawing an individual's attention towards a particular option) targeted at healthy products may be especially promising for supermarket environments, as they target the same type of decision making as traditional marketing strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of nudging and pricing on healthy food purchasing behavior in a virtual supermarket setting: a randomized experiment

Hoenink

Mackenbach

Waterlander

et al. 2020

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

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Background: Evidence on what strategies-or combination of strategies-are most effective and equitable in promoting healthier diets is needed. This study examined the efficacy of nudging and pricing strategies on increasing healthy food purchases and the potential differential effect by socioeconomic position (SEP) among Dutch adults in a virtual supermarket. Methods: A randomized study design was conducted within a virtual supermarket (SN VirtuMart). Participants were exposed to five within-subject study conditions (control, nudging, pricing, price salience and price salience with nudging) and randomized to one of three between-subject study arms (a 25% price increase on unhealthy products, a 25% discount on healthy products, or a 25% price increase and discount). In total, 455 participants of low and high SEP (using either education or income as proxy) were randomized to conduct their weekly shopping in a virtual supermarket for five consecutive weeks. The primary outcome included the percentage of healthy purchases. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Results: In total, 346 (76%) adults completed all five shops within the SN VirtuMart. Median age was 32.5, 49.2% had high education and 32.8% had high income. Out of the 12 conditions, four conditions were statistically significantly different from the control condition. Nudging and non-salient pricing strategies alone did not statistically significantly increase healthy food purchases, whereas a combination of salient price increases and discounts led to an increase in the percentage of healthy food purchases (B 4.5, 95%CI 2.6; 6.4). Combining salient pricing and nudging strategies led to increases in the percentage of healthy products in all three pricing arms, with largest effects found in the combined price increase and discount arm (B = 4.0, 95%CI = 2.0; 6.0). Effects were not modified by SEP.

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Citizen approval of nudging interventions promoting healthy eating: the role of intrusiveness and trustworthiness

Cited by 43 publications

References 33 publications

A nudge in the right direction: the role of food choice architecture in changing populations' diets

A nudge in the right direction: the role of food choice architecture in changing populations' diets

What do Germans really think about health-nudges?

The effects of nudging and pricing on healthy food purchasing behavior in a virtual supermarket setting: a randomized experiment

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