RT Journal
A1 Ebbeling CB, Ludwig DS
T1 NUtritively sweetened beverages and obesity
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD June 3
VO 301
IS 21
SP 2209
OP 2211
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.742
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.742
AB 
First, the intervention involved delivery of noncaloric beverages to the homes of adolescents who reported consuming at least 1 serving per day of sugar-sweetened beverage as a strategy to decrease consumption. In addition, we contacted adolescents in the treatment group by telephone on a monthly basis throughout the 25-week intervention period to encourage adherence. We disagree with Allison and Mattes that this “extra counseling . . . most likely confounded the study” because the telephone calls focused strictly on beverage consumption, without conveying other dietary or lifestyle messages, thereby serving to enhance rather than compromise treatment fidelity. Indeed, process data indicated a significant decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among adolescents in the treatment group and no change in the control group. By way of comparison, there were no differences between groups in physical activity level, television viewing, or media time.