The Effect of Gain-Loss Framed and Weight-Normative Messages in ‘What I Eat In a Day’ Videos on Attitudes and Intentions Toward a Healthy Diet of Adolescents.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in social media videos that focus on weight, food, and health, often in the form of ‘What I Eat in a Day’ videos. Previous research has demonstrated both positive and negative consequences of consuming these videos. Consequently, the current study investigates the effect of framed and weight-normative messages on adolescents' attitudes and intentions toward maintaining a healthy diet. Therefore, a 2x2 between-subject design, including two independent variables with each of two conditions (1. Gain-framed message vs loss- framed message; 2. Weight normative message vs no weight normative message) with 89 participants was used. After watching a ‘What I Eat in a Day’ video with one of the four conditions, their attitudes and intentions toward a healthy diet were measured. The findings did not display any significant effects, illustrating no impacts of message types on attitude and intention.