A low income neighborhood in Baltimore was selected for an interesting behavior test by researchers from Johns Hopkins University. In four corner stores, paper-written signs were put up next to the soft drinks. Then purchase behavior by teens was recorded. The twist -there were three different types of paper signs:
- a typical bottle contains 250 calories
- a bottle contains around 10% of your daily recommended calories
- you’ll need to jog for 50 minutes to burn off the calories in this bottle
All signs changed the purchase decision. But while the first 2 reduced the purchase of sugary drinks by 40%, the threat of having to run for almost an hour led to a 50% reduction! The study was published in the American Journal of Public Health. More information here and here.
So what did the teens choose instead of soda pop? In some cases – water. But many opted for diet drinks – not an improvement by our standards.
Still, there is hope. Obviously marking the calories in a clearly visible place has an impact on consumers choices. And when done in a creative way, the change can be more meaningful.
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