Food Selection, Obesity
Conditions
Keywords
food insecurity, nutrition, obesity, default option, online grocery shopping
Brief summary
Food insecurity is associated with an increased risk of obesity. The availability of a default option (i.e., option a consumer selects if no active choice is made) has been shown to effectively nudge consumer behavior. An online default option (i.e., prefilled grocery shopping cart) was previously shown to positively impact the food purchases of individuals with food insecurity.The present study aims to extend these findings bye examining efficacy of an online default option in enhancing the nutritional quality of online grocery purchases in individuals with food insecurity over the course of a month.
Detailed description
Food insecurity is associated with an increased risk of obesity and weight-related illnesses. The present study is the first longitudinal randomized control trial to examine if an online prefilled grocery shopping cart (i.e., a default cart) nudges individuals with food insecurity to purchase healthier groceries compared to receiving nutrition education. It was hypothesized that the prefilled online grocery shopping cart (i.e., default condition) will result in a significant improvement in the nutritional quality of groceries purchased compared to those receiving nutrition education. Thirty-eight food pantry users recruited from food pantries in New York in 2018 were enrolled in the present study and were given $48.50 to purchase groceries weekly using an online grocery website for five weeks. At baseline, participants were instructed to purchase groceries keeping in mind nutrition, cost, and taste. For the subsequent four weeks (T1-T4), participants were randomized to receive 1) nutrition education or 2) a prefilled online grocery shopping cart that met their nutritional needs based on age and sex (Default). Our primary nutritional outcomes included HEI scores, calories (kcal), and energy density (kcal/grams).
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDefault Option
The default option is a behavioral economics construct that refers to the option a consumer selects if no active choice is made (e.g. opt-out 401K plans, which significantly increase enrollment, compared to active sign up). Participants in the default condition were presented with a prefilled online shopping cart containing groceries that met nutritional requirements based on participants' gender and age.
BEHAVIORALNutrition Education
The nutrition education materials were adapted from materials currently utilized by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Education Program
Sponsors
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
University at Albany
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Single (Participant)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. At least 18 years old 2. Residing in a single person household 3. Receiving assistance at a food pantry 4. Able to read and write in English 5. Able to provide informed consent 6. Current residence in a zip code served by Price Chopper's delivery program 7. None of the following dietary restrictions: Vegetarian/vegan, Gluten-free/celiacs, Lactose intolerance, egg allergy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy Eating Index Score | 1 month | (score ranging from 0-100 |
| Calories | 1 month | kcal |
| Energy Density | 1 month | kcal/grams |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed