Food and Health
37. NJC_The Unhealthier Choice - Ho Ting Heng.mp4THE UNHEALTHIER CHOICE: HOW DIFFERENCES IN PRODUCT LABELLING AFFECT CONSUMERS' CHOICE OF SUGARY DRINKS
National Junior College (Singapore)
According to the 2017 National Population Health Survey, roughly one in ten adult Singaporeans are classified as obese. One way in which the government is combating this obesity epidemic is by promoting the consumption of healthier drinks. From the end of 2021, existing ‘Healthier Choice’ labels on pre-packaged drinks will be replaced with new Nutri-Grade labels. Drinks with a ‘C’ or ‘D’ grade will be required to indicate that they are unhealthy relative to its alternatives, while manufacturers of healthier drinks, can choose whether to display a Nutri-Grade label indicating that they are the healthier choice. This paper leverages on the insights of behavioural economics to evaluate the projected effectiveness of this policy, and offer improvements to better ‘nudge’ consumers towards consuming healthier drinks. The experimentation relies on a between-subject design, with participants being selected through random sampling. Each participant will be faced with a choice of sugary drink in one of three contexts: (1) healthy indicator/ unhealthy indicator, (2) unhealthy indicator/ no indicator, and (3) healthy indicator/ no indicator. We hypothesise that while the Nutri-Grade system will reduce the consumption of unhealthy drinks due to loss aversion, healthier drinks should not display any label indicating that they are the healthier choice, as such labels inadvertently frame the drink as providing lower sensory satisfaction to consumers.
50. RVHS_Alternative Eats_Me Eats - Chee Sok Jane.mp4ALTERNATIVE MEATS, ME EATS: A STUDY OF YOUTHS AND CONSUMPTION OF MEAT FREE FOODS
River Valley High School (Singapore)
Our research aims to investigate teenagers’ perceptions of meat alternatives and ways to encourage them to try plant-based meats, typically made with soy, wheat or mushrooms, or lab-grown meat from cell culture methods. As youths will lead meat consumption in future, our research aims to find ways to encourage youths to try meat alternatives so as to reduce meat consumption and the negative environmental impacts related to its production. Based on current research, increased consumption of meat alternatives will decrease the amount of meat produced through Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), which prevents overcrowding of animals and the possibility of zoonotic diseases. Moreover, eating more meat alternatives will reduce the amount of water and land resources needed, and less environmental pollution will occur with the decrease in mass breeding of livestock. Despite its benefits, meat alternatives are not popularised mainly due to people’s perception and limited knowledge of them, causing less people to try meat alternatives. In order to find out youth’s attitudes and consumption of meat alternatives, we conducted an online survey using the snowballing method, a taste test with 10 respondents, and are interviewing industry experts to find out about the challenges of marketing meat alternatives. From our initial findings, 38% of 107 respondents have tried meat alternatives and 62% are receptive to eating meat alternatives if they are readily available. Thus, to encourage more youths to try meat alternatives, it is necessary to make meat alternatives more accessible and affordable.
69. WAHS_Starvation in America - Mielye Hardersen.mp4STARVATION IN THE UNITED STATES
West Aurora High School (USA)
The underlying causes of starvation are immeasurable. Many find themselves in worsening situations since birth; and arguably cannot adequately change their situations. The rate of homelessness in the United States has grown exponentially since the birth of the nation, with a staggering half-million people today finding themselves without sustainable housing. An even larger seventeen million children go hungry every day.
We researched the many common underlying causes of starvation in the United States, often finding the lack of government services, reasonable prices, and accessibility the main contributors. Further, our research indicates that oftentimes one's family birth/family situations tends to have the most impact on a person’s successes/failures.
Starvation in the United States has always been a prominent issue, and as our nation continues to develop, a large fraction of its population lingers behind, an abnormal amount being America’s youth. Our research demonstrates a need for change in the United States, both fundamentally and socially.
71. ZHSS_Screen time & good health - Li Min Anna Yeo.mp4HOW MIGHT WE HELP USERS EFFECTIVELY BALANCE THEIR SCREEN TIME TO MAINTAIN GOOD OVERALL HEALTH?
Zhonghua Secondary School (Singapore)
Phone addiction is a prevalent problem and can be detrimental to health. No motivation to put away your phones? We have an idea! Through innovative strategies, we have designed an app which aims to encourage users to put their devices away and use it less frequently as a way to manage screen time. Think – a vacuum cleaner on your handphones! Through our project, we hope that our candid and unique idea could help users to effectively balance screen time and maintain good overall health amongst teenagers.