Replication Data for: The effects of a thin body shape nudge and other determinants on adolescents’ healthy and unhealthy food consumption in a school-setting

Many adolescent schoolchildren portray an unhealthy eating behaviors; consuming large amounts of unhealthy food and only small amounts of healthy food. Nudging has been identified as a promising health behavior influencer to increase healthy food consumption in this target group. The present study analyzed the eating behavior of adolescent schoolchildren, evaluating the effects of a thin body shape nudge as well as the influences of several different determinants. A univariate experimental design was conducted with 91 German high school final-year students. Two groups were exposed to a gender-specific nudge condition. A third group served as a control group. All participants tasted blueberries as well as chocolate and the amount of the consumed food was measured. Effects of several potentially influential factors were assessed. As expected, the results of blocked hierarchical regression analyses revealed effects of gender and hunger on chocolate consumption. Blueberry consumption was influenced by the liking of the blueberries. Against our expectations, exposure to the nudge did not improve the eating behavior in adolescents. However, a discriminant analysis showed, that the nudge is associated with below average chocolate consumption, when participants liked the nudge, were less hungry and more often female. The findings provide useful insights for food providers in school-settings as well as regarding the application of a thin body shape nudge as a health intervention for adolescents.