Abstract
There is an abundance of evidence that the presentation of unhealthy foods (UHFs) in different media has the power to shape eating habits in children. Compared to this rich body of work with regard to the effects of UHF presentations, studies testing the effects of healthy foods (HFs) are less conclusive. In particular, while the persuasive mechanisms behind HF presentations are well-understood, we lack insights about the role of messages factors, that is, how are (and should) HFs (be) presented in order to foster healthy eating habits in children. This paper tackles this research gap by suggesting the Persuasive Strategies Presenting Healthy Foods to Children (PSPHF) typology, classified along three pillars: (a) composition-related characteristics, (b) source-related characteristics, and (c) information-related characteristics. Against the background of the PSPHF typology, we review the available empirical evidence, outline pressing research gaps, and discuss implications for researchers, health promoters, and program planers.
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Children and Health, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health
We present an integration of the available empirical findings into our typology and discuss how different persuasive strategies in connection with healthy foods (HFs) presentations can shape attitudinal, intentional, and behavioral outcomes in children
Based on content analyses that investigated the presentation of foods [4, 6, 8, 9, 33], and based on current literature reviews regarding persuasive techniques used in food promotions with children [34], we have identified three pillars of persuasive strategies as our Persuasive Strategies Presenting Healthy Foods to Children (PSPHF) typology: (a) composition-related characteristics, (b) source-related characteristics, and (c) information-related characteristics
Summary
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Children and Health, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health. There is an abundance of evidence that the presentation of unhealthy foods (UHFs) in different media has the power to shape eating habits in children. Compared to this rich body of work with regard to the effects of UHF presentations, studies testing the effects of healthy foods (HFs) are less conclusive. The predominant unhealthy food (UHF) depictions in the media might reinforce the already-existing eating preferences of children. This is indicated by a recent meta-analysis [11] and two literature reviews [12, 13] demonstrating that the eating habits of children are heavily affected by food presentations in the media.
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