Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract Background There are well documented socioeconomic disparities in diet quality and obesity. Menu energy labelling is a public health policy designed to improve diet and reduce obesity. However, it is unclear whether the impact energy labelling has on consumer behaviour is socially equitable...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01418-0 |
| _version_ | 1811165709264224256 |
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| author | Eric Robinson Megan Polden Tess Langfield Katie Clarke Lara Calvert Zoé Colombet Martin O’Flaherty Lucile Marty Katy Tapper Andrew Jones |
| author_facet | Eric Robinson Megan Polden Tess Langfield Katie Clarke Lara Calvert Zoé Colombet Martin O’Flaherty Lucile Marty Katy Tapper Andrew Jones |
| author_sort | Eric Robinson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are well documented socioeconomic disparities in diet quality and obesity. Menu energy labelling is a public health policy designed to improve diet and reduce obesity. However, it is unclear whether the impact energy labelling has on consumer behaviour is socially equitable or differs based on socioeconomic position (SEP). Methods Systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental (between-subjects) and pre-post implementation field studies examining the impact of menu energy labelling on energy content of food and/or drink selections in higher vs. lower SEP groups. Results Seventeen studies were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analyses of 13 experimental studies that predominantly examined hypothetical food and drink choices showed that energy labelling tended to be associated with a small reduction in energy content of selections that did not differ based on participant SEP (X2(1) = 0.26, p = .610). Effect estimates for higher SEP SMD = 0.067 [95% CI: -0.092 to 0.226] and lower SEP SMD = 0.115 [95% CI: -0.006 to 0.237] were similar. A meta-analysis of 3 pre-post implementation studies of energy labelling in the real world showed that the effect energy labelling had on consumer behaviour did not significantly differ based on SEP (X2(1) = 0.22, p = .636). In higher SEP the effect was SMD = 0.032 [95% CI: -0.053 to 0.117] and in lower SEP the effect was SMD = -0.005 [95% CI: -0.051 to 0.041]. Conclusions Overall there was no convincing evidence that the effect energy labelling has on consumer behaviour significantly differs based on SEP. Further research examining multiple indicators of SEP and quantifying the long-term effects of energy labelling on consumer behaviour in real-world settings is now required. Review registration Registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022312532) and OSF ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/W7RDB ). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:41:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-846bbd9e73894976a65d1e85f6650b08 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-5868 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:41:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity |
| spelling | doaj.art-846bbd9e73894976a65d1e85f6650b082023-02-12T12:22:59ZengBMCInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity1479-58682023-02-0120111510.1186/s12966-023-01418-0Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysisEric Robinson0Megan Polden1Tess Langfield2Katie Clarke3Lara Calvert4Zoé Colombet5Martin O’Flaherty6Lucile Marty7Katy Tapper8Andrew Jones9Department of Psychology, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Psychology, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Psychology, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Psychology, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Psychology, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Public Health Policy and Systems, University of LiverpoolDepartment of Public Health Policy and Systems, University of LiverpoolCentre Des Sciences Du Goût Et de L’Alimentation, CNRS, INRAE, Institut Agro, Université Bourgogne Franche-ComtéDepartment of Psychology, City, University of LondonDepartment of Psychology, University of LiverpoolAbstract Background There are well documented socioeconomic disparities in diet quality and obesity. Menu energy labelling is a public health policy designed to improve diet and reduce obesity. However, it is unclear whether the impact energy labelling has on consumer behaviour is socially equitable or differs based on socioeconomic position (SEP). Methods Systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental (between-subjects) and pre-post implementation field studies examining the impact of menu energy labelling on energy content of food and/or drink selections in higher vs. lower SEP groups. Results Seventeen studies were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analyses of 13 experimental studies that predominantly examined hypothetical food and drink choices showed that energy labelling tended to be associated with a small reduction in energy content of selections that did not differ based on participant SEP (X2(1) = 0.26, p = .610). Effect estimates for higher SEP SMD = 0.067 [95% CI: -0.092 to 0.226] and lower SEP SMD = 0.115 [95% CI: -0.006 to 0.237] were similar. A meta-analysis of 3 pre-post implementation studies of energy labelling in the real world showed that the effect energy labelling had on consumer behaviour did not significantly differ based on SEP (X2(1) = 0.22, p = .636). In higher SEP the effect was SMD = 0.032 [95% CI: -0.053 to 0.117] and in lower SEP the effect was SMD = -0.005 [95% CI: -0.051 to 0.041]. Conclusions Overall there was no convincing evidence that the effect energy labelling has on consumer behaviour significantly differs based on SEP. Further research examining multiple indicators of SEP and quantifying the long-term effects of energy labelling on consumer behaviour in real-world settings is now required. Review registration Registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022312532) and OSF ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/W7RDB ).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01418-0Energy labellingCalorie labelsIndividual differencesObesity policy |
| spellingShingle | Eric Robinson Megan Polden Tess Langfield Katie Clarke Lara Calvert Zoé Colombet Martin O’Flaherty Lucile Marty Katy Tapper Andrew Jones Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Energy labelling Calorie labels Individual differences Obesity policy |
| title | Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | socioeconomic position and the effect of energy labelling on consumer behaviour a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | Energy labelling Calorie labels Individual differences Obesity policy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-023-01418-0 |
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