Health‐related Knowledge and Attitudes Are Associated with Sugars‐Sweetened Beverages Intake among U.S. Adults

Abstract

Due to limited information on associations between health‐related knowledge and attitudes and sugars‐sweetened beverage (SSB) intake, our study examined this question using the 2010 HealthStyles Survey data for 3,835 adults (≥18 years). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (OR) for drinking SSB ≥2 times/day. About 31% of adults consumed SSBs ≥1 time/day, with 20.5% doing so ≥2 times/day. Most adults (84.5%) agreed that drinking SSB can cause weight gain. However, the majority of adults did not know the actual calorie content of 24‐oz fountain soda (19% underestimated, 17% overestimated, and 45% did not know). Only 28.2% of adults agreed that if the price for a 20‐oz regular soda increased by $0.50 but the price of diet soda remained the same, they would switch to the diet soda. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the odds for drinking SSBs ≥2 times/day were significantly higher among adults who neither agreed nor disagreed (neutral) that drinking SSB can cause weight gain (OR=1.70 vs. agree), adults who underestimated the calorie content of regular soda (OR=1.52 vs. do not know), and adults who disagreed that if the price for a 20‐oz regular soda increased, they would switch to diet soda (OR =1.48 vs. agree). Our findings suggest a need for health education regarding the caloric content of SSBs and menu labeling can be a form of education information.