CDC Releases BRFSS Report on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Adults in 23 States and D.C.

 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6507a1.htm?s_cid=mm6507a1_e

 

The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that the daily intake of calories from added sugars not exceed 10% of total calories. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are significant sources of added sugars in the diet of U.S. adults and account for approximately one third of added sugar consumption. Among adults, frequent (i.e., at least once a day) SSB intake is associated with adverse health consequences, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

 

In 2013, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone survey, revised the SSB two-item optional module to retain the first question on regular soda and expand the second question to include more types of SSBs than just fruit drinks.

 

Using 2013 BRFSS data, self-reported SSB (i.e., regular soda, fruit drinks, sweet tea, and sports or energy drinks) intake among adults (aged ≥18 years) was assessed in 23 states and the District of Columbia (DC).

 

The overall age-adjusted prevalence of SSB intake ≥1 time per day was 30.1% and ranged from 18.0% in Vermont to 47.5% in Mississippi.

 

Overall, at least once daily SSB intake was most prevalent among adults aged 18–24 years (43.3%), men (34.1%), non-Hispanic blacks (blacks) (39.9%), unemployed adults (34.4%), and persons with less than a high school education (42.4%).

 

States that elect to use the optional module can use the data for program evaluation and monitoring trends and information on disparities in SSB consumption could be used to create targeted intervention efforts to reduce SSB consumption.

 

Because of the potential adverse health outcomes associated with SSB intake, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, public health practitioners should continue efforts aimed at decreasing SSB intake among demographic groups with the highest reported consumption.

 

Strategies can include education initiatives, increasing access to healthier options through nutrition standards such as food service guidelines, increasing availability of drinking water in schools and public venues, screening and counseling patients on SSB reduction, and facility food and beverage changes in clinic or hospital settings for employees, families, and patients.

 

 

MMWR Weekly Vol. 65, No. 7 February 26, 2016

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In this report

Prevalence of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among Adults — 23 States and the District of Columbia, 2013 Sohyun Park, PhD; Fang Xu, PhD; Machell Town, PhD; et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:169–74