Objective:
To describe trends across the intake distribution of total, manufactured and homemade sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) from 1999 to 2012, focusing on high SSBs consumers and on changes by socioeconomic status subgroups.
Design:
We analyzed data from one 24-hour dietary recall from two nationally representative surveys. Quantile regression models at the 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles of energy intake distribution of SSBs were used.
Setting:
1999 Mexican National Nutrition Survey and 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey.
Subjects:
School-aged children (5–11 years) and women 20–49 years for trend analyses (n=7,718). Population aged >1 years for 2012 (n=10,096).
Results:
Over the 1999–2012 period, there were significant increases in the proportion of total and manufactured SSBs consumers (5.7 and 10.7 percentage points), along with an increase in per-consumer SSBs energy intake, resulting in significant increases in per-capita total SSBs energy intake (34, 59 and 95 kcal/d at 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles in school-aged children, and 37, 79 and 109 kcal/d at 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles in women). Total and manufactured SSB intakes increased sharply among low-SES children but remained similar among high-SES children during this time span.
Conclusion:
Large increases in SSB consumption were seen between 1999 and 2012 during this pretax SSB period, particularly for the highest consumers. Trends observed in school-aged children are a clear example of the nutrition transition experienced in Mexico. Policies to discourage high intake of manufactured SSBs should continue, joined with strategies to encourage water and low-calorie beverages consumption.