Physical Activity Equivalent Discourages More Teens From Drinking Soft Drinks
A study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore indicated that physical activity equivalent is more effective at discouraging teens from consuming unhealthy beverages, as opposed to such information as calorie counts or recommended daily caloric intake.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Public Health, found that teenagers, who were shown how much physical activity they needed to do in order to get rid of the calories they will take in when they consume a fizzy drink, were half as likely to drink them.
The study involved the posting of three different signs outside corner shops, to determine which ones were most successful at discouraging teens from drinking soft drinks. One sign asked whether they knew that an average fizzy drink contained 250 calories, while another asked whether they knew that an average serving of fizzy drink was equivalent to 10 percent of their daily intake.
The third sign simply asked: “Did you know that working off a bottle of fizzy drink or fruit juice takes about 50 minutes of running?”
Based on the results, it was determined that while providing information regarding calorie counts brought about a 40 percent reduction in sales, it was the physical activity equivalent that was most successful, by managing to reduce sales by half.
Dr. Sara Bleich, study author, shared: “Providing easily understandable caloric information-particularly in the form of a physical activity equivalent, such as running-may reduce calorie intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and increase water consumption among low-income adolescents.”
