Reiko ARAMAKI, Associate Professor
1. Current Courses:
Public Health Nutrition I and II
Practice in Community Health
Theory of Nutrition Information Processing
Practice of Meal Care
Field Practice in Community Health
2. Research Area:
Public Health Nutrition
3. Research Topic:
Nutrient labeling as an information source for food choice
4. Research Summary
The maintenance of a healthy meal/diet environment is indispensable for the successful treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. The placement of easily-understandable, nutrient labeling on packaging is an important part in the consumer's food-selection process. My research examines how consumers understand and interpret nutrient labeling and food packaging using the techniques to minimize bias.
5. Research Description:
A food-display section, modeled to recreate the a convenience store environment, is installed in a corner of a laboratory. Convenience stores have, and continue to have, a major effect on the way consumers in Japan purchase food. My studies differ from previous ones in using a more realistic simulation of the way people purchase food. Factors involved in food choice are compared for healthy subjects and those with lifestyle-related diseases. These include product placement, display, and labeling, and are recorded at the time of purchase and analyzed to determine the qualitative differences and influential factors involved in purchasing behavior and to gain an understanding of to what extent food choice is a factor in various diseases.
