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Teens Less Likely to Choose Sugary Beverages with Health Warning Labels

Teens are more than 15% less likely to say they would purchase soft drinks or other sugary drinks that include health warning labels, according to a study led by researchers at Penn’s Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics in the Perelman School of Medicine. The study, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, could impact the outcome of health warning requirement policies under consideration in several states and cities.

The study is among the first to examine the way warning labels on sugary drinks affect teens, and builds on research published by the team earlier this year showing that parents were less likely to select sugary beverages for their kids when the drinks had labels warning about the dangers of added sugar, including increased risk of obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

“The average teen in the United States consumes at least one sugar-sweetened beverage every day, which could account for more than twice the recommended daily serving of sugar,” Christina Robert, lead author and assistant professor of medical ethics & health policy at the Perelman School of Medicine, said. “The rate of sugar consumption in the US is astounding and contributes significantly to obesity, type 2 diabetes and other dangerous and costly health conditions.”

The researchers used an online survey to determine beverage selections of more than 2,000 participants aged 12-18 and from diverse backgrounds. The beverages included either no label, or one of five warning labels. Among the labels, one featured calorie content and the other four displayed a variation of warning text indicating that consumption of sugary drinks contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

Results showed that 77% of participants who did not see a label said they would select a sugary drink in a hypothetical choice task. Depending on the specific phrasing of the warning labels, participants were between 8% and 16% less likely to select sugary beverages when health warning labels were present.
The researchers also found warning labels contributed to teenagers’ understanding of the potentially negative health effects of regularly consuming sugary beverages. In addition, 62% of participants said they would support a warning label policy for sugary drinks.

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