<p>Prevalence and socio-behavioral factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverages consumption among 15 years and older persons in South Africa</p>

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and its relationship with socio-behavioral factors using national population-based data in South Africa. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) in 2012. The population sample included 15,179 adults (median age=34.0 years, interquartile range=25, range=15–98 years) who participated in the SANHANES-1. Results: Overall, the study participants consumed 33.9% none, 48.3% 1–3 times, 7.2% 4–6 times, and 10.6% every day soft drinks in the past week (or an equivalent of an average of 0.30 servings, SD=0.3, per day); 43.4% had consumed no sweetened fruit juice, 42.3% 1–3 times, 5.2% 4–6 times; and 9.1% daily sweetened fruit juice (or an equivalent of an average of 0.25 servings, SD=0.3, per day). The prevalence of daily SSB (soft drink and/or sweetened fruit juice) consumption was 16.0% (or an equivalent of an average of 0.54 servings, SD=0.5, per day). In the final logistic regression model, younger age, urban residence, perceived overweight, fruit consumption, fresh fruit juice consumption, and having had processed meat and fried food from street vendors were associated with SSB consumption. In addition, problem drinking and physical activity were associated with daily soft drink consumption, and higher sedentary time was associated with daily sweetened fruit juice consumption. Conclusions: The study found a high prevalence of daily SSB consumption and identified several socio-behavioral factors that can be targeted in public health intervention programs.

Association between socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption among adults in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study

“…This finding is consistent with research from Singapore showing that high and medium earners consumed less soft drinks when compared to low earners 11 . Conversely, a study from Australia reported that households with higher annual incomes were more likely to consume soft drinks compared to households with lower annual incomes 23 .…”

“…The findings of the present study are consistent with findings from Malaysia showing that 53.3% of individuals consume soft drinks three times per week or more 20 , with similar findings also in Saudi Arabia (40%) and Nigeria (42.8%). Daily consumption has been reported in developed countries such as the USA (40%) 21 and the UK (20.4%) 22 and similarly in South Africa (48.3%) 23 . This may be related to the culture of western and European countries preferring fast food and artificially sweetened soft drinks.…”

Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviors and Mental Well-Being of ASEAN University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic

“…We found that a very high proportion of ASEAN university students (82%) consumed SSBs daily, which were much higher than that reported in another study in university students in LMICs (35%) [ 12 ]. The frequent consumption of SSBs is worrisome, as research showed that it contributed to negative dietary patterns, including frequent fast food, high salt, and low fruit and vegetable intake [ 14 ]. Our findings also suggested that from the first year of university life onwards, students, particularly those living off campus, demonstrated increasingly poorer dietary choices.…”

“…More than 80% of university students consumed insufficient fruit and vegetable daily [ 8 , 12 , 13 ]. More than one-third (35%) of university students in five ASEAN countries consumed sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) once or more times daily [ 14 ]. Apart from these health-risk behaviors, mental well-being is also a neglected health issue among ASEAN university students.…”

Factors associated with high sedentary behaviour among adolescents and adults with psychological distress in South Africa

“…‘How many fruits do you usually eat per day?’ Vegetable intake . ‘How many portions of vegetables, excluding potatoes, do you usually eat per day?’ Response options ranged from 1 = 4 or more per day to 5 = none (Pengpid & Peltzer, 2019, p. 938).…”