Disparities in Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened and Other Beverages by Race/Ethnicity and Obesity Status among United States Schoolchildren

• Published in: Journal of nutrition education and behavior Vol. 45; no. 3; pp. 240 - 249
• Main Authors: Dodd, Allison Hedley, PhD, Briefel, Ronette, DrPH, RD, Cabili, Charlotte, MS, MPH, Wilson, Ander, MS, Crepinsek, Mary Kay, MS, RD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.05.2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; African Americans - statistics & numerical data; Beverages; Beverages - statistics & numerical data; Child; child, overweight; Comparative Analysis; Data Analysis; Diet Surveys; Dietary Sucrose - administration & dosage; Eating Habits; Elementary school students; Ethnicity; European Continental Ancestry Group - statistics & numerical data; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Health Behavior - ethnology; Health Status Disparities; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Internal Medicine; Intervention; Lunch Programs; Male; Mental Recall; Nutrition; Obesity; Obesity - ethnology; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - prevention & control; Outcome Measures; Race; racial/ethnic disparities; School lunches; Schools; Social Environment; Students; sugar-sweetened beverages; United States; United States; United States > US; racial/ethnic disparities; child, overweight; sugar-sweetened beverages
• ISSN: 1499-4046; 1878-2620; 1708-8259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2012.11.005

Abstract Objective Identify disparities by race/ethnicity and obesity status in the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and other beverages among United States schoolchildren to help tailor interventions to reduce childhood obesity. Design Secondary data analysis using beverage intake data from 24-hour dietary recalls and measured height and weight from the third School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study, a 2004-2005 nationally representative sample of school-aged children and schools. Setting Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (n = 287). Participants Children in grades 1-12 with a completed 24-hour dietary recall (n = 2,314). Main Outcome Measure(s) Percentage of children consuming beverages in 8 beverage categories by school level and consumption location. Analysis Two-tailed t tests to determine significant differences ( P < .05) between the proportions of children consuming beverages by race/ethnicity and weight status. Results Beverage consumption patterns did not substantially differ across weight status groups, but they differed by race/ethnicity in the home. Non-Hispanic black elementary schoolchildren consumed nonsoda SSBs more often and unflavored, low-fat milk less often at home than non-Hispanic white schoolchildren. Conclusions and Implications Higher consumption of SSBs coupled with a lower consumption of milk is disproportionately affecting non-Hispanic black schoolchildren. Targeted interventions by racial/ethnic group are needed to promote more healthful beverage choices among schoolchildren, particularly at home.