Advertisement

Want a soda? Take a 5-mile walk to burn the calories

The researchers observed 3,100 drink purchases by teens between the ages of 12 and 19.

By Aileen Graef

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- A new study from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests informing teenagers about how much exercise they would need to burn off the calories in a soda or sugary drink may lead to a decrease in consumption.

Bleich and her team posted six signs in corner stores in a low-income neighborhood informing people that a 20-ounce soda, sports drink or fruit drink has 250 calories and 16 tablespoons of sugar, causing a nutritional deficit that would require 50 minutes of running or a 5-mile walk to burn off the calories.

Advertisement

The researchers observed 3,100 drink purchases by teens between the ages of 12 and 19. Of the 25 percent of teenagers they interviewed, 35 percent said they saw the signs and 59 percent said they believed the signs with 40 percent changing their purchases as a result.

"People don't really understand what it means to say a typical soda has 250 calories," said study head Sara Bleich, an associate professor in the department of health policy and management. "If you're going to give people calorie information, there's probably a better way to do it. What our research found is that when you explain calories in an easily understandable way such as how many miles of walking needed to burn them off, you can encourage behavior change."

Advertisement

Many states have calorie information disclosure requirements in restaurants, but this study shows that adding complementary exercise information may help promote healthier choices.

Black adolescents are one of the groups at highest risk for obesity and one of the largest consumers of sugary beverages. And there is a strong scientific link between consumption of sugary beverages and obesity. Using these easy-to-understand and easy-to-install signs may help promote obesity prevention or weight loss," Bleich concluded.

Latest Headlines