The ‘Health Halo’ Effect

Happens when we overestimate the healthfulness of an item based on a single claim, such as being low in calories or low in fat.

This halo effect makes us more comfortable to eat more than we otherwise would if a product is promoted as low in fat or calories.

It occurs when food that has some healthy qualities is seen as being virtuous in all respects.

For example, many people think that organic foods are healthier because they're lower in calories and higher in fibre than their conventionally grown counterparts. But the te...

Many people fall victim to a health aura of some foods:

• Fitness branding may make dieters eat more and exercise less. In one study, people trying to lose weight consumed more trail mix when the package labeled it as a "fitness" snack. The participants also exercised ...