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A Sensory Strategy to Cut Sugary Beverages in African/American and Latine Adolescents

Trading Sugar for Sparkles in Adolescents, A Sensory Approach for Reducing Added Sugar From Sweetened Beverages

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
12 Years to 18 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 4 weeks
  • Procedures mentioned: Blood draws

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Participants will: * Replace sugary sodas with study drinks for 4 weeks * Complete taste tests to measure their liking for and sensory experience of sweetness over 8-weeks * Provide dietary recalls, body measurements, and blood samples over 8-weeks"
  • "The study focuses on a high-risk group: adolescents ages 12-18 who self-identify as Black/African American or Latine and have obesity (BMI \>95th percentile). 63 adolescents who are classified as sweet-likers and meet additional inclusion criteria will be enrolled in a randomized 3-arm intervention for 4 weeks, with an additional 4-week follow-up period."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests whether swapping sugary soda for unsweetened flavored sparkling water, plain water, or drinks with less and less sugar can lower sugar intake and improve health. It is for Black/African American and Latine teens with obesity who like very sweet drinks. Teens will use study drinks for 4 weeks and have taste tests, diet checks, body measurements, and blood tests over 8 weeks.

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether replacing sugary sodas with unsweetened, flavored sparkling waters can reduce added sugar intake and improve health in Black/African American and Latine adolescents with obesity who prefer sweet-tasting beverages. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does replacing sugary sodas with water change liking for sugary drinks, and water? * Do shifts in liking for sweetness lead to improved diet quality and cardiometabolic health? Researchers will compare replacing sugary sodas with one of three alternative beverages: unsweetened sparkling water, plain water, and beverages with gradually reduced sugar to determine which strategy is most effective. Participants will: * Replace sugary sodas with study drinks for 4 weeks * Complete taste tests to measure their liking for and sensory experience of sweetness over 8-weeks * Provide dietary recalls, body measurements, and blood samples over 8-weeks

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Are 12 to 18 years old.
  • Prefer very sweet drinks: choose a drink with at least 10.3% sugar as their favorite in a taste test.
  • Drink sugary soda at least twice a week.
  • Are willing to drink the study drinks.
  • Are not currently dieting or changing their diet.

Who can't join

  • Are pregnant, since pregnancy can change how things taste.
  • Have an allergy or intolerance to any items being tested.
  • Have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, either reported by the teen or found through a blood sugar test after fasting (not eating).
  • Use GLP-1 medicines for weight loss.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Adolescents ages 12 to 18 who display a "sweet-liker" pattern, characterized by a preference for higher concentrations of sugar in beverages, specifically identifying 0.3M (10.3% sucrose) or above as their most liked sample. * Adolescents consumes sugar-sweetened soda greater than or equal to 2 times per week. Adolescents must also indicate a willingness to drink study beverages; not currently dieting/changing diet. Exclusion Criteria: * Adolescent participant is pregnant, since pregnancy affects taste perception * Participant is allergic or intolerant to the items we are testing. * Adolescent with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (self-declared or detected at screening visit through fasting glucose) * Use of GLP-1 receptor agonists intended for weight loss.

Study sites (3)

IN