The Role of Impulsivity in the Effect of Food Advergames on Actual Food Intake

• In Event: Eating and the Good Life: Nutrition and Health Issues

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the role of impulsivity in the effect of advergames that promote energy-dense snacks on children’s snack intake. A randomized between-subject design was conducted with 261 children who played an advergame that promoted energy-dense snacks or nonfood products. As an extra manipulation, half of the children in each condition were rewarded for refraining from eating. Results show that rewarding impulsive children to refrain from eating had no influence when they were playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks, while we observed reduced intake among low impulsive children and when children played nonfood advergames. Playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks contributes to increased caloric intake in children. The advergame promoting energy-dense snacks overruled the inhibition task to refrain from eating among impulsive children, making it more difficult for children to refrain from eating.

Authors

• Frans Folkvord, Radboud U Nijmegen

• Doeschka Anschutz, Radboud U Nijmegen

• Henk Westerik, Radboud U Nijmegen

• Chantal Nederkoorn, Maastricht U

• Moniek Buijzen, Radboud U Nijmegen