Abstract
Beverages with little nutritional value, such as carbonated beverages, may negatively impact nutrition and have long-term health implications, including but not limited to obesity. This study examined the risks for beverage consumption choices and intake of participants living in a rural community. Multiple questionnaires adapted from the Chronic Illness Resources Survey, the Harvard Food Frequency Questionnaire, Michigan Alcohol Screening Test (MAST), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Questionnaire and 24 Hour Food Recall were administered to a cross sectional sample (n=706) using trained interviewers. The mean age of participants was 23.67 years of age (SD +/- 7.32) with 49.7% females and 50.1% males. Results indicated that carbonated beverages and alcohol consumption were related to increased caloric intake and Body Mass Index (BMI) in the sample (p< 0.05). Calories derived from carbonated beverages and alcohol consumption in younger persons (below age 35) exceeded (p < 0.5) weight and age recommendations for intake as determined by the National Research Council. Older persons (34-53 and > 53 years old), both male and female, drank fewer carbonated beverages and consumed significantly (p < .05) more caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The study results suggest an increased need for research into beverage consumption and its relationship to BMI.
Highlights
The epidemic of obesity in the US represents a public health crisis and will continue to be one of the top public health challenges in the 21st century
Nutrition educators and public health officials alike have often pointed to the increased consumption of carbonated beverages as one of the major causes of obesity and other health problems (Bray, 2010)
This study investigated the contributions of beverages to Body Mass Index (BMI) and nutritional status in rural participants
Summary
The epidemic of obesity in the US represents a public health crisis and will continue to be one of the top public health challenges in the 21st century. Nutrition educators and public health officials alike have often pointed to the increased consumption of carbonated beverages as one of the major causes of obesity and other health problems (Bray, 2010). Several experts and community leaders have led the way for eliminating carbonated beverages from schools as a solution to reduce childhood obesity and dental caries. In 2007, Dhingra et al, reported that soft drink consumption in middleaged adults is associated with a higher prevalence and incidence of multiple metabolic risk factors (Dhingra, Sullivan, Jacques, Wang, Fox, Meigs, D’Agostino, Graziano, Vasan, 2007). In 2007, Wolff and Dansinger reported “Six of 15 cross-sectional and 6 of 10 prospective cohort studies identified statistically significant associations between soft drink consumption and increased body weight.”
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