Back to resultsEffects of Sugary Drinks Counter-marketing Messages
Primary Purpose
Obesity, Weight Prejudice, Weight Gain
Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Exposure to counter-marketing messages
Exposure to traditional health messages
Exposure to control (neutral) messages
Sponsored by
About this trial
This is an interventional prevention trial for Obesity focused on measuring counter-marketing, health communication, sugar sweetened beverage
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 18 years old or older Exclusion Criteria: Less than 18 years old
Sites / Locations
- Stanford School of Medicine
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Experimental
Experimental
Arm Label
Control (neutral) messages
Traditional health messages
Counter-marketing messages
Arm 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.
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.
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.
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Intentions to consume sugary drinks
We will assess intentions to consume sugary drinks using 2 items: "In the next week, I plan to drink sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks," and "In the next week, I am likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks". Response options to both items will use a 5-point Likert scale: the first item's response options will range from "definitely not" (1) to "definitely yes" (5), and the second item's response options will range from "not at all likely" (1) to "extremely likely" (5). We will average responses to the 2 items.
Secondary Outcome Measures
Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging sugary drink consumption
Item: "These messages discourage me from wanting to drink sugary drinks." This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5).
Negative feelings toward drinking sugary drinks
Item: "How do these messages make you feel about drinking sugary drinks?" This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "extremely positive" (1) to "extremely negative" (5).
Anticipated social interactions
We will examine anticipated social interactions by asking, "How likely are you to talk about these messages with others in the next week?" This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from "not at all likely" (1) to "extremely likely" (5).
Attitudes toward sugary drink companies
We will examine attitudes toward sugary drink companies by asking, "How do you feel about companies that make sugary drinks?" This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from "dislike them a lot" (1) to "like them a lot" (5).
Perceived obesity stigma
We will examine the extent to which participants perceive the messages as contributing to obesity stigma by asking 3 items: "These messages promote negative attitudes about people who have overweight or obesity," "These messages increase blame towards people for being overweight," and "These messages make obesity seem like a much simpler issue than it really is." Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5). We will average responses to these items.
Message reactance
We will examine psychological reactance to the messages by asking 3 items: "These messages are trying to manipulate me," "These messages are overblown" and "How much do these messages make you feel angry?" Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5). We will average responses to these items, assuming sufficient internal consistency (alpha>=.70).
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT05953194
First Posted
July 11, 2023
Last Updated
August 15, 2023
Sponsor
Stanford University
Collaborators
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT05953194
Brief Title
Effects of Sugary Drinks Counter-marketing Messages
Official Title
Effects of Anti-sugar-sweetened-beverage Counter-marketing on Behavioral Intentions and Perceived Weight Stigma
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
August 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
August 7, 2023 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
August 7, 2023 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
August 7, 2023 (Actual)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Responsible Party, by Official Title
Principal Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Stanford University
Collaborators
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
4. Oversight
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
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]).
Detailed 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.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Obesity, Weight Prejudice, Weight Gain, Dietary Habits
Keywords
counter-marketing, health communication, sugar sweetened beverage
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Prevention
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
2184 (Actual)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Arm Title
Control (neutral) messages
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm 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.
Arm Title
Traditional health messages
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm 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.
Arm Title
Counter-marketing messages
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm 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.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Exposure to counter-marketing messages
Intervention Description
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.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Exposure to traditional health messages
Intervention Description
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.
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Exposure to control (neutral) messages
Intervention Description
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.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Intentions to consume sugary drinks
Description
We will assess intentions to consume sugary drinks using 2 items: "In the next week, I plan to drink sugary drinks like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks," and "In the next week, I am likely to drink sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas, sports drinks, or fruit drinks". Response options to both items will use a 5-point Likert scale: the first item's response options will range from "definitely not" (1) to "definitely yes" (5), and the second item's response options will range from "not at all likely" (1) to "extremely likely" (5). We will average responses to the 2 items.
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging sugary drink consumption
Description
Item: "These messages discourage me from wanting to drink sugary drinks." This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5).
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Title
Negative feelings toward drinking sugary drinks
Description
Item: "How do these messages make you feel about drinking sugary drinks?" This variable will be measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "extremely positive" (1) to "extremely negative" (5).
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Title
Anticipated social interactions
Description
We will examine anticipated social interactions by asking, "How likely are you to talk about these messages with others in the next week?" This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from "not at all likely" (1) to "extremely likely" (5).
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Title
Attitudes toward sugary drink companies
Description
We will examine attitudes toward sugary drink companies by asking, "How do you feel about companies that make sugary drinks?" This item will be scored on a 5-pt Likert scale ranging from "dislike them a lot" (1) to "like them a lot" (5).
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Title
Perceived obesity stigma
Description
We will examine the extent to which participants perceive the messages as contributing to obesity stigma by asking 3 items: "These messages promote negative attitudes about people who have overweight or obesity," "These messages increase blame towards people for being overweight," and "These messages make obesity seem like a much simpler issue than it really is." Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5). We will average responses to these items.
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
Title
Message reactance
Description
We will examine psychological reactance to the messages by asking 3 items: "These messages are trying to manipulate me," "These messages are overblown" and "How much do these messages make you feel angry?" Each item will be scored on a 5-point Likert scale from "not at all" (1) to "a great deal" (5). We will average responses to these items, assuming sufficient internal consistency (alpha>=.70).
Time Frame
The survey will take up to 20 minutes
10. Eligibility
Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
18 years old or older
Exclusion Criteria:
Less than 18 years old
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Anna H Grummon, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
Stanford School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Stanford School of Medicine
City
Palo Alto
State/Province
California
ZIP/Postal Code
94304
Country
United States
12. IPD Sharing Statement
Plan to Share IPD
Yes
IPD Sharing Plan Description
The investigators will share statistical analysis plan and analytic code after publication. The investigators will post these items and de-identified data on ResearchBox, a publicly available platform.
IPD Sharing Time Frame
Within 6 months of publication
IPD Sharing Access Criteria
There will be no access criteria; information will be publicly available. We plan to make these resources available on ResearchBox.
IPD Sharing URL
http://researchbox.org
Citations:
PubMed Identifier
35142020
Citation
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Results Reference
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PubMed Identifier
25066020
Citation
Boles M, Adams A, Gredler A, Manhas S. Ability of a mass media campaign to influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about sugary drinks and obesity. Prev Med. 2014 Oct;67 Suppl 1:S40-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.023. Epub 2014 Jul 24.
Results Reference
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PubMed Identifier
29336684
Citation
Kite J, Grunseit A, Bohn-Goldbaum E, Bellew B, Carroll T, Bauman A. A Systematic Search and Review of Adult-Targeted Overweight and Obesity Prevention Mass Media Campaigns and Their Evaluation: 2000-2017. J Health Commun. 2018;23(2):207-232. doi: 10.1080/10810730.2018.1423651. Epub 2018 Jan 16.
Results Reference
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Citation
Te V, Ford P, Schubert L. Exploring social media campaigns against sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: A systematic search. Schumacher U, ed. Cogent Medicine. 2019;6(1):1607432. doi:10.1080/2331205X.2019.1607432
Results Reference
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PubMed Identifier
30988478
Citation
Bryan CJ, Yeager DS, Hinojosa CP. A values-alignment intervention protects adolescents from the effects of food marketing. Nat Hum Behav. 2019 Jun;3(6):596-603. doi: 10.1038/s41562-019-0586-6. Epub 2019 Apr 15.
Results Reference
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Citation
Crandall CS, Reser AH. Attributions and Weight-Based Prejudice. In: Brownell K, Puhl R, Schwartz M, Rudd L, eds. Weight Bias: Nature, Consequences, and Remedies. Guilford Publications; 2005:83-96.
Results Reference
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PubMed Identifier
16162046
Citation
Puhl RM, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. Impact of perceived consensus on stereotypes about obese people: a new approach for reducing bias. Health Psychol. 2005 Sep;24(5):517-25. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.24.5.517.
Results Reference
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PubMed Identifier
33238936
Citation
Dixon H, Scully M, Gascoyne C, Wakefield M. Can counter-advertising diminish persuasive effects of conventional and pseudo-healthy unhealthy food product advertising on parents?: an experimental study. BMC Public Health. 2020 Nov 25;20(1):1781. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09881-1.
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Citation
Krieger J, Kwon T, Ruiz R, Walkinshaw LP, Yan J, Roberto CA. Countermarketing About Fruit Drinks, Alone or With Water Promotion: A 2019 Randomized Controlled Trial in Latinx Parents. Am J Public Health. 2021 Nov;111(11):1997-2007. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2021.306488. Epub 2021 Oct 28.
Results Reference
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Effects of Sugary Drinks Counter-marketing Messages
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