Preventing Non-communicable Diseases in Guatemala Through Sugary Drink Reduction

University of Pennsylvania

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Food Preferences

Treatments: Behavioral: Exposure to beverage health information; Behavioral: Exposure to beverage calorie information

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04022694

R21TW010837 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sugar-sweetened beverages are a significant contributor to adult and childhood obesity in Guatemala. Policies to place health warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages are being pursued, but there is little empirical data on how such labels influence people. The primary aim of this study is to test the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) warning posters compared to control posters and change in SSBs purchased compared to baseline by adolescents shopping at school cafeterias in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The hypothesis is that posters with information warning people of the health harms associated with overconsuming SSBs and promoting low sugar beverages will be associated with greater reductions in SSB purchases compared to a control poster.

Enrollment: 628 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 18 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Between 12 and 18 years old
• Made a food or beverage purchase
• Has permission from parent or caregiver to participate
• Has not yet completed the purchase assessment

Exclusion criteria

• Under 12 or over 18 years old
• Did not make a food or beverage purchase
• Parent or caregiver refused to give child permission to participate
• Already participated in the purchase assessment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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628 participants in 4 patient groups

Calorie/Control Poster

Active Comparator group

Description:

This poster will display images of both SSBs and low or no sugar beverages with calories listed below the beverages. It will simply state that those beverages are sold in the school store.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to beverage calorie information

SSB Warning and Non-SSB Promotion Poster

Experimental group

Description:

This poster will display images of both SSBs and low or no sugar beverages with calories listed below the beverages. In addition, the message will state that SSBs are high in sugar and should be avoided, while low or no sugar beverages are healthier options and should be chosen.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exposure to beverage health information

Behavioral: Exposure to beverage calorie information

Baseline for Calorie/Control Poster

No Intervention group

Description:

We will collect baseline data from a group of students before posting the Calorie/Control Poster in the control school.

Baseline for SSB Warning and Non-SSB Promotion Poster

No Intervention group

Description:

We will collect baseline data from a group of students before posting the SSB Warning and Non-SSB Promotion Poster in the intervention school.