Objectives: To investigate sex differences in sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of frequent energy drink (ED) consumption in adolescents. Study design: This study was based on data collected among French-speaking Belgian adolescents aged 11e20 years (n ¼ 8137) within the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Methods: Multiple logistic analyses stratified by sex were performed to estimate the associations between consuming EDs more than once a week, and various sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Overall, 14.0% of boys and 7.6% of girls consumed ED more than once a week. For both genders, the likelihood of consuming ED more than once a week was higher among adolescents consuming soft drinks daily (vs. < daily), alcohol weekly (vs. < weekly), spending at least 5 h/day in front of screens (vs. < 5 h/day), and going to bed later than 11:30 PM (vs. 10:00 PM). Among boys, adolescents reporting at least 1 h of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily (vs. < 1 h/day MVPA) were more likely to consume ED more than once a week (adjusted odd ratio (aOR) ¼ 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11e2.01)). Among girls, adolescents from low affluence families (vs. high affluence) (aOR ¼ 2.03 (95% CI 1.19e3.48)) and immigrants (vs. natives) (2nd generation: aOR ¼ 1.75 (95% CI 1.31 e2.32); 1st generation: aOR ¼ 1.90 (95% CI 1.20e3.03)) were more likely to consume ED more than once a week. Conclusions: We identified different patterns of ED consumption in boys and girls. These results suggest that sex-tailored interventions could be relevant to reduce ED consumption in adolescents.

Background: This study estimated the monetary cost of diets with higher and lower caloric shares of ultraprocessed food products (UPF) and unprocessed/minimally processed foods (MPF) in Belgium for various sociodemographic groups. Methods: Data from the latest nationally representative Food Consumption Survey (FCS) 2014–2015 (n = 3146; 3–64 years) were used. Dietary data were collected through two nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls (food diaries for children). Average prices for >2000 food items (year 2014) were derived from GfK ConsumerScan panel data and linked with foods consumed in the FCS. Foods eaten were categorized by their extent of processing using the NOVA classification. The average caloric share (percentage of daily energy intake) of UPF and MPF were calculated. The mean diet cost was compared across the UPF and MPF contribution tertiles, using linear regression. Results: The average price per 100 kcal for UPF was significantly cheaper (EUR 0.55; 95%CI = 0.45–0.64) than for MPF (EUR 1.29; 95% CI = 1.27–1.31). UPF contributed between 21.9% (female adults) and 29.9% (young boys), while MPF contributed between 29.5% (male adolescents) and 42.3% (female adults) to the daily dietary cost. The contribution of MPF to the daily dietary cost was significantly higher for individuals with a higher household education level compared to those with a lower household education level (p < 0.01). Adjusted for covariates, the average dietary cost per 2000 kcal was significantly lower for individuals in the highest compared to the lowest tertile for the proportion of daily energy consumed from UPF (EUR −0.37 ± 0.13; p = 0.006), and significantly higher for individuals in the highest compared to the lowest tertile for proportion of daily energy consumed from MPF (EUR 1.18 ± 0.12, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Diets with a larger caloric share of UPF were significantly cheaper than those with a lower contribution of these products, while the opposite was found for MPF. Policies that improve relative affordability and accessibility of MPF are recommended.

Introduction Early alcohol consumption can irreversible damage the adolescents’ brain and may affect their quality of life. In order to better prevent such a deleterious behaviour, knowing its determinants is needed. So far, only few studies among adolescents aged <15 years exist, of which the majority failed to include gender differences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether gender differences in the association between alcohol use and sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics among 10-14-year olds exist. Methods Data came from the 2018 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study conducted in French-speaking schools of Belgium. The sample analysed here comprised 4,364 10-14-year olds from the Walloon Region. Associations of the recent alcohol consumption (at least one glass during the past month) with sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics were estimated using gender-stratified multivariable logistic regression modelling. Results Prevalence of early alcohol consumption was 14% (boys: 16%; girls: 12%). Migration status and family affluence scale (FAS) were associated with early alcohol consumption only in boys. Second-generation immigrant boys (vs. natives: OR = 0.66 [0.47–0.92]) and boys from “low” FAS families (vs. “high”: OR = 0.56 [0.32–0.98]) or “medium” FAS (vs. “high”: OR = 0.63 [0.43–0.92]) were less likely to have consumed alcohol in the past month. In both genders, alcohol consumption was positively associated with age and inversely associated with school satisfaction and family support. No association was observed with family structure, peer support and life satisfaction in the multivariable models. Conclusion Our findings showed that gender differences may exist in the determinants of alcohol consumption among young adolescents. They will contribute to the development of public health policies and actions for the most vulnerable adolescents, which should take gender differences into account.

Background In Belgium, as in many other countries, the juvenile practice of physical activity is insufficient. A growing attention has been paid to environmental factors that may influence physical activity but with inconsistent findings. This study aims to estimate the association between daily life environment characteristics and physical activity among children 10 to 13 years old in Wallonia (Belgium). Methods Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire among 1940 children (HBSC survey). Associations between factors related to the children’s living environment and physical activity (vigorous physical activity (VPA) ≥ twice a week; global physical activity (GPA) defined as VPA ≥ twice a week and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity ≥1 h/day) were estimated using logistic regressions adjusted for potential confounders. Results Nearly three-quarters of the children practiced VPA ≥ twice a week, but only one in five practiced GPA consistent with recommendations. After adjustment, children living in a neighborhood with playgrounds or parks were more likely to achieve a recommended level of GPA (OR: 1.34 [1.04–1.73]), as were children who reported that other youngsters were present in their neighborhood with whom they could play outside (OR: 1.50 [1.12–1.99]). The presence of neighborhood children was also positively associated with VPA (OR: 1.80 [1.42–2.29]); in stratified analyses, the association was significant only among boys (OR: 1.95 [1.34–2.82]). Moreover, and only in girls (OR: 1.66 [1.10–2.49]), a feeling of safety in one’s neighborhood was positively associated with VPA. No association was found between VPA and the existence of a yard or a garden at home to go playing outside. Conclusion Our results argue for developing actions aimed at creating living environments more favorable to children’s daily physical activity. More specifically, they help better understand the environment of Belgian children and thus contribute to better identify their needs.

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