Overcoming Obesity in Adolescents: The Mere Exposure Effect and Sparkling Water

Abstract

This study examined how increasing exposure of sparkling water to adolescents would affect their preference for sparkling water, with the value in exploring a substitution to sugar sweetened beverages that highly contribute to the adolescent obesity epidemic. Currently, adolescents have received minimal exposure to sparkling water and continue to consume unhealthy beverages that present themselves in their everyday lives through their schools, home environments, and activities. This study aimed to fill the gap within the Mere Exposure Effect realm where studies have not been conducted on sparkling water as a stimulus with adolescents. Preference survey ratings from 30 subjects over a ten day exposure period were collected to examine the effects that drinking one sparkling water daily had on participants' preference for them. The results from the preference rating showed that as a result of exposure, adolescents' preference of sparkling water experienced a statistically significant increase as a result of exposure. The results reinforced other studies’ findings that the Mere Exposure Effect increases preference as a result of exposure, and proved applicable to the new stimulus of sparkling water directed towards the population of American adolescents. The implications of exposure to sparkling water as a way to create healthier consumption habits for adolescents were discussed, with future research being directed towards finding which flavors would be most effective with implementation.