Communication

Neuroscience

Visualization

Cognition

Body mass index

Psychiatry

Computer science

Interactivity

Psychology

Internal medicine

Artificial intelligence

Medicine

Obesity

Perception

Affect (linguistics)

Pathology

Multimedia

Health Communication

The current study examines how interactive data visualization can augment the persuasive potential of health information. In an experiment using an obesity-awareness website (N = 248), we manipulated the level of interactivity in a data visualization tool that featured obesity prevalence in the U.S. and measured participants' absorption into the website, perceived issue severity, content perceptions, and intentions to prevent/treat obesity. Our data demonstrated that lower BMI participants reported greater cognitive absorption when highly interactive data visualization was available on the website. Subsequently, greater cognitive absorption into the website led to higher perceived issue severity, greater content perceptions, and higher obesity prevention intentions among lower BMI participants but not among higher BMI participants.

How Interactive Data Visualization and Users’ BMI (Body Mass Index) Influence Obesity Prevention Intentions: The Mediating Effect of Cognitive Absorption