Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability
Abstract Background Health warning labels (HWLs) using images and text to depict the negative health consequences of tobacco consumption are effective and acceptable for changing smoking-related outcomes. There is currently limited evidence concerning their potential use for reducing consumption of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-8403-8 |
| _version_ | 1818274939318304768 |
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| author | Emily Pechey Natasha Clarke Eleni Mantzari Anna K. M. Blackwell Katie De-Loyde Richard W. Morris Theresa M. Marteau Gareth J. Hollands |
| author_facet | Emily Pechey Natasha Clarke Eleni Mantzari Anna K. M. Blackwell Katie De-Loyde Richard W. Morris Theresa M. Marteau Gareth J. Hollands |
| author_sort | Emily Pechey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health warning labels (HWLs) using images and text to depict the negative health consequences of tobacco consumption are effective and acceptable for changing smoking-related outcomes. There is currently limited evidence concerning their potential use for reducing consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense foods. The aim of this research was to describe the potential effectiveness and acceptability of image-and-text (also known as pictorial or graphic) HWLs applied to: i. alcoholic drinks and ii. energy-dense snack foods. Methods Two online studies were conducted using between-subjects designs with general population samples. Participants rated one of 21 image-and-text HWLs on alcoholic drinks (n = 5528), or one of 18 image-and-text HWLs on energy-dense snacks (n = 4618). HWLs comprised a graphic image with explanatory text, depicting, respectively, seven diseases linked to excess alcohol consumption, and six diseases linked to excess energy intake. Diseases included heart disease and various cancers. Outcomes were negative emotional arousal, desire to consume the labelled product, and acceptability of the label. Free-text comments relating to HWLs were content analysed. Results For both alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, HWLs depicting bowel cancer generated the highest levels of negative emotional arousal and lowest desire to consume the product, but were the least acceptable. Acceptability was generally low for HWLs applied to alcohol, with 3 of 21 rated as acceptable, and was generally high for snacks, with 13 of 18 rated as acceptable. The majority of free-text comments expressed negative reactions to HWLs on alcohol or energy-dense snacks. Conclusions Image-and-text health warning labels depicting bowel cancer showed greatest potential for reducing selection and consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, although they were the least acceptable. Laboratory and field studies are needed to assess their impact on selection and consumption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:21:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-088980b3fe4841f9991042d6da75d5c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:21:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-088980b3fe4841f9991042d6da75d5c02022-12-22T00:09:53ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582020-04-0120111410.1186/s12889-020-8403-8Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptabilityEmily Pechey0Natasha Clarke1Eleni Mantzari2Anna K. M. Blackwell3Katie De-Loyde4Richard W. Morris5Theresa M. Marteau6Gareth J. Hollands7Behaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of CambridgeTobacco and Alcohol Research Group, University of Bristol, School of Psychological ScienceTobacco and Alcohol Research Group, University of Bristol, School of Psychological ScienceBristol Medical School: Population Health SciencesBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of CambridgeBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of CambridgeAbstract Background Health warning labels (HWLs) using images and text to depict the negative health consequences of tobacco consumption are effective and acceptable for changing smoking-related outcomes. There is currently limited evidence concerning their potential use for reducing consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense foods. The aim of this research was to describe the potential effectiveness and acceptability of image-and-text (also known as pictorial or graphic) HWLs applied to: i. alcoholic drinks and ii. energy-dense snack foods. Methods Two online studies were conducted using between-subjects designs with general population samples. Participants rated one of 21 image-and-text HWLs on alcoholic drinks (n = 5528), or one of 18 image-and-text HWLs on energy-dense snacks (n = 4618). HWLs comprised a graphic image with explanatory text, depicting, respectively, seven diseases linked to excess alcohol consumption, and six diseases linked to excess energy intake. Diseases included heart disease and various cancers. Outcomes were negative emotional arousal, desire to consume the labelled product, and acceptability of the label. Free-text comments relating to HWLs were content analysed. Results For both alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, HWLs depicting bowel cancer generated the highest levels of negative emotional arousal and lowest desire to consume the product, but were the least acceptable. Acceptability was generally low for HWLs applied to alcohol, with 3 of 21 rated as acceptable, and was generally high for snacks, with 13 of 18 rated as acceptable. The majority of free-text comments expressed negative reactions to HWLs on alcohol or energy-dense snacks. Conclusions Image-and-text health warning labels depicting bowel cancer showed greatest potential for reducing selection and consumption of alcoholic drinks and energy-dense snacks, although they were the least acceptable. Laboratory and field studies are needed to assess their impact on selection and consumption.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-8403-8Graphic health warning labelsPictorial health warning labelsImage-and-text warning labelsCancerAlcoholFood |
| spellingShingle | Emily Pechey Natasha Clarke Eleni Mantzari Anna K. M. Blackwell Katie De-Loyde Richard W. Morris Theresa M. Marteau Gareth J. Hollands Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability BMC Public Health Graphic health warning labels Pictorial health warning labels Image-and-text warning labels Cancer Alcohol Food |
| title | Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| title_full | Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| title_fullStr | Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| title_short | Image-and-text health warning labels on alcohol and food: potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| title_sort | image and text health warning labels on alcohol and food potential effectiveness and acceptability |
| topic | Graphic health warning labels Pictorial health warning labels Image-and-text warning labels Cancer Alcohol Food |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-020-8403-8 |
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