11:30 - 13:00
Location: G05
Chair/s:
Daniel Aguirre
Submission 69
Using nudges to promote healthy dessert choices among college students
P4-G05-01
Presented by: Daniel Aguirre
Daniel AguirreAriadna García-Prado
Public University of Navarra
Obesity and overweight have become a global epidemic in recent decades. While traditional policy efforts have primarily focused on educating individuals about the benefits of healthy eating and providing incentives, these interventions often yield mixed and short-lived results. Emerging evidence suggests that behavioral nudges—subtle environmental modifications that influence decision-making—can effectively promote healthier dietary choices. This study assesses the effectiveness of three nudges in increasing fruit consumption in a university cafeteria through a field experiment: (1) modifying product placement, (2) introducing visual stimuli, and (3) increasing fruit variety. The novelty of this research lies in the incremental combination of these interventions rather than assessing them in isolation. Also, this study is the first to test this specific visual stimulus within a university setting. Data from 1,039 observations were analyzed using linear probability models and logistic regression. Results indicate that all three interventions significantly increased fruit selection: modifying product placement raised selection likelihood by 6 percentage points, adding visual stimuli further increased it by 8 percentage points, and increasing variety led to a 25-percentage-point increase when added to the previous interventions. Notably, gender differences emerged, with women responding more positively to visual stimuli and variety, while men were more influenced by product placement. These findings highlight the potential of low-cost nudges to encourage healthier eating behaviors, particularly among young adults. These results offer valuable insights for policymakers and institutions aiming to design effective interventions to reduce obesity and improve public health.