Impacts of Sugar Warnings on Weight Bias

NCT ID: NCT07346001

Last Updated: 2026-01-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 543 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-02-02
• Study Completion Date: 2027-12-01

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of added sugar warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on explicit weight bias and body weight attributional judgements. Participants will be assigned to view either control labels or added sugar warning labels applied on SSBs in an experimental store. Participants will shop for beverages in the store and take a computer survey during four visits to the store, spaced approximately one week apart.

Detailed Description

This study aims to determine whether applying added sugar warnings on sugary drinks impacts explicit weight bias and body weight attributional judgements. Approximately 543 adults (ages 18 and older) who have bought at least one SSB in the past week will attend four in-person visits at an experimental store, spaced approximately one week apart. Participants will be randomized to see either neutral control labels or added sugar labels on SSB containers during their visits to the experimental store. At each study visit, participants will shop for beverages in the store and take a computer survey. Explicit weight bias and attribution of responsibility for body weight will be assessed via the computer surveys at the first and last visit.

Conditions

Nutrition; Diet Interventions

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Control label

Group Type: OTHER

Control label

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The control label will display a neutral, square-shaped barcode. Labels will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.

Added sugar warning

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Added sugar warning

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The added sugar warning will be octagon-shaped and will state "HIGH IN ADDED SUGAR." Warnings will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.

Interventions

Control label

The control label will display a neutral, square-shaped barcode. Labels will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Added sugar warning

The added sugar warning will be octagon-shaped and will state "HIGH IN ADDED SUGAR." Warnings will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years and older
• Bought sugary drinks from a store at least once during the past week
• Willing to attend 4 in-person study appointments

Exclusion Criteria

• Living in the same household as someone else in the study

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Aline D'Angelo Campos, PhD, MPP

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Central Contacts

Aline D'Angelo Campos, PhD, MPP

Role: CONTACT

adangelo-campos@unc.edu

9199663215

Other Identifiers

24-0901b

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id