Abstract
ObjectivesThis study aims to characterize the consumption of sweetened beverages (SB) among young people in Germany in terms of individual and interpersonal-environmental correlates.MethodsA representative sample of children and adolescents from Germany was assessed twice, 6 years apart (total longitudinal sample n = 11,691 children and adolescents aged between 0 and 17 years old; weighted). The relations between individual and interpersonal-environmental factors at baseline with SB intake 6 years later were analysed using bivariate and multivariate methods.ResultsThe majority of children and adolescents in Germany consume sweetened beverages weekly, 23% daily. SB consumption is particularly high in boys and often accompanied by other unhealthy lifestyle behaviours including a high level of tobacco and media consumption with a concurrent deficiency in fruit and vegetable consumption. Interpersonal factors associated with higher sweetened beverage consumption include low socio-economic status, tobacco consumption of parents, and older maternal age.ConclusionsResearch on factors that correlate with sweetened beverage consumption is crucial to design effective interventions. Our findings underline the importance of complex, multi-level interventions to target sweetened beverage intake and obesity.
Highlights
Effective promotion of healthy eating is central to fighting the growing global obesity epidemic
Objectives This study aims to characterize the consumption of sweetened beverages (SB) among young people in Germany in terms of individual and interpersonal-environmental correlates
SB consumption is high in boys and often accompanied by other unhealthy lifestyle behaviours including a high level of tobacco and media consumption with a concurrent deficiency in fruit and vegetable consumption
Summary
Effective promotion of healthy eating is central to fighting the growing global obesity epidemic. Reverse causality always needs to be considered, the majority of primary studies, reviews, and meta-analyses conclude that sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) intake causes excess weight gain. They suggest that limiting SSB consumption will significantly reduce the prevalence of obesity, among children and adolescents (Keller and Bucher Della Torre 2015). Longitudinal data show that even one additional serving of SSBs per day is associated with greater risk of increased BMI among adolescents (Bogart et al 2017) This might be because drinking SSBs does not lead to feelings of satiety, but rather increases hunger levels and prompts food consumption (Bogart et al 2017; Hennessy et al 2015). In addition to its role in obesity development, excessive consumption of SSBs has consistently been associated with the development of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, poor oral health (e.g. dental caries), and the displacement of milk and calcium in the diet (Garnett et al 2013; Mazarello Paes et al 2015)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
