Impact of change in sugar‐sweetened beverage intake on the 2005 Healthy Eating Index score in Lower Mississippi Delta adults

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the change in the 2005 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005) score resulting from substitution of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) with water in Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) adult residents. Data from the Foods of Our Delta Survey 2000 (FOODS 2000) were retrospectively analyzed using statistical methods to account for the study's complex multistage survey design. The population ratio method was used to compute HEI-2005 scores. Substituting 25% of SSBs with water resulted in an approximate one point increase in HEI-2005 score; a 50% substitution resulted in an approximate 2.5 point increase; and a 100% substitution resulted in an approximate 4 point (7%) increase in HEI-2005 score for these LMD adults. The caloric decrease (194 kcals/day) corresponding to 100% substitution of water for SSBs would result in an average individual weight loss of 19 pounds if sustained over a one year period in this population of adults. Hence, substitution of SSBs with water could favorably impact not only the HEI-2005 score of LMD adult residents, but also their resulting caloric intake, potentially leading to weight loss. Funding for this research was provided by the USDA Agricultural Research Service.