This study aims to examine the effects of added sugar warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on explicit weight bias and body weight attributional judgements. Participants will be assigned to view either control labels or added sugar warning labels applied on SSBs in an experimental store. Participants will shop for beverages in the store and take a computer survey during four visits to the store, spaced approximately one week apart.
This study aims to determine whether applying added sugar warnings on sugary drinks impacts explicit weight bias and body weight attributional judgements. Approximately 543 adults (ages 18 and older) who have bought at least one SSB in the past week will attend four in-person visits at an experimental store, spaced approximately one week apart. Participants will be randomized to see either neutral control labels or added sugar labels on SSB containers during their visits to the experimental store. At each study visit, participants will shop for beverages in the store and take a computer survey. Explicit weight bias and attribution of responsibility for body weight will be assessed via the computer surveys at the first and last visit.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
543
The control label will display a neutral, square-shaped barcode. Labels will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.
The added sugar warning will be octagon-shaped and will state "HIGH IN ADDED SUGAR." Warnings will be placed on the front of SSB containers in the experimental store.
Explicit weight bias, mean score
Explicit weight bias will be measured by survey through seven items. Items will present participants with pairs of antonyms and ask that they select the box between antonyms that they feel best describes their feelings and beliefs about people with obesity: (1) lazy - hard-working, (2) no will power - has will power, (3) good self - control - poor self-control, (4) active - inactive, (5) self-indulgent - self-sacrificing, (6) dislikes food - likes food, (7) undereats - overeats. Response options, which will be presented as 5 boxes between antonyms, will be coded in a categorical 1-5 range, where higher scores represent higher endorsement of a stereotype that contributes to weight bias. Each participant's responses to each item will then be averaged across the seven items to obtain their final score on the outcome in a 1-5 range, where higher scores represent higher explicit weight bias.
Time frame: Assessed via survey after exposure to intervention (i.e., shopping task) 2 times approximately 4 weeks apart (i.e., in visits 1 and 4)
Body weight attributional judgements, mean score
Body weight attributional judgements will be measured by survey through two items. Items will ask participants how much they agree with two statements: (1) People with obesity are responsible for their weight; (2) People with obesity are to blame for their weight. Response options will be on a 5-point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree, with higher scores representing higher agreement. Each participant's responses to each item will be averaged to obtain their final score on the outcome in a 1-5 range, where higher scores represent higher attribution of personal responsibility for body weight.
Time frame: Assessed via survey after exposure to intervention (i.e., shopping task) 2 times approximately 4 weeks apart (i.e., in visits 1 and 4).
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