Study Finds Exercise Advertisements Prompt People to Eat

The following excerpt came in a feed from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It may not be rocket science but definitely provides evidence of what we know intuitively - that there are residual impacts of our actions/words/media, etc.

Study Finds Exercise Advertisements Prompt People to Eat
Mar 3, 2009

A study published online in the journal Obesity suggests that campaigns created to promote exercise might actually cause people to eat more, United Press International reports. According to researchers at the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, viewers who were exposed to print advertisements featuring messages such as "join a gym" or "take a walk" ate one-third more than people who observed signage featuring messages such as "make friends" or "be in a group." Moreover, individuals who were exposed to subliminal messages about physical activity while completing a simple computer task ate 20 percent more than those exposed to neutral words. The study builds on research conducted by the university that suggested general messages promoting activity can prompt behavior changes, some of which are negative. In light of such findings, the study's lead author suggests that those creating public health campaigns be aware that "whatever they communicate is likely to influence not only the behavior they had in mind but other behaviors that might be somewhat remotely linked." (UPI, 2/27/09; University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana release, 2/27/09; Albarracin et al., Obesity, 2/26/09 [subscription required]

Connections can be made in working with communities, relationship building, public presence and impact:

- the importance of words (sometimes we get hooked on them but they are impactful)
- intentions may be good and directed towards getting people 'moving' but may result in unintended outcomes
- the importance of how media campaigns are presented and perceived
- using research to substantiate and improve our actions/methods
and more