A Sensory Strategy to Cut Sugary Beverages in African/American and Latine Adolescents
Eligible age
12–18 yrs
Accepts
All genders
Locations
1 state
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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About this study
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
Sponsor: Nana Gletsu Miller
You may qualify if…
- ✓ 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.
- ✓ Have obesity (body mass index \[BMI\] \> 95%). During screening, subjects' height and weight will be measured to calculate BMI, and BMI will be balanced across study arms using stratified randomization.
- ✓ Adolescents must also indicate a willingness to drink study beverages; not currently dieting/changing diet.
You may not qualify if…
- ✕ For the primary objective. Exclusion Criteria:
- ✕ Adolescent participant is pregnant, since pregnancy affects taste perception
- ✕ Participant is allergic or intolerant to the items we are testing.
- ✕ For the secondary objective. Exclusion Criteria:
- ✕ Adolescent with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (self-declared or detected at screening visit through fasting glucose)
- ✕ Currently consume unsweetened, sparkling water two or more times per week.
- ✕ Adolescent participant is pregnant, since pregnancy affects taste perception
- ✕ Participant is allergic or intolerant to the items we are testing.
Where it's recruiting
Bloomington · Indianapolis · West Lafayette
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT07223151 · last updated 2025-10-31