Because Americans are aware of the risks, they still drink sugary drinks every day

Because Americans are aware of the risks, they still drink sugary drinks every day

Despite widespread awareness of the health risks associated with sugary drinks, consumption remains high, showing that taste, habits and marketing have a stronger impact than knowledge alone.

Study: Associations between knowledge of health conditions and consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among US adults, 2021.

In a recent article published in the journalNutrientsResearchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) examined how knowledge of health risks from consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) influences SSB consumption among adults. Their results suggest that health problems associated with SSB consumption vary across sociodemographic groups but are not significantly correlated with high SSB consumption, defined as twice or more per day.

background

High consumption persists: Nearly 30% of U.S. adults consume sugary drinks (SSBs) two or more times daily, despite widespread awareness of certain health risks such as weight gain and diabetes.

Health experts have warned that excessive added sugar, particularly from SSBs, is becoming a significant public health challenge in the United States. Frequent consumption of SSBs has been linked to health problems including cardiovascular disease, some cancers, high cholesterol and blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and weight gain.

American Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily calorie intake. However, estimates from 2015 to 2018 suggest that average intake in the United States is higher, at about 12.2%.

SSB use is widespread across the country, with nearly 78% of non-Hispanic black and Hispanic adults using SSBs, compared to 65% of non-Hispanic white individuals. While health knowledge can lead to healthier behavior, studies show inconclusive results as to whether understanding the health risks of SSBs influences their consumption.

About the study

The researchers used a cross-sectional research design using survey data to assess health-related behaviors, attitudes and knowledge of American adults. After excluding those with incomplete information, the sample included 4,022 people.

SSB consumption was measured as daily intake of five types of SSBs: sweetened fruit, energy, exercise, sweetened tea or coffee, and regular soda. The frequency of consumption was noted, with more than twice a day being the upper limit and no consumption being the lower limit.

The survey also asked participants questions to assess their knowledge of health conditions related to SSB consumption. Sociodemographic characteristics were collected, including geographic region, weight status, income, marital status, education, ethnicity or race, gender, and age.

The researchers analyzed the data using statistical tests that examined the associations between health knowledge, sociodemographic characteristics and SSB consumption.

Insights

Decline in consumption: Between 2014 and 2021, daily SSB consumption fell from 68% to 50%, reflecting a modest but positive trend likely influenced by labeling reforms and public health campaigns.

Results on patterns of SSB consumption showed that nearly 30% of surveyed participants reported consuming SSBs twice or more in the month prior to the survey. High SSB use was most common among people living in the Northeast, people with annual incomes of less than $35,000, people without a college education, non-Hispanic whites, men, and people aged 45 to 64 years.

84% of respondents knew that consuming SSB can cause weight gain, while more than 78% knew about its links to diabetes and 74% knew that it could cause tooth decay. However, less than 40% knew that some cancers, high cholesterol and blood pressure, and heart disease are also linked to SSB consumption.

Knowledge about these effects differed significantly between different sociodemographic groups, including income, ethnicity or race, gender, and age. Bivariate analyzes suggested that SSB consumption differed significantly depending on knowledge of associations with diabetes and weight gain.

Specifically, after researchers adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of health conditions did not appear to be significantly associated with consuming SSBs twice or more per day compared to abstaining from consuming SSBs. This suggests that behavioral changes are caused by taste preferences, marketing influences and the habitual nature of SSB consumption rather than just health knowledge.

Conclusions

The researchers found that while the links between SSB consumption and tooth decay, diabetes and weight gain were well known, awareness of other risks was lower. Between 2014 and 2021, there was a slight increase in awareness of health risks associated with SSB consumption. Consumption rates also fell; While about 68% of American adults consumed SSBs daily in 2014, that statistic dropped to about 50% in 2021.

The decline in SSB consumption may reflect the impact of updated food labeling, increased consumer awareness and public health education campaigns during this period.

The analysis found no evidence that knowledge of health risks influences high SSB consumption after controlling for socio-demographic factors, suggesting that behavior may be more influenced by perceived health, marketing and taste. Public health measures to reduce SSB consumption could include measures such as front-of-pack warning labels that clearly indicate health risks and updated warning labels that are clearly visible.

Past successful initiatives have included educational campaigns that raise awareness and present and promote alternatives. Challenges to effective interventions include misconceptions about risks, specific preferences for some SSBs, easy accessibility of these products, and habitual consumption.

The study also points out limitations, such as the cross-sectional design, which precludes causal conclusions. Additionally, self-reported data may be subject to recall or social desirability bias.

Future surveys should also focus on collecting nationally representative samples to produce generalizable results.

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