Sip and Snack Better (SSB) Study: Improving Added Sugar in Adolescents

Targeting Added Sugar to Improve Dietary Intake in High-risk Adolescents

Teens consume more added sugar than any other age group. Too much added sugar is associated with poor diet quality, obesity risk, and negative cardiometabolic outcomes. Behavioral interventions to improve dietary intake are needed, but are currently lacking for this age group. This study aims to test how feasible, acceptable, and effective a 12-week contextually-tailored health coaching program, called Sip & Snack Better (SSB), is in reducing added sugar in teens, compared to a technology-only comparison. It will provide important information on how to improve dietary intake and reduce added sugar in teens. Additionally, measuring diet is very challenging in teens, so this study will also test the use of an objective biomarker (called the carbon isotope ratio (CIR)) as a measure of added sugar intake before, during, and after the 12-week study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Parent is 18 years or older, and the legal guardian of the adolescent
• Adolescent is between the ages of 12 and 16 years
• Parents and adolescents have the ability to read, write, and understand English
• Adolescents have a cell phone and are willing to use it to receive text messages and answer survey questions
• Parents and adolescents live in the Philadelphia region and can attend in-person visits at the research center in North Philadelphia
• Parents and adolescents can access video communication platforms (i.e., Zoom) via phone or computer
• Parents and adolescents are willing to be randomized to either treatment condition
• Adolescents exceed daily recommendations for added sugar intake (as assessed by dietary screener)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Adolescent has a medical condition that influences weight status or added sugar intake (e.g., Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes)
• Adolescent has a psychological or psychiatric condition that prevents study participation without individualized support (e.g., autism spectrum disorder)
• Adolescent has been diagnosed with or has received/is receiving treatment for an eating disorder
• Adolescent has been diagnosed with or has received/is receiving treatment for depression
• Adolescent has dietary restrictions, dietary prescriptions, or dietary goals given by a health care provider that would influence weight or added sugar intake