Added-sugar warning labels and weight bias
Impacts of Prolonged Exposure to Added Sugar Warning Labels on Explicit Weight Bias: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This test sees if added-sugar warning labels on sugary drinks change weight bias and beliefs about who is responsible for body weight among adults who regularly buy sugary drinks.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 543 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) |
| Trial ID | NCT07346001 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will randomize about 543 adults (18+) who bought a sugary drink in the past week to see either neutral control labels or added-sugar warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages in an experimental store. Participants will complete four in-person visits about one week apart, during which they will shop for beverages in the store and complete computer surveys. Explicit weight bias and attributions of responsibility for body weight are measured at the first and last visits. The design compares changes over time between the label and control groups to determine whether warning labels affect bias and attributional judgments.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults 18 and older who have purchased a sugar-sweetened beverage at least once in the past week and who can attend four weekly in-person visits in Chapel Hill, NC are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not buy sugary drinks, are under 18, cannot travel to the study site, or whose attitudes are not influenced by label messaging are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce stigma by lowering explicit weight bias and changing how people attribute responsibility for body weight.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows warning labels can change purchasing and health perceptions, but using them specifically to reduce explicit weight bias and change attributional judgments is largely untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion 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
Where this trial is running
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- UNC MiniMart Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Aline D'Angelo Campos, PhD, MPP — University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Aline D'Angelo Campos, PhD, MPP
- Email: adangelo-campos@unc.edu
- Phone: 9199663215
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.