# Communicating the Health Risks of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $397,687

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Obesity is one of the nation’s most pressing public health concerns and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs)
are a significant contributor to adult and childhood obesity. To try to reduce SSB intake, bills have been
introduced in U.S. states and cities to place health warning labels on SSB containers and/or advertisements.
However, there is little empirical data on how such labels influence consumers. Research on tobacco and
nutrition labels suggests labels can positively impact behavior, but the label design matters. The primary
objective of this proposal is to determine, before wide-scale implementation, to what degree SSB warning labels
increase consumers’ knowledge about the potential health harms of SSBs and reduce SSB intake. The studies
are designed to answer three additional questions: 1) Do some warning labels work better than others? 2) What
is the effect of warning labels over time? 3) If warning labels influence behavior, is it because they increase
knowledge or simply provide a salient reminder that some drinks are less healthy?
 Our first study aim is to compare the effects of SSB warning labels on parents’ SSB-related beliefs and
purchase intentions. We will recruit a nationally representative sample of 1,000 racially and ethnically diverse
parents of a child under 12 years old to participate in a randomized, controlled online experiment during which
parents will shop in a virtual convenience store. Parents will be randomized to 1 of 4 different approaches to
labeling: 1) calorie labels (control); 2) text warning labels (e.g. warning: drinking beverages with added sugars
contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay); 3) graphic warning labels displaying amounts of sugar in
beverages; or 4) graphic warning labels displaying negative health consequences associated with
overconsumption of SSBs. The second aim is to test the effect of warning labels on total kilocalories purchased
and consumed by parents and children. We will recruit 405 racially and ethnically diverse parent-child pairs to
participate in a randomized, controlled lab-based eating behavior study that will capture beverage and snack
purchases from a snack shop and measure how much participants consume while watching a television show.
Participants will be randomized to 1 of 3 conditions: 1) calorie labels (control); 2) text warning labels; or 3) graphic
warning labels displaying either amounts of sugar or negative health consequences based on the most effective
labeling strategy in study one. The third aim is to test the effect of repeated exposure to warning labels on total
kilocalories purchased over time and assess whether knowledge or salience better explain label effects. In this
study, we will recruit 450 racially and ethnically diverse parents to participate in a randomized, controlled
experiment that involves buying snacks and beverages for six weeks via an online store that ships participants
their purchases. Participants will be randomized to ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980391
- **Project number:** 5R01DK111558-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Christina Ann Roberto
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $397,687
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-05 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980391

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980391, Communicating the Health Risks of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (5R01DK111558-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980391. Licensed CC0.

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