The document describes a study that tested whether students ages 11-14 could identify the difference between low fat and regular fat foods. 15 participants tasted pairs of low fat and regular versions of chips, cookies, crackers, and popcorn and were asked to identify the low fat option. Most participants correctly identified the low fat foods but preferred the taste of regular fat foods. The study showed that students can identify low fat foods but educating tastes may help address childhood obesity.

1. The Low Fat Test
Can students, ages eleven to fourteen,
identify the difference between low fat
and regular fat foods?
By Steven Aronow

2. Rationale
• Childhood obesity
• My mother is a registered dietitian and
she is always encouraging me to make
healthy food choices
• Students need to be able to identify the
difference between low fat and regular fat
foods to enable them to make their own
healthy food choices

3. Research
• Childhood obesity has become a national
epidemic now that over twenty-five
percent of all children, ages two to
eighteen, are overweight
• Nutrition labeling
• Difference between low fat and regular
fat foods

4. http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/labels
2.html

5. Hypothesis
• If low fat and regular fat foods are part of a
student’s daily lifestyle, then they will be able
to identify the difference between low fat and
regular fat foods

6. Variables
• Control Group: N/A
• Independent Variable: Food tasted
– Kettle Cooked Chips, Nilla Wafers,
Graham Crackers, and popcorn
• Dependent Variable: Percent of participant’s
answers
–%
• Control Variables: Brands for each food,
questions, and the age range for each tester

7. Materials
• 15 participants • Herr’s Low fat kettle
cooked potato chips
• Permission slips • Nabisco Nilla wafers
• Questionnaire sheets • Nabisco Low fat Nilla
• Pencil Wafers
• Water • Nabisco Graham
crackers
• Cups • Nabisco Low fat
• Plates graham crackers
• Herr’s Kettle cooked • Orville Redenbacher’s
Popcorn
potato chips • Orville Redenbacher’s
Low fat popcorn

8. Procedure
1. Find 15 participants to participate in study
2. Take one participant back at a time
3. Ask participant if they have low fat foods in their house
4. Ask participant if given the choice, would they choose low fat foods over the
regular fat alternative
5. Pour one cup of water (for the participant to take before and after tasting each
food)
6. Have participant try both fat choices (low fat and regular fat) of the kettle
cooked chips
7. After trying both choices, ask participant, if they can identify the low fat
choice
8. Ask participant which choice they like better
9. Record any extra comments
10. Repeat steps six to eleven three more times (using Nilla wafers, graham
crackers, and popcorn)
11. Participant has completed experiment
12. Repeat steps two to thirteen fourteen more times with different participants

9. Set-Up
Participant #5 having a sip of water
while I record his answers Participant # 5 testing the Nilla Wafers

10. Questionnaire

11. Nutrition Labels
Kettle Cooked Potato
Nilla Wafers
Chips
Regular Low Fat Regular Low Fat
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 13
chips
Calories: 135
Total Fat: 6 grams,
9%
Saturated Fat: 1.5
grams, 7%
Sodium: 180 mg, 8%
Carbohydrates: 18
grams
Fiber: 1 gram, 4%
Sugar: 0 grams
Protein: 2 grams

12. Nutrition Labels
Graham Crackers Popcorn
Regular Low Fat
Regular
Low Fat

13. Data
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=e
n_US&hl=en_US&key=0AjMyQD2HQL8dd
GZaRnFiQkNOdmNLbXhQYUwyM0ZZY0E
&output=html

14. Conclusion
• Students, ages eleven to fourteen, can easily
identify the difference between low fat and
regular fat foods
– My hypothesis was correct
• The majority of students were able to correctly
identify the low fat and regular fat foods
– However, the majority liked the taste of the
regular fat food selection better
• All participants stated that they had low fat
foods and regular fat foods in their household

15. Sources of Error
• Water could not have cleared all of the taste
from the previous food
– Would have caused the tastes to mix
• Would not have been able to tell the difference
• The food selections could have been
mislabeled
– Data would be wrong
• Participants could have identified the
difference by sight

16. Improvements
• More participants
– More precise answers
• Blindfold on participants
– Participants might have identified the
difference by sight, not taste

17. Implications
• The results of this particular science experiment
can have a great impact to help children
throughout the world
– Childhood obesity is a national crisis
• It is important to teach kids at an early age that
they are able to make healthy food choices
– Parents need to be knowledgeable about healthy
foods and lead by example
• Children look to their parents as role models
• In order to end the obesity crisis, we must work
together to educate and empower both, adults and
children, to choose the healthy alternative