Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29754587›Full record

Trial reportThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2018

Impact of calorie labelling in worksite cafeterias: a stepped wedge randomised controlled pilot trial.

Milica Vasiljevic, Emma Cartwright, Mark Pilling, Mei-Man Lee, Giacomo Bignardi, Rachel Pechey, Gareth J Hollands, Susan A Jebb, Theresa M Marteau

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

27 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  8. Impact of reducing portion sizes in worksite cafeterias: a stepped wedge randomised controlled pilot trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2018
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Milica VasiljevicBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. milica.vasiljevic@medschl.cam.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0001-7454-7744
Emma CartwrightBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Mark PillingBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Mei-Man LeeNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Giacomo BignardiBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Rachel PecheyBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Gareth J HollandsBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Susan A JebbBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Theresa M MarteauBehaviour and Health Research Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.

Funding

Department of Health (England) PR-UN-0409-10109Insititute of Grocery Distribution RG83425Medical Research Council MC_UU_00005/2Wellcome TrustWellcome Trust 106679/Z/14/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor working adults, about one-third of energy is consumed in the workplace making this an important context in which to reduce energy intake to tackle obesity. The aims of the current study were first, to identify barriers to the feasibility and acceptability of implementing calorie labelling in preparation for a larger trial, and second, to estimate the potential impact of calorie labelling on energy purchased in worksite cafeterias.

methodsSix worksite cafeterias were randomised to the intervention starting at one of six fortnightly periods, using a stepped wedge design. The trial was conducted between August and December 2016, across 17 study weeks. The intervention comprised labelling all cafeteria products for which such information was available with their calorie content (e.g. "250 Calories") displayed in the same font style and size as for price. A post-intervention survey with cafeteria patrons and interviews with managers and caterers were used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Intervention impact was assessed using generalised linear mixed modelling. The primary outcome was the total energy (kcal) purchased from intervention items in each cafeteria each day.

resultsRecruitment and retention of worksite cafeterias proved feasible, with post-intervention feedback suggesting high levels of intervention acceptability. Several barriers to intervention implementation were identified, including chefs' discretion at implementing recipes and the manual recording of sales data. There was no overall effect of the intervention: -0.4% (95%CI -3.8 to 2.9, p = .803). One site showed a statistically significant effect of the intervention, with an estimated 6.6% reduction (95%CI -12.9 to - 0.3, p = .044) in energy purchased in the day following the introduction of calorie labelling, an effect that diminished over time. The remaining five sites did not show robust changes in energy purchased when calorie labelling was introduced.

conclusionsA calorie labelling intervention was acceptable to both cafeteria operators and customers. The predicted effect of labelling to reduce energy purchased was only evident at one out of six sites studied. Before progressing to a full trial, the calorie labelling intervention needs to be optimised, and a number of operational issues resolved.

trial registrationISRCTN52923504 ; Registered: 22/09/2016; retrospectively registered.

Indexed as

CommerceConsumer BehaviorEnergy IntakeFeeding BehaviorFood LabelingFood ServicesWorkplaceAdolescentAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedObesityPilot ProjectsCalorie labellingChoice architectureHealthier eatingNudgingPhysical micro-environmentRandomised controlled trialStepped wedge trialWorkplace interventions

Identifiers

PMID29754587
PMCPMC5950179

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.