E.A.T. - Desenvolvimento de um programa em literacia alimentar completamente automatizado

The overconsumption of ultra-processed packaged foods has been a main contributor of lifestyle-driven chronic diseases (Swinburn et al, 2011), like obesity, and is adding to the increased prevalence of mental health issues, like depression (Lanet et al., 2024). To nudge consumers choices to healthier options, front-of-pack nutritional labels (FOPNL) are becoming ubiquitous in packaged food available in the supermarkets (Crosbie et al, 2023). However, research suggests that unless individuals’ attention is explicitly directed towards the FOPNL and information about its meaning is provided or if consumers’ literacy is not considered, consumers’ choices may not be impacted by the presence of these labels (Graham et al, 2017). Thus, our research directly addresses the pressing need for evidence-based wide-reaching, cost-effective strategy to disseminate food literacy on package labeling to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their diets. We are leveraging interdisciplinary insights to promote food literacy and influence healthier food choices. The PI has recently coordinated a R&D project aimed at promoting self-regulation skills for healthy eating among children (PTDC/PSI-GER/28302/2017). Despite the intervention’s positive impact in developing self-regulation skills in children, parents are the ultimate agents regarding decision-making on food purchases. In addition, we need to develop strategies that are self-sustained and outlive the R&D projects. Thus, it became clear that a simple far-reaching solution that can nudge adults’ decisions when buying food products is needed. At the end of the project, we expect to have a fully automated food literacy program, maximized to: increase the reach population-wise, be sustainable post project, and low implementation cost. Thus, the main goals are to conduct a: 1) four-armed RCT, with a control and three intervention groups, each with a different food literacy program following a level of SOLO (i.e., Unistructural, Multistructural, and Relational), and all organized following the integrated model of health literacy, structured in four steps (Access, Understand, Appraise, and Apply). 2) six-month follow-up to assess the lasting impact of the different food literacy programs. The food literacy programs will consist of short videos that can be easily shared via link or QR-Code through social media, flyers, and other means, and at different locations (e.g., at the supermarket aisles) to reach more individuals at lower cost. In today’s world, there is an increasing need to dematerialize procedures so that we can reach more individuals. This can be achieved since smartphone ownership among college students is highly prevalent. The traditional assessment (e.g., questionnaires) of the effectiveness of the programs will be complemented with cutting-edge technologies, namely eye-tracking, to assess the impact of the programs on food choice, and more ecologically valid measures to assess it (e.g., actual purchases). Additionally, a longitudinal design, following an ecological momentary approach to collect comprehensive data on participants' food choices, and cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes, will be carried. These strategies will provid insights into behavior change mechanisms and determine the best program in producing a positive change at the lowest cost.