Paper Number
ECIS2026-2052
Paper Type
CRP
Abstract
Modern food environments impose great challenges for sustainable diet-related decision making, contributing to an obesity pandemic. AI-based conversational agents offer novel approaches for scalable preventive health interventions. Grounded in psychological theories on Future Self-Continuity and Episodic Future Thinking, we developed two chatbot-based intervention systems designed to help users make healthier food choices by increasing the salience of long-term choice consequences: (1) simulating a conversation with a hypothetical Future Self (FS) and (2) providing guidance through Future Thinking exercises (FT). In a preregistered online randomized controlled trial (N = 381), we tested their effectiveness for reducing impulsivity and promoting healthier dietary choices against active and non-intervention controls. While FT shows promise in making the future more relatable, we found no effects of FS and FT on impulsivity or food choices. These findings underscore the complexity behind translating theory into interventions that not only shift psychological states but shape choice behavior.
Recommended Citation
Enkmann, Jan Markus; Beermann, Vincent; Fang, Cathy Mengying; Prantz, Uli; Hussien, Nebil; Lechtenbörger, Nick; and Pataranutaporn, Pat, "Chatbot-Based Future-Thinking Interventions For Reducing Impulsivity and Promoting Healthier Dietary Choices — A Randomized Controlled Trial" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 12.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/hit/hit/12
Chatbot-Based Future-Thinking Interventions For Reducing Impulsivity and Promoting Healthier Dietary Choices — A Randomized Controlled Trial
Modern food environments impose great challenges for sustainable diet-related decision making, contributing to an obesity pandemic. AI-based conversational agents offer novel approaches for scalable preventive health interventions. Grounded in psychological theories on Future Self-Continuity and Episodic Future Thinking, we developed two chatbot-based intervention systems designed to help users make healthier food choices by increasing the salience of long-term choice consequences: (1) simulating a conversation with a hypothetical Future Self (FS) and (2) providing guidance through Future Thinking exercises (FT). In a preregistered online randomized controlled trial (N = 381), we tested their effectiveness for reducing impulsivity and promoting healthier dietary choices against active and non-intervention controls. While FT shows promise in making the future more relatable, we found no effects of FS and FT on impulsivity or food choices. These findings underscore the complexity behind translating theory into interventions that not only shift psychological states but shape choice behavior.
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