A recent study conducted at Stanford University examined the impact of documentary films on public interest in plant-based diets. The researchers found a strong correlation between the release of documentaries like What the Health and The Game Changers and an increase in search interest related to plant-based foods. However, despite the spikes in online queries about plant-based diets, the study did not find evidence linking this increased interest to an actual shift in consumption patterns, as sales of plant-based food products did not see a corresponding increase.

The study also differentiated between informational and behavioral search behavior, with the increase in searches being more pronounced in the behavioral category. This suggests that people were actively considering changes to their diets after watching these documentaries. While media campaigns focusing on the health benefits of plant-based eating could effectively spark public interest, the gap between interest and actual dietary change remains an area for further investigation, as curiosity doesn't always translate into action.