Using eye-tracking technology – which monitors eye movements – a team of scientists discovered that children with higher body weight deliberately avoid looking at unhealthy food images. The study, conducted by experts from Mendel University in Brno and Masaryk University, provides new insights into how children with obesity perceive food. The research was supported by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic as part of the SIGMA program focused on the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases.
“In the first phase of the research, all children completed a questionnaire about their eating habits. Then they participated in two experimental tasks evaluated using the eye-tracking method. These included viewing images of various types of food and choosing between healthier and less healthy options – specifically, foods that are highly or minimally processed,” explained Jiří Čeněk, the lead author of the study from the Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies at Mendel University.
The research results showed that children with obesity spent significantly less time looking at highly processed foods, such as sweets, chips, or sugary drinks. On the contrary, they looked longer at healthier alternatives – fruits, vegetables, or freshly prepared meals made from minimally processed ingredients. “This phenomenon can be described as inverse attentional bias. While it was previously assumed that individuals with obesity pay more attention to food, we found the opposite in children – it appears that some of them consciously avoid looking at unhealthy food,” said Čeněk.
In addition to viewing food images, the researchers also examined preference differences. In the test, children with obesity more frequently chose healthier food options. An important finding was that the length of time spent looking at a specific image closely correlated with the subsequent choice – the longer a child looked at a food item, the more likely they were to choose it. “It turns out that children often have a good understanding of what constitutes healthy and unhealthy food, which indicates that school-based educational programs are effective. However, much more depends on the family environment, which influences daily decisions. That’s why parents deserve greater support in nutrition education,” added Dana Hübelová, co-author of the study from FRRMS MENDELU.
These findings have practical implications. According to the authors, one helpful measure could be placing healthier foods in visible and easily accessible locations in schools and homes, while visually downplaying less healthy options. “This approach, known as ‘choice architecture,’ is already being used in many school cafeterias abroad. Our findings suggest that even brief visual stimuli can influence a child’s food choice. A small environmental change – such as what is most prominently displayed – can lead children to choose the healthier option more often,” said Hübelová. The research team also noted that advertising unhealthy foods should be better regulated, especially those targeting children and adolescents. This age group is particularly sensitive to visual stimuli, which can significantly influence their dietary decisions.
The study involved 77 children aged 11 to 17, divided into two groups. One group consisted of children with obesity and overweight who were participating in a therapeutic stay at a children’s weight loss clinic. The control group consisted of children with normal weight.
Contact for more information:
Assoc. Prof. Dana Hübelová, Ph.D.
dana.hubelova@mendelu.cz
+420 734 509 405
Department of Social Studies, FRRMS MENDELU