Impacts of Prolonged Exposure to Added Sugar Warning Labels on Explicit Weight Bias: a Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to examine how added sugar warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) affect people's explicit weight bias and their judgments about body weight responsibility. It involves adults aged 18 and older who have purchased sugary drinks recently. The study explores whether seeing these warning labels changes attitudes related to weight bias over time in a controlled experimental setting. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will see neutral control labels, while the other will see added sugar warning labels on SSB containers in an experimental store. The warning label is an octagon-shaped sign stating "HIGH IN ADDED SUGAR," and the control label is a neutral, square-shaped barcode. These labels will be placed on the front of beverage containers that participants shop for during their visits. Each participant will attend four in-person visits spaced about one week apart. During each visit, they will shop for beverages in the experimental store and complete a computer survey. Researchers will assess explicit weight bias and body weight responsibility judgments using surveys at the first and last visits. The main outcome is the change in explicit weight bias measured approximately four weeks apart. The study involves ongoing participation over about a month with careful monitoring of attitudes related to nutrition and diet interventions.

Impacts of Sugar Warnings on Weight Bias