Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and association with weight status in Irish children: A cross-sectional study prior to the introduction of a government tax on sugar-sweetened beverages
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Date
2020-05-28
Authors
Harrington, Janas M.
Perry, Catherine
Keane, Eimear
Perry, Ivan J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society
Published Version
Abstract
Objective: To provide baseline evidence of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in a sample of Irish children prior to the introduction of the SSB tax; to identify the energy contribution of SSB to daily energy intake; and to explore the association between SSB consumption and overweight/obesity. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary schools in Cork, Ireland in 2012. Participants: 1075 boys and girls aged 8–11 years. SSB consumption was assessed from 3-d food diaries. BMI was used to define obesity (International Obesity Taskforce definitions). Plausible energy reporters (n 724, 68 % of total sample) were classified using Schofield equation. Results: Eighty-two per cent of children with plausible energy intake consumed SSB. Mean energy intake from SSB was 485 kJ (6 % of total kJ). Mean kilojoules from SSB increased with weight status from 443 kJ for normal-weight children to 648 kJ for children with overweight/obesity (5·8 and 7·6 % of total kJ, respectively). Mean SSB intake was significantly higher in children with overweight/obesity than normal-weight children (383 and 315 ml/d). In adjusted analyses, children consuming >200 ml/d had an 80 % increased odds of overweight/obesity compared to those consuming <200 ml/d (OR 1·8, 95 % CI 1·0, 3·5). Family socioeconomic status and lifestyle determinants, including frequency of takeaway consumption and TV viewing, were also significantly associated with SSB consumption. Conclusions: SSB account for a substantial proportion of daily energy intake and are significantly associated with child overweight/obesity. This study provides baseline data from a sample of children from which the impact of the SSB tax can be benchmarked.
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Keywords
Child obesity , Child weight , Sugar tax , Sugar-sweetened beverages
Citation
Harrington, J. M., Perry, C., Keane, E. and Perry, I. J. (2020) 'Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and association with weight status in Irish children: A cross-sectional study prior to the introduction of a government tax on sugar-sweetened beverages', Public Health Nutrition, 23(12), pp. 2234-2244. doi: 10.1017/S1368980020000014
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© 2020, the Authors. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society. This material is free to view and download for personal use only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works.