The Effect of Menu Labels on Calories Ordered in Hispanics

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Most studies on menu labels have been conducted in mostly non-Hispanic white individuals, and how menu labels affect calories and macronutrients ordered in Hispanics is not clearly understood. This study evaluated the impact of menu labels on calories and macronutrients ordered in Hispanics.

Detailed Description
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According to review studies, calorie labels on menus is not effective in reducing the number of calories ordered or consumed. Adding contextual information such as the energy needs per meal or interpretive information such as minutes of walking needed to burn the food calories or rank-ordering the food items from the lowest to the highest calorie content may be more effective in making food selections with fewer calories. Most studies on menu labels have, however, been conducted in mostly non-Hispanic white individuals, and how menu labels affect food choices in Hispanics in not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of menu labels on calories and macronutrients ordered in Hispanics by randomly assigning the participants to a menu with no labels (no labels), a menu with rank ordered calorie labels and a statement on the energy needs per meal (calorie labels), and a menu with rank ordered exercise labels (exercise labels). Calories and macronutrients ordered by the participants was assessed.

Official Title
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The Effect of Menu Labels on Food Choices in Hispanics

Conditions
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Food Selection

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Calorie Labels
* Behavioral: Exercise Labels
* Behavioral: No Labels


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Hispanics ages 18 through 65 years. Exclusion Criteria: Not being able to read and write in either English or Spanish; pregnant or lactating women.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Calorie Labels<br>A menu with rank ordered calorie labels and a statement on the energy needs per meal. | Behavioral: Calorie Labels<br>* Participants were asked to order food from the assigned menu as if they were having lunch in a fast food restaurant.<br>|
| Experimental: Exercise Labels<br>A menu with rank ordered exercise labels showing minutes of brisk walking necessary to burn the food calories. | Behavioral: Exercise Labels<br>* Participants were asked to order food from the assigned menu as if they were having lunch in a fast food restaurant.<br>|
| Active Comparator: No Labels<br>A menu with no labels | Behavioral: No Labels<br>* Participants were asked to order food from the assigned menu as if they were having lunch in a fast food restaurant.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calories Ordered | Calories content of the food items ordered from the assigned menu was calculated. | 20-30 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Macronutrients ordered | Macronutrients content of the food items ordered from the assigned menu was calculated. | 20-30 minutes |