Reducing Sugar Use in Coffee While Maintaining Enjoyment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Consuming coffee without (or with less) sugar may help people lower their daily calorie intake without restrictive dieting. We tested two theory-based interventions to help people do so. One involved gradually reducing sugar over time, and the other was based on mindfulness theory. These interventions were compared to a repeated exposure (to sugar-free coffee) group. Participants in all conditions had significant increases in consumption of sugar-free coffee that lasted six months. The mindfulness group had a larger increase than the others. Unexpectedly, the gradual reduction intervention led to a decrease in liking for sugar-free coffee, and was the least effective.

Mindful eating: what we know so far

“…In a study designed to help reduce the use of sugar in coffee, Lenne and Mann (2020) found that instructing participants to pay attention to the sensory properties of unsweetened coffee over a 14‐day period resulted in greater reported consumption of coffee without sugar at 1‐ and 6‐month follow‐ups, compared to those who had simply been asked to drink their coffee unsweetened for a 14‐day period.…”