Consumption of sugary drinks among children and adolescents has increased by 23% between 1990 and 2018, according to a study that reveals that 238 million young people – 10% of the global youth population – consume an average of 7 or more servings per week.
A new global analysis of the dietary habits of children and adolescents in 185 countries found that, on average, young people consumed nearly 23% more sugary drinks in 2018 compared with 1990. Overall, consumption was similar among boys and girls, but higher among adolescents, urban residents, and children whose parents had lower levels of education. The work was conducted by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
The study drew on the Global Diet Database, a comprehensive collection of what people around the world eat or drink, to generate the first global estimates and trends of sugary drink consumption in youth. These were defined as soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, sports drinks and home-sweetened fruit drinks, such as agua fresca with added sugars and containing more than 50 kcal per one-cup serving.
The research team’s definition of sugary drinks excluded 100% fruit juices, artificially sweetened zero-calorie beverages and sweetened milks. Incorporating data from more than 1,200 surveys from 1990 to 2018 into a large model, the research team found that youth (defined as those between 3 and 19 years old) drank more and had nearly double the total consumption of adults.
Mexico and the US lead the way in sugary drink consumption
Consumption of sugary drinks among young people varied significantly by world region, with an average of 3.6 servings per week globally and ranging from 1.3 servings per week in South Asia to 9.1 servings in Latin America and the Caribbean. The researchers found that children and adolescents in 56 countries, representing 238 million young people, or 10% of the global youth population, consumed an average of 7 or more servings per week. Their findings have been published in The BMJ.
“Sugar-sweetened beverages increase weight gain and obesity risk, so although children do not typically develop diabetes or cardiovascular disease, there could be significant impacts later in life,” said lead author Laura Lara-Castor, adding: “This study highlights the need for targeted educational and policy interventions to change behaviour early and prevent adverse outcomes associated with sugary drink consumption in childhood.”
Among the world’s most populous nations, those with the highest youth consumption of sugary drinks in 2018 included Mexico (10.1 servings per week), followed by Uganda (6.9), Pakistan (6.4), South Africa (6.2) and the United States (6.2). Looking at trends from 1990 to 2018, the region with the largest increase in consumption among youth was sub-Saharan Africa, where average weekly servings grew 106% to 2.17 servings per week — an acceleration that requires attention, according to the researchers.
“This study highlights the need for educational and policy interventions to change behavior and prevent adverse outcomes associated with sugary drink consumption in childhood.”
In recent years, many governments around the world have been implementing measures such as soda taxes and restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks in schools to promote healthy eating habits. These efforts are new and also face strong opposing forces, such as aggressive industry marketing and the globalization of the food sector.
“Our findings should be a wake-up call in nearly every nation in the world,” said senior author Dariush Mozaffarian, the Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School. “The intakes and trends we are seeing represent a significant threat to public health, one that we can and must address for the future of a healthier population.”
