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pre-proofs Vegetable Maths Masters paper Appetite.pdf (344.68 kB)

Using repeated visual exposure, rewards and modelling in a mobile application to increase vegetable acceptance in children

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posted on 2019-06-28, 11:11 authored by Claire V. Farrow, Esme Belcher, Helen Coulthard, Jason M. Thomas, Joanna Lumsden, Lilit Hakobyan, Emma HaycraftEmma Haycraft
Children are not consuming the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables. Repeated visual exposure, modelling, and rewards have been shown to be effective at increasing vegetable acceptance in young children. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an evidence-based mobile application (Vegetable Maths Masters) which builds on these principles to increase children's liking and acceptance of vegetables. Seventy-four children (37 male, 37 female) aged 3–6 years old were randomised to play with either the vegetable app or a similar control app that did not include any foods. Children played their allocated game for 10 min. Liking and acceptance of the vegetables used in Vegetable Maths Masters (carrot and sweetcorn) and other vegetables which were not used in the game (yellow pepper and tomato) were measured pre- and post-play in both groups. Parents provided data about their child's food fussiness and previous exposure to the foods being used. Children who played with the Vegetable Maths Masters app consumed significantly more vegetables after playing with the app and reported significant increases in their liking of vegetables, relative to the control group. The effect of the Vegetable Maths Masters app on the change in consumption of vegetables was mediated by the change in liking of vegetables. These findings suggest that evidence-based mobile apps can provide an effective tool for increasing children's liking and consumption of vegetables in the short-term. Further work is now required to establish whether these effects are maintained over time.

Funding

Source of funding- British Psychological Society and Aston University.

History

School

  • Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

Published in

Appetite

Citation

FARROW, C.V. ... et al., 2019. Using repeated visual exposure, rewards and modelling in a mobile application to increase vegetable acceptance in children. Appetite, 141: 104327.

Publisher

© Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Appetite and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2019.104327.

Acceptance date

2019-06-18

Publication date

2019-06-19

Copyright date

2019

ISSN

1095-8304

Language

  • en

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