Adherence
Health claims can improve consumer knowledge of diet-disease relationships and support better food choices, but their impact on actual purchase behavior and health outcomes is limited and inconsistent.
Health claims can help you learn about the benefits of certain nutrients (like fiber for heart health). However, do not expect them to automatically make you buy healthier foods. Their impact is often limited to people who are already health-conscious. Use claims as a learning tool, but make your purchasing decisions based on the full nutrition label and your personal dietary needs.
There is some evidence that the use of health claims improves the quality of dietary choices and knowledge of diet-disease relationships... there is little evidence that health claims make a positive impact on healthful choices, or that the benefits are likely to be restricted to health-conscious consumers.
Why this rating
Evidence is mixed, with some studies showing knowledge gains and others showing no change in purchase behavior.
Source
Consumer Understanding and Use of Health Claims for Foods
Peter Williams · Nutrition Reviews · 2005
DOI 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00382.x
More from this paper
- The presence of health claims on food packaging creates a 'halo effect' that increases perceived product healthiness and purchase intent, but simultaneously discourages consumers from reading detailed nutrition information on the back of the package.Good
- Consumers generally prefer short, succinct health claims over long, complex, or scientifically worded ones, and they often do not distinguish between nutrient content, structure-function, and disease risk claims.Good
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →