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Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Viera, AJ; Gizlice, Z; Tuttle, L; Olsson, E; Gras-Najjar, J; Hales, D; Linnan, L; Lin, F-C; Noar, SM; Ammerman, A
Published in: BMC Public Health
January 23, 2019

BACKGROUND: Calorie labeling on restaurant menus is a public health strategy to guide consumer ordering behaviors, but effects on calories purchased have been minimal. Displaying labels communicating the physical activity required to burn calories may be a more effective approach, but real-world comparisons are needed. METHODS: In a quasi-experimental study, we examined the effect of physical activity calorie expenditure (PACE) food labels compared to calorie-only labels on point-of-decision food purchasing in three worksite cafeterias in North Carolina. After a year of quarterly baseline data collection, one cafeteria prominently displayed PACE labels, and two cafeterias prominently displayed calorie-only labels. Calories from foods purchased in the cafeteria during lunch were assessed over 2 weeks every 3 months for 2 years by photographs of meals. We compared differences in purchased calorie estimates before and after the labeling intervention was introduced using longitudinal generalized linear mixed model regressions that included a random intercept for each participant. RESULTS: In unadjusted models comparing average meal calories after vs before labeling, participants exposed to PACE labels purchased 40.4 fewer calories (P = 0.002), and participants exposed to calorie-only labels purchased 38.2 fewer calories (P = 0.0002). The small difference of 2 fewer calories purchased among participants exposed to PACE labeling vs calorie-only labeling was not significant (P = 0.90). Models adjusting for age, sex, race, occupation, numeracy level, and health literacy level did not change estimates appreciably. CONCLUSION: In this workplace cafeteria setting, PACE labeling was no more effective than calorie-only labeling in reducing lunchtime calories purchased.

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Published In

BMC Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

January 23, 2019

Volume

19

Issue

1

Start / End Page

107

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Restaurants
  • Public Health
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lunch
  • Humans
  • Food Labeling
  • Female
 

Citation

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Viera, A. J., Gizlice, Z., Tuttle, L., Olsson, E., Gras-Najjar, J., Hales, D., … Ammerman, A. (2019). Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6433-x
Viera, Anthony J., Ziya Gizlice, Laura Tuttle, Emily Olsson, Julie Gras-Najjar, Derek Hales, Laura Linnan, Feng-Chang Lin, Seth M. Noar, and Alice Ammerman. “Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias.BMC Public Health 19, no. 1 (January 23, 2019): 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6433-x.
Viera AJ, Gizlice Z, Tuttle L, Olsson E, Gras-Najjar J, Hales D, et al. Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias. BMC Public Health. 2019 Jan 23;19(1):107.
Viera, Anthony J., et al. “Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias.BMC Public Health, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 2019, p. 107. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6433-x.
Viera AJ, Gizlice Z, Tuttle L, Olsson E, Gras-Najjar J, Hales D, Linnan L, Lin F-C, Noar SM, Ammerman A. Effect of calories-only vs physical activity calorie expenditure labeling on lunch calories purchased in worksite cafeterias. BMC Public Health. 2019 Jan 23;19(1):107.
Journal cover image

Published In

BMC Public Health

DOI

EISSN

1471-2458

Publication Date

January 23, 2019

Volume

19

Issue

1

Start / End Page

107

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Restaurants
  • Public Health
  • North Carolina
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lunch
  • Humans
  • Food Labeling
  • Female