Reducing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in India through Multi-Component Interventions

Strategic Insights -

According to a recent study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, a multi-component intervention consisting of pictorial health warnings, educational pamphlets, and targeted counseling can effectively reduce the purchase frequency and calorie intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among parents in urban slum settings in India. The study, conducted by researchers from the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, found that the implementation of this intervention led to a significant reduction in SSB purchases, with 25% of parents buying SSBs post-intervention compared to 55% pre-intervention.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study assessed the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention in reducing parental purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages for children in urban slum settings in India.
  • The intervention consisted of pictorial health warnings, educational pamphlets, and targeted counseling, which were implemented at general stores and evaluated over a period of ten weeks.
  • The results showed a significant reduction in SSB purchases, with 25% of parents buying SSBs post-intervention compared to 55% pre-intervention (p = 0.002).
  • Parents also purchased SSBs with fewer calories post-intervention (45 kcal vs. 92 kcal, p < 0.05).
  • The study concluded that multi-component interventions on SSBs can effectively reduce purchase frequency and calorie intake among parents in urban slum settings.
  • The findings support the potential for multi-component interventions to be a feasible public health intervention to reduce SSB consumption in similar socio-economic contexts.

Statistics:

  • 60 parents were recruited for the study, with data collected over a period of ten weeks.
  • The intervention led to a significant reduction in SSB purchases, with 25% of parents buying SSBs post-intervention compared to 55% pre-intervention (p = 0.002).
  • Parents also purchased SSBs with fewer calories post-intervention (45 kcal vs. 92 kcal, p < 0.05).
  • The study concluded that multi-component interventions on SSBs can effectively reduce purchase frequency and calorie intake among parents in urban slum settings.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Study Findings Reported from Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Effectiveness of a multi-component intervention including pictorial warnings to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption - a randomized controlled trial). Obesity & Diabetes Week. September 15, 2025; p 95.
  • International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2025;22(1):1-14. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01800-0.