A joined study by University of Melbourne and Cancer Council Victoria claimed that by utilizing graphic warning especially tooth decayed, fatty heart on junk food labels helps improving a person's diet.
Helen Dixon, a behavioral researcher from the Cancer Council Vitoria recommends that it works because these graphic images put off the strong cues.
"The most powerful messages were those that combined a negative image as well as negatively framed message. Positive messages also had a effect as did negative messages without an image, but the most impressive one was the blend of graphic health effect with health-risk message," said Helen Dixon.
Dr. Stefan Bode who is the co-author of this study also say that they don't know why that is the case.
"Obesity has, for a long time, been regarded as purely biological problem, and, nowadays, we understand that it is far more complex, that it has a lot of psychological factors as well," asserted Dr. Bode.
Poor diet choices could lead to long term chronic health issues namely heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.
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For the past 3 decades, Australian obesity rate has been double for both adult and children. Therefore, during May 2018, the Royal Australasian college of Physician has urged Australian federal government to make obesity-prevention and treatment a priority and have a comprehensive national obesity prevention plan, tax sugary foods and beverages and restricting children and young people from accessing these unhealthy foods and drinks.
Dr. Dixon from Cancer Council Victoria also added that food manufacturers should also inform consumers about the health effect of binging or munching too much sugary drinks or junk foods.
"Whereas we know that food marketers use packaging as a tool to promote junk food, using colors, words and imagery, our research says that it can also be flipped around to encourage healthier choices with certain types of messages," said Dr. Dixon.#
