Understanding how sugar warnings affect drink choices in Hispanic adults
Official title: Evaluating the impact of sugar warnings on beverage purchases in Hispanic populations
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11065445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether sugar warning labels on sugary drinks can help Hispanic adults buy less sugar, and it will track their purchases in a convenience store over four weeks to see if these labels make a difference in their drink choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $587,694 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135743-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11065445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Hispanic adults aged 21 and older who regularly purchase sugar-sweetened beverages.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not consume sugar-sweetened beverages or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of sugar warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to see if they can reduce purchases among Hispanic adults. Conducted in a convenience store setting, participants will be randomly assigned to see either beverages with sugar warnings or neutral labels during their shopping visits. Over four weeks, researchers will track how much sugar participants buy from SSBs and other drinks. The goal is to understand if these warnings can influence healthier beverage choices in a real-world environment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective public health strategies that help reduce sugar intake and improve health outcomes in Hispanic populations.
How similar studies have gone: Initial research on the impact of sugar warnings has shown promise, suggesting that this approach could be effective, although this specific focus on Hispanic populations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hall, Marissa — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hall, Marissa
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.