Diet QualityNCT07768462
Young Adult Food Messaging Experiment
A study testing Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy, Engineering foods to be addictive and Targeting groups in people with Diet Quality and Young Adult Health, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The primary objective of this study is to identify the food counter-marketing messages (i.e., messages that describe deceptive marketing tactics used by food companies) that are perceived as most effective among young adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 29 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Diet Quality, Young Adult Health, Communication
- What is being tested?
- Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy, Engineering foods to be addictive and Targeting groups
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 645 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 8 Jan 2027to 16 Jan 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 29 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age between 18-29 years
- Reside in the United States
- Consume at least 5-6 servings per week of sugary drinks and 5-6 servings per week of sweet and salty snacks
Who cannot join
- Younger than 18 or older than 29 years
- Reside outside of the United States
- Consume less than 5-6 servings per week of sugary drinks or less than 5-6 servings per week of sweet and salty snacks
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site
Stanford School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California, 94304
Amanda Zeitlin, 408-598-2672, foodpolicylab@stanford.edu
About this study
Official title: An Experiment Evaluating the Effectiveness of Counter-marketing Food Messages Among Young Adults
The primary objective of this study is to identify the food counter-marketing messages (i.e., messages that describe deceptive marketing tactics used by food companies) that are perceived as most effective among young adults.
Read the detailed description
Participants will complete a within-subjects, randomized experiment in which they view and rate messages describing deceptive marketing tactics used by food companies to sell unhealthy products.
Messages cover five topics: (1) lying about unhealthy products being healthy, (2) engineering foods to be addictive, (3) covering up evidence about the harms of consuming unhealthy products, (4) targeting groups, (5) piggybacking on social causes to promote products. Each topic is presented in five framing variants: an unframed version and four values-based frames that connect the message to a value (e.g., authenticity, fairness). Participants also view one control message, for a total of 26 messages (5 topics × 5 framing variants, plus 1 control).
Topic order is randomized across participants; within each topic, the five framing variants are presented consecutively in random order.
- Conditions
- Diet Quality, Young Adult Health, Communication
- Being tested
- Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy, Engineering foods to be addictive, Targeting groups, Piggybacking on social causes, Covering up the evidence about the harms of unhealthy foods
- Medical subject headings
- Communication
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lying about unhealthy foods being healthyBehavioural
Participants will view 5 messages about how food companies promote unhealthy foods as healthy.
Engineering foods to be addictiveBehavioural
Participants will view 5 messages about how food companies engineer foods to be addictive.
Targeting groupsBehavioural
Participants will view 5 messages about how food companies target some groups to sell their unhealthy products.
Piggybacking on social causesBehavioural
Participants will view 5 messages about how food companies promote their unhealthy products by piggybacking on popular social causes.
Covering up the evidence about the harms of unhealthy foodsBehavioural
Participants will view 5 messages about how food companies cover up evidence about the harms of their unhealthy products.
ControlBehavioural
Participants will view 1 control message about fire safety.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages | Experimental | Participants view 26 messages. Messages cover five counter-marketing topics: (1) lying about unhealthy products being healthy, (2) engineering foods to be addictive, (3) covering up evidence about the harms of consuming unhealthy products, (4) targeting groups, (5) piggybacking on social causes to promote products. Each topic is presented in five framing variants: an unframed version and four values-based frames that connect the message to a value (e.g., authenticity, fairness). Participants also view one control message, for a total of 26 messages (5 topics × 5 framing variants, plus 1 control).
Topic order is randomized across participants; within each topic, the five framing variants are presented consecutively in random order. Receives: Behavioral: Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy; Behavioral: Engineering foods to be addictive; Behavioral: Targeting groups; Behavioral: Piggybacking on social causes; Behavioral: Covering up the evidence about the harms of unhealthy foods; Behavioral: Control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging consumption of unhealthy foods
The study will assess perceived message effectiveness for discouraging consumption of sugary drinks and processed snacks with 1 item: "This message discourages me from wanting to consume sugary drinks and processed snacks." Response options for all items will range from "Not at all" (coded as 1) to "A great deal" (coded as 5). Higher scores indicate higher perceived message effectiveness. The survey will measure perceived message effectiveness immediately after participants are exposed to each message.
Measured: The survey will take up to 15 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Aug 2026
- Study start8 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion16 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion16 Jan 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Diet QualityStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 645 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Anna Grummon, Stanford University
- Investigators
- Anna H. Grummon, Principal investigator, Stanford School of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07768462
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 85135
- Other IDs
- R01DK142823
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 17 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We will post supporting information to a public repository (e.g., GitHub or similar) upon publication of manuscripts using these data.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An Experiment Evaluating the Effectiveness of Counter-marketing Food Messages Among Young Adults
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07768462
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 85135
- Conditions
- Diet Quality, Young Adult Health, Communication
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 645 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Study start
- 8 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 16 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 16 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The primary objective of this study is to identify the food counter-marketing messages (i.e., messages that describe deceptive marketing tactics used by food companies) that are perceived as most effective among young adults.
Detailed description
Participants will complete a within-subjects, randomized experiment in which they view and rate messages describing deceptive marketing tactics used by food companies to sell unhealthy products.
Messages cover five topics: (1) lying about unhealthy products being healthy, (2) engineering foods to be addictive, (3) covering up evidence about the harms of consuming unhealthy products, (4) targeting groups, (5) piggybacking on social causes to promote products. Each topic is presented in five framing variants: an unframed version and four values-based frames that connect the message to a value (e.g., authenticity, fairness). Participants also view one control message, for a total of 26 messages (5 topics × 5 framing variants, plus 1 control).
Topic order is randomized across participants; within each topic, the five framing variants are presented consecutively in random order.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages | Experimental | Behavioral: Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy, Behavioral: Engineering foods to be addictive, Behavioral: Targeting groups, Behavioral: Piggybacking on social causes, Behavioral: Covering up the evidence about the harms of unhealthy foods, Behavioral: ControlParticipants view 26 messages. Messages cover five counter-marketing topics: (1) lying about unhealthy products being healthy, (2) engineering foods to be addictive, (3) covering up evidence about the harms of consuming unhealthy products, (4) targeting groups, (5) piggybacking on social causes to promote products. Each topic is presented in five framing variants: an unframed version and four values-based frames that connect the message to a value (e.g., authenticity, fairness). Participants also view one control message, for a total of 26 messages (5 topics × 5 framing variants, plus 1 control). Topic order is randomized across participants; within each topic, the five framing variants are presented consecutively in random order. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 29 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Age between 18-29 years
- Reside in the United States
- Consume at least 5-6 servings per week of sugary drinks and 5-6 servings per week of sweet and salty snacks
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Younger than 18 or older than 29 years
- Reside outside of the United States
- Consume less than 5-6 servings per week of sugary drinks or less than 5-6 servings per week of sweet and salty snacks
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lying about unhealthy foods being healthyParticipants will view 5 messages about how food companies promote unhealthy foods as healthy. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
| Engineering foods to be addictiveParticipants will view 5 messages about how food companies engineer foods to be addictive. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
| Targeting groupsParticipants will view 5 messages about how food companies target some groups to sell their unhealthy products. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
| Piggybacking on social causesParticipants will view 5 messages about how food companies promote their unhealthy products by piggybacking on popular social causes. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
| Covering up the evidence about the harms of unhealthy foodsParticipants will view 5 messages about how food companies cover up evidence about the harms of their unhealthy products. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
| ControlParticipants will view 1 control message about fire safety. | Behavioural | Experimental: Counter-marketing food messages |
Primary outcome
Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging consumption of unhealthy foods
Time frame: The survey will take up to 15 minutes
The study will assess perceived message effectiveness for discouraging consumption of sugary drinks and processed snacks with 1 item: "This message discourages me from wanting to consume sugary drinks and processed snacks." Response options for all items will range from "Not at all" (coded as 1) to "A great deal" (coded as 5). Higher scores indicate higher perceived message effectiveness. The survey will measure perceived message effectiveness immediately after participants are exposed to each message.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We will post supporting information to a public repository (e.g., GitHub or similar) upon publication of manuscripts using these data.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Anna H. Grummon principal investigator
Stanford School of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Lying about unhealthy foods being healthy, Engineering foods to be addictive and Targeting groups in people with Diet Quality and Young Adult Health, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Amanda Food Policy Lab Study Team (408-598-2672, foodpolicylab@stanford.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Perceived message effectiveness for discouraging consumption of unhealthy foods (time frame: The survey will take up to 15 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Aug 2026.