Eating BehaviorNCT04988854
Using Models' Facial Expressions to Enhance Healthy Eating Behaviour in Children
A study testing Facial expression video in people with Eating Behavior, run by Aston University at 1 site in United Kingdom.
Trial summary
This study examined the effect of adults' facial expressions (FEs) whilst eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and intake of a typically less preferred vegetable. Investigating others' FEs in isolation (e.g., without statements about food tastiness) will improve understanding of the role of FEs in modelling of… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 4 to 6 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Eating Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Facial expression video
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 117 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited Kingdom
- Study dates
- 26 Oct 2020to 25 Feb 2021
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 4 to 6 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Child must be aged 4-6-years old. Parent and child must be living in the UK.
Who cannot join
- Children with food allergies, food intolerances, or medical conditions that affect eating behaviour were not eligible to take part.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study examined the effect of adults' facial expressions (FEs) whilst eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and intake of a typically less preferred vegetable. Investigating others' FEs in isolation (e.g., without statements about food tastiness) will improve understanding of the role of FEs in modelling of eating and contribute to developing strategies to help children learn pleasure from nutritious foods. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesised that children's acceptance (willingness to try, and frequency of taste exposures) and intake of raw broccoli would be higher after exposure to models eating raw broccoli with positive FEs, compared to models consuming raw broccoli with neutral FEs, or a non-food control video.
Read the detailed description
Research has shown that seeing positive facial expressions towards food are effective for increasing children's desire to eat foods rated as disliked. However, the effect of adults' positive facial expressions whilst eating a raw vegetable on children's acceptance and consumption of nutritious foods that are less preferred (e.g., vegetables) remains to be established. This study examined the effect of unfamiliar adult models' facial expressions eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and consumption of raw broccoli. Children aged 4-6-year-olds were randomised to watch a video of unfamiliar adult models eating raw broccoli with a positive or neutral facial expression, or a non-food control video. Children's acceptance (willingness to try and frequency of taste exposures) and consumption of raw broccoli was assessed. Data about parent and child characteristics was provided by parents.
- Conditions
- Eating Behavior
- Being tested
- Facial expression video
- Keywords
- Children
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Facial expression videoBehavioural
Children are randomly allocated to one of three conditions: positive, neutral or no-food control, where they will watch either a positive, neutral, or no-food control video.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Condition | Experimental | Children were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a positive facial expression (positive video) Receives: Behavioral: Facial expression video |
| Neutral Condition | Experimental | Children were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a neutral facial expression (neutral video) Receives: Behavioral: Facial expression video |
| No-Food Control Condition | Experimental | Children were exposed to a video of adult models putting pens away whilst showing a neutral facial expression (no-food control video) Receives: Behavioral: Facial expression video |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Raw broccoli intake
Children's intake of raw broccoli (amount of grams consumed)
Measured: 5 minutes
Willingness to try raw broccoli
Children's willingness to try raw broccoli
Measured: 5 minutes
Frequency of taste exposures to raw broccoli
Children's number of oral taste exposures to raw broccoli
Measured: 5 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Aug 2021
- Study start26 Oct 2020
- Primary completion25 Feb 2021
- Study completion25 Feb 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Eating BehaviorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Children were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (positive, neutral or control)
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 117 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Aston University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Katie Edwards, BSc, Principal investigator, Aston University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04988854
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- #1688
- Status last verified
- Jul 2021
- First submitted
- 26 Jul 2021
- Last updated
- 4 Aug 2021
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Non-identifiable data will be available upon request.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Aug 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Using Models' Facial Expressions to Enhance Healthy Eating Behaviour in Children
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04988854
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- #1688
- Conditions
- Eating Behavior
- Keywords
- Children
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 117 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Aston UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 26 Oct 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Study completion
- 25 Feb 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Aug 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study examined the effect of adults' facial expressions (FEs) whilst eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and intake of a typically less preferred vegetable. Investigating others' FEs in isolation (e.g., without statements about food tastiness) will improve understanding of the role of FEs in modelling of eating and contribute to developing strategies to help children learn pleasure from nutritious foods. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesised that children's acceptance (willingness to try, and frequency of taste exposures) and intake of raw broccoli would be higher after exposure to models eating raw broccoli with positive FEs, compared to models consuming raw broccoli with neutral FEs, or a non-food control video.
Detailed description
Research has shown that seeing positive facial expressions towards food are effective for increasing children's desire to eat foods rated as disliked. However, the effect of adults' positive facial expressions whilst eating a raw vegetable on children's acceptance and consumption of nutritious foods that are less preferred (e.g., vegetables) remains to be established. This study examined the effect of unfamiliar adult models' facial expressions eating raw broccoli on children's acceptance and consumption of raw broccoli. Children aged 4-6-year-olds were randomised to watch a video of unfamiliar adult models eating raw broccoli with a positive or neutral facial expression, or a non-food control video. Children's acceptance (willingness to try and frequency of taste exposures) and consumption of raw broccoli was assessed. Data about parent and child characteristics was provided by parents.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Children were randomly assigned to one of three conditions (positive, neutral or control)
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Positive Condition | Experimental | Behavioral: Facial expression videoChildren were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a positive facial expression (positive video) |
| Neutral Condition | Experimental | Behavioral: Facial expression videoChildren were exposed to a video of adult models eating a single piece of raw broccoli whilst showing a neutral facial expression (neutral video) |
| No-Food Control Condition | Experimental | Behavioral: Facial expression videoChildren were exposed to a video of adult models putting pens away whilst showing a neutral facial expression (no-food control video) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 4 to 6 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Child must be aged 4-6-years old. Parent and child must be living in the UK.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Children with food allergies, food intolerances, or medical conditions that affect eating behaviour were not eligible to take part.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Facial expression videoChildren are randomly allocated to one of three conditions: positive, neutral or no-food control, where they will watch either a positive, neutral, or no-food control video. | Behavioural | Neutral Condition, No-Food Control Condition, Positive Condition |
Primary outcome
Raw broccoli intake
Time frame: 5 minutes
Children's intake of raw broccoli (amount of grams consumed)
Willingness to try raw broccoli
Time frame: 5 minutes
Children's willingness to try raw broccoli
Frequency of taste exposures to raw broccoli
Time frame: 5 minutes
Children's number of oral taste exposures to raw broccoli
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Aug 2021.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Non-identifiable data will be available upon request.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Katie Edwards, BSc principal investigator
Aston University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Facial expression video in people with Eating Behavior, run by Aston University at 1 site in United Kingdom.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Aug 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United Kingdom. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Raw broccoli intake (time frame: 5 minutes). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Aug 2021.