Article
Details
Citation
Whitehead RD, Ozakinci G & Perrett DI (2014) A randomized controlled trial of an appearance-based dietary intervention. Health Psychology, 33 (1), pp. 99-102. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032322
Abstract
Objective: Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption precipitates preventable morbidity and mortality. The efficacy of an appearance-based dietary intervention was investigated, which illustrates the beneficial effect that fruit and vegetable consumption has on skin appearance.
Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to three groups receiving information-only or a generic or own-face appearance-based intervention. Diet was recorded at baseline and 10 weekly follow-ups. Participants in the generic and own-face intervention groups witnessed on-screen stimuli and received printed photographic materials to illustrate the beneficial effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on skin color.
Results: Controlling for baseline diet, a significant effect of intervention group was found on self-reported fruit and vegetable intake among 46 completers who were free of medical and personal reasons preventing diet change. The own-face appearance-based intervention group reported a significant, sustained improvement in fruit and vegetable consumption whereas the information-only and generic appearance-based intervention groups reported no significant dietary changes.
Conclusions: Seeing the potential benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption on own skin color may motivate dietary improvement.
Keywords
fruit and vegetables; diet; appearance-based intervention; skin color; carotenoids
Journal
Health Psychology: Volume 33, Issue 1
Status | Published |
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Funders | Economic and Social Research Council |
Publication date | 31/01/2014 |
Publication date online | 25/03/2013 |
Date accepted by journal | 07/11/2012 |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/1893/33598 |
ISSN | 0278-6133 |
eISSN | 1930-7810 |
People (1)
Professor and Deputy Dean of Faculty, Psychology