Factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adults with children in the home after a statewide health communications program

Abstract

Background: In 2016, Oklahoma launched "Shape Your Future-Rethink Your Drink" (SYF/RYD), an obesity prevention health communication program targeting parents and caregivers of children. The aims of this study are to compare sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption before and after the program and to report factors associated with SSB consumption, knowledge, and attitudes. Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study involved 2656 Oklahoma adults with ≥ one child under 18 years in the home. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated and the relationship between SSB consumption and covariates of interest were examined using logistic regression techniques appropriate for survey data. Results: Following the SYF/RYD program, SSB consumption decreased 18.6% (p = 0.0232) and heavy SSB consumption, ≥ three SSB per day, decreased 42.9% (p = 0.0083). Factors associated with SSB consumption, 1 year after the launch of SYF/RYD included high school education or less (AOR = 1.33 with 95% CI = 1.02, 1.73), fair or poor health status (AOR = 2.02 with 95% CI = 1.47, 2.78), drinking less than eight cups of water daily (AOR = 1.77 with 95% CI = 1.39, 2.25), inability to afford healthy foods (AOR = 1.33 with 95% CI = 1.06, 1.67), and self-identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native (AOR = 1.59 with 95% CI = 1.10, 2.29). Conclusions: Health communication campaigns, such as SYF/RYD, are an evidence-based strategy for health behavior change and likely contributed to the declines observed in SSB consumption. Important differences in SSB consumption by population subgroups persist and have implications for future message development.

How have media campaigns been used to promote and discourage healthy and unhealthy beverages in the United States? A systematic scoping review to inform future research to reduce sugary beverage health risks

“…Healthy Eating Research National Program and four organizations, was based on the 2019 healthy beverage consensus guidelines for children birth to age 5 years 12 . Section 4.7 describes 12 evaluations for 11 campaigns 72–83 …”

“…51 In contrast, evaluations for 10 unique campaigns found a positive knowledge change attributed to the media campaign. 57,63,64,72,73,75,78,79,82,86 Twenty-one studies measured midterm behavioral outcomes including healthy beverage intake, change in retail sales of healthy beverage, or whether a respondent communicated with another person(s) about the campaign or messages. Eleven of 13 studies that reported on sugary beverage consumption found decreased intake [56][57][58][59][60]62,74,[78][79][80]83 for six unique campaigns.…”

“…The short-term outcomes reported for the 20 campaigns indicated that public health campaigns positively affected short-term healthy beverage behaviors and sales. Only three campaigns 57,61,79 reported institutional policy changes to promote low-fat milk or water, and Maddock et al 57 100 The Skip the Sugar, Choose Water campaign explicitly stated that it was funded by the sugary beverage tax in Albany, CA 69 (Figure 3). However, we found no evaluation for a media campaign that had communicated the benefits of sugary beverage taxes for communities.…”

“…51,52,55,56,63 Only two evaluations 74,86 had involved ethnically diverse youth who are disproportionately impacted by sugary beverage marketing. 17 The evaluations for 14 studies 51,52,57,58,63,64,72,73,75,76,78,79,81,82,86 reported positive changes to short-term cognitive outcomes, especially knowledge about the benefits of water or milk and the consequences of drinking sugary beverages. Two independent b Samuels et al 82 did not conduct a baseline assessment, so it is not possible to report changes in the postcampaign evaluation.…”

“…57,63,64,72,73,75,78,79,82,86 Twenty-one studies measured midterm behavioral outcomes including healthy beverage intake, change in retail sales of healthy beverage, or whether a respondent communicated with another person(s) about the campaign or messages. Eleven of 13 studies that reported on sugary beverage consumption found decreased intake [56][57][58][59][60]62,74,[78][79][80]83 for six unique campaigns. The Cavities Get Around campaign evaluation was the only one that reported changes in healthy beverage intake among young children.…”