Effects of Sugary Drinks Counter-marketing Messages

Stanford University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dietary Habits; Weight Gain; Obesity; Weight Prejudice

Treatments: Behavioral: Exposure to counter-marketing messages; Behavioral: Exposure to control (neutral) messages; Behavioral: Exposure to traditional health messages

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05953194

69580a

Details and patient eligibility

About

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]).

Full 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.

Enrollment: 2,184 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years old or older

Exclusion criteria

• Less than 18 years old

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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2,184 participants in 3 patient groups

Control (neutral) messages

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will view 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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to control (neutral) messages

Traditional health messages

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will view 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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to traditional health messages

Counter-marketing messages

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will view 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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to counter-marketing messages