Nutrition Messaging in Food Documentaries: Assessment of Social Cognitive Theory Constructs and Information Quality

OBJECTIVE: To examine how food documentaries reflect Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) in relation to dietary behavior and assess the quality of dietary information they present. DESIGN: A content analysis of food documentaries on video streaming platforms, released between January 2020 and December 2024. Eligible documentaries exceeded 30 minutes and included content consistent with dietary patterns recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025. ANALYSIS: Transcripts from 7 documentaries were obtained through subtitles and independently coded by 2 researchers using qualitative data analysis software. Content reflecting SCT constructs, including self-efficacy, observational learning, reciprocal determinism, outcome expectations, and reinforcement, was coded and analyzed. Information quality was assessed through scoring of reliability, clarity, and evidence base of health-related information. RESULTS: All documentaries included SCT constructs. Across 195 SCT-coded instances, self-efficacy was most prevalent and included practical tips to build confidence (13.3% of the codes) and encouragement for positive change (8.7%). Observational learning codes included expert demonstrations (9.2%) and success stories as models (11.8%). Information quality assessment scores ranged from 58 to 69, indicating moderate to high information quality. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Food documentaries in this sample provided SCT-aligned dietary behavior messaging and moderate to high-quality nutrition information, highlighting their potential for health promotion.