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The Halo Effect

By Jennifer Galea

The “Halo Effect” is a psychology term that means to see everything about something as “angelic” because of a single positive characteristic. This can apply to nutrition as well. A label of “healthful” (whether it is applied by the manufacturer or yourself) does not mean “calorie free,” “full of health benefits,” or “eat as much as you want.” Especially for health-conscious athletes, it is incredibly important not to fall into this psychological trap.

With the advent of food chains touting “healthier” fast food, people are likely to apply the Halo Effect while consuming their meals. A recent study conducted on people who go to fast food restaurants found astounding results: people eating at a restaurant with a reputation (or advertising) of being more healthful (specifically Subway in this study) may actually consume more calories than others at fast food restaurants with no such claims! How can this be?

The study found:

1. 1. People eating a “healthy” meal from Subway were more likely to add a side and dessert that were calorie-rich, not to mention having a larger drink. So the Halo Effect psychologically brought all these other items under the “halo” of the “healthy” sandwich.
2. 2. People significantly underestimate the calories they consume. This was true at McDonalds (in the study): understandably, it is hard to imagine such a small quantity of food could contain so many calories and fat. But, the underestimation was even greater at Subway, where the Halo Effect was minimizing the estimation of not only the sandwich, but of all the “add-ons” as well.

So what is the answer? Be aware of every item that you consume. It is fine to have a slice of cake occasionally as a special treat, but don’t undo all the good you have done by rewarding yourself with a “special treat” every time you make a calorie concession elsewhere in the meal. Also, focus on portion size; don’t eat twice as much of a lower calorie or lower fat choice. And finally, don’t believe the advertising. Stick to what you know, and if you don’t know, find out before you add an item to your diet. Being a health-conscious individual, you want to be just that: conscious. Fuel your body appropriately for optimal performance and health.