Manipulations that influence stereotypes of the weight-gain potential of foods

The present study examined the impact of two manipulations on beliefs of the weight-gain potential of foods. Respondents (n = 230) compared foods that are often perceived to be unhealthy to similar- or higher-calorie foods that are often perceived to be healthy in terms of their capacity to promote weight gain. A portion of the respondents were provided information about energy amounts of the foods while the remaining respondents were not. Also, an experimental manipulation examined whether holding the total daily energy intake at 2000 kcal had any impact on the findings. The caloric information presented had at best a modest effect on respondents’ ratings of the foods. However, generally regardless of the information provided the respondents viewed “unhealthy” foods as weight promoters (compared to “healthy” foods) and only fat content (not energy density or kcal, fiber and sugar content) predicted which foods would be judged to promote weight gain. A simple and handy stereotype appears to be the most convenient method for most people to evaluate the weight-gain potential of food names even when more accurate information (energy content) is available.