NCT05953194

Effects of Sugary Drinks Counter-marketing Messages

Effects of Anti-sugar-sweetened-beverage Counter-marketing on Behavioral Intentions and Perceived Weight Stigma

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 2,184 (actual)
• Sponsor: Stanford University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to examine consumer responses to traditional and counter-marketing messages discouraging sugary drink consumption, including effects on intentions to consume sugary drinks and perceived weight stigma. Because prior research has suggested that counter-marketing may be especially effective among younger populations, the investigators will examine effects overall and by age group (young adults \[ages 18-29 years\] vs. middle and older adults \[ages 30+ years\]).

Detailed description

In this online randomized clinical trial, participants will be randomized to one of three arms: 1) Control (neutral) messages, 2) Traditional health messages, and 3) Counter-marketing messages. In each arm, participants will view four messages developed for their randomly assigned arm and answer questions about the messages and their behavioral intentions.

Conditions

• Obesity
• Weight Prejudice
• Weight Gain
• Dietary Habits

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exposure to counter-marketing messages	Counter-marketing messages about sugary drinks that incorporate principles of effective counter-marketing campaigns, including describing industry manipulation of consumers, appealing to emotions (especially anger), describing health consequences, and criticizing the industry for demographic targeting. Messages include text adapted from prior counter-marketing campaigns. Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.
BEHAVIORAL	Exposure to traditional health messages	Traditional health messages focused on the health consequences of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, using text adapted from prior sugary drink campaigns. Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.
BEHAVIORAL	Exposure to control (neutral) messages	Control messages approximately matched to the intervention messages on length, but discussing a neutral topic unrelated to sugary drinks (safe driving). Participants will view a total of 4 messages developed for this arm.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-07
• Primary completion: 2023-08-07
• Completion: 2023-08-07
• First posted: 2023-07-20
• Last updated: 2024-02-28

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States