Causal information on children's attitudes and behavioural intentions toward a peer with obesity

Background: This study examined the effect of types of
causal information about overweight on children's attitudes and
intentions toward a peer presented as overweight. Methods:
Participants (N = 176) were randomly assigned to read a vignette of an
overweight peer in one of three conditions, which varied in the
explanatory information provided for the aetiology of the peer's
overweight condition: biological, environmental or no causal
information, along with a vignette of an average-weight peer. Results:
The provision of information that the overweight was the result of
biological factors and of no causal information yielded more positive
attitudes toward the overweight peer compared to those who were provided
with environmental information. Information on overweight had no impact
on behavioural intentions. A social desirability bias was found for
each of the three experimental conditions and for the average weight
condition. Conclusion: Information explaining overweight
had a minimal positive effect on attitudes and no effect on intentions
toward an overweight peer.