The effect of images of Michelle Obama's face on trick-or-treaters' dietary choices: A randomized control trial.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To evaluate the microfoundations of a personality-inspired public health campaign's influence on minors.Design
Multi-year randomized control trial.Setting
Economics professor's front porch in New Haven, CT.Participants
1223 trick-or-treaters in New Haven over three years; on average, 8.5 years old and 53% male (among children whose gender was identifiable).Eligibility
Trick-or-treaters over the age of three that approached the house.Intervention
Random assignment to the Michelle Obama side of the porch or the Comparison side of the porch.Main outcome measure
Selection of fruit over candy.Methods
Difference-in-means estimates.Results
We estimate that viewing a photograph of Michelle Obama's face relative to control conditions caused children to be 19% more likely to choose fruit over candy.Conclusions
Michelle Obama's initiative to reduce childhood obesity has influenced children's dietary preferences. Whether this influence extends beyond Halloween trick-or-treating in New Haven, CT on the porch of an economics professor requires further research.
SUBMITTER: Aronow PM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5749710 | biostudies-literature | 2018
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
The effect of images of Michelle Obama's face on trick-or-treaters' dietary choices: A randomized control trial.
Aronow Peter M PM Karlan Dean D Pinson Lauren E LE
PloS one 20180102 1
<h4>Objective</h4>To evaluate the microfoundations of a personality-inspired public health campaign's influence on minors.<h4>Design</h4>Multi-year randomized control trial.<h4>Setting</h4>Economics professor's front porch in New Haven, CT.<h4>Participants</h4>1223 trick-or-treaters in New Haven over three years; on average, 8.5 years old and 53% male (among children whose gender was identifiable).<h4>Eligibility</h4>Trick-or-treaters over the age of three that approached the house.<h4>Intervent ...[more]
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