Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Perceived as Healthier Than Soda Among Young Adults and Groups at Risk for Misperceptions (P04-186-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesTo reduce sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, public health campaigns have focused on soda. However, intake of other SSBs has increased, perhaps due to perceptions that they are healthier. Thus, we sought to examine differences in health perceptions between soda and four types of SSBs among young adults and determine if socioeconomic characteristics were associated with perceptions. MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, 1339 undergraduate students from three universities participated in an online survey in August-November of 2018. Items used 7-point Likert scales to assess 1) perceived healthfulness of daily consumption of soda, sweetened tea, Vitamin Water, fruit-flavored drinks and sports drinks and 2) agreement or disagreement that these beverages increase risk of diabetes. Surveys also assessed demographic characteristics and food insecurity as a proxy for socioeconomic status. Analyses used Chi-square tests with dichotomized outcomes and linear regression models adjusting for race/ethnicity, university, gender and age. ResultsStudents were more likely to perceive daily consumption of fruit-flavored drinks, sweetened tea, sports drinks, and Vitamin Water as healthy compared to soda (9%, 5%, 6%, and 14% vs. 2%, respectively, all P-values < 0.05) and were less likely to agree that these SSBs increase risk of diabetes compared to soda (67%, 67%, 61%, and 46% vs. 95%, respectively, all P-values < 0.001). Food insecure students rated all SSBs (except Vitamin Water) as healthier than did food secure students (P-values < 0.05). Food insecure students were also less likely than food secure students to agree that soda and Vitamin Water increase risk for diabetes (P-values < 0.05). ConclusionsTo reduce SSB consumption, public health policies and programs should focus on all types of SSBs, not just soda. Policies like SSB warning labels, which apply to all SSBs, may help correct misperceptions of SSB healthfulness and potentially reduce health disparities. Funding SourcesResearch reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or USDA.