Evaluating a Portion Cap Policy on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

Briefly, the data for this evaluation were collected from adults recruited from the Boston / Cambridge area to participate in an RCT conducted at an eating behavior lab at the Landmark Center (Lab). Participants were masked to the purpose of the study and were randomized to one of four conditions. To conceal the purpose of the study, participants were asked to participate in a pseudo-focus group pretending to conduct consumer research on restaurant preferences. Participants were asked not to eat after 3 pm prior to the 5:30 pm focus group. Participants were seated at individual dining tables and were asked to order and purchase dinner from a restaurant menu and consumed the meal while in the restaurant Lab. After the focus group, participants completed electronic questionnaires (e.g., demographic information, eating behaviors, and perceptions of the meal). Participants returned to the Lab the following day to complete a brief dietary recall interview. After they completed the study procedures, they were debriefed about the purpose of the study and provided the opportunity to withdraw from the study.

The current evaluation will be conducted under an IRB-approved, apriori, statistical analysis plan using the data collected during the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Portion limit Dining Lab RCT.