Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Associated Factors in School-Going Adolescents of New Caledonia

Abstract

This cross-sectional study assessed sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and its associations with the sociodemographic and physical characteristics, behavior and knowledge of New Caledonian adolescents. The survey data of 447 adolescents from ages 11 to 16 years were collected in five secondary public schools of New Caledonia between July 2015 and April 2016. These data included measured height and weight, SSB consumption, sociodemographic characteristics, body weight perception, physical activity, and knowledge (sugar quantity/SSB unit; energy expenditure required to eliminate a unit) and opinions about the SSB‒weight gain relationship. Ninety percent of these adolescents declared regularly drinking SSBs. Quantities were associated with living environment (1.94 L·week−1 in urban environment vs. 4.49 L·week−1 in rural environment, p = 0.001), ethnic community (4.77 L·week−1 in Melanesians vs. 2.46 L·week−1 in Caucasians, p < 0.001) and knowledge about energy expenditure (6.22 L·week−1 in unknowledgeable adolescents vs. 4.26 L·week−1 in adolescents who underestimated, 3.73 L·week−1 in adolescents who overestimated, and 3.64 L·week−1 in adolescents who correctly responded on the energy expenditure required to eliminate an SSB unit, p = 0.033). To conclude, community-based health promotion strategies should (1) focus on the physical effort needed to negate SSB consumption rather than the nutritional energy from SSB units and (2) highlight how to achieve sustainable lifestyles and provide tools for greater understanding and positive action.

Improving Pacific Adolescents’ Physical Activity Toward International Recommendations: Exploratory Study of a Digital Education App Coupled With Activity Trackers

“…The 95% Melanesian population was from a remote and rural area of New Caledonia. The overweight prevalence and the physical fitness level before the program (Table 1) were consistent with previous observations in the region [7,11,23-25]. PA data recorded before the program, although in a small group, showed for the first time that these adolescents performed only approximately 30 min of MVPA daily, which is half the recommended volume (Table 1).…”

“…Data are limited for the PICTs, but a recent Australian study found that initiatives to increase adolescent MVPA have been unsuccessful [10]. The low MVPA was attributed in part to perceived lack of support, poor motivation, and low physical competence [11]. Important drivers for children’s and adolescents’ engagement in PA include health knowledge, personally organized PA, and competence in diverse PA types [12].…”

Living in Rural and Urban Areas of New Caledonia: Impact on Food Consumption, Sleep Duration and Anthropometric Parameters Among Melanesian Adolescents

“…Moreover, we noted that water consumption is slightly lower in the rural areas (3.14 serves/day) when compared with the urban areas (3.39 serves/day). We previously reported on the high intake of SSBs and suggested such explanations as safety concerns about tap water and the extensive marketing of these beverages [ 20 ]. However, the amount of limited beverages consumed in the rural areas is also slightly lower on average (1.16 serves/day) when compared with the urban areas (1.36 serves/day).…”

“…This means that imported processed food/drinks from the food industry should only be eaten in small amounts. Recent studies have demonstrated that the lifestyles of New Caledonian adolescents have undergone striking changes, characterised by a preference for highly processed drinks like SSBs [ 20 ], breakfast skipping [ 21 ] and relatively low physical activity [ 22 ]. These changes may have contributed to the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Melanesian adolescents, especially those living in rural areas, although no study has yet investigated this hypothesis.…”

Dietary Behavior and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents

“…Growing up in lower socio-economic environments or vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities may increase susceptibility to unhealthy dietary patterns [24]. The study in this Special Issue from New Caledonia reported that the proportion of adolescents regularly consuming sugar-sweetened beverages was high (90%) and was related to living in rural areas and belonging to a particular ethnic community [25]. Results from the WHO Health Behavior in School-Aged Children survey in Belgium are in line with previous findings which showed that eating culture plays a role in inequalities of eating habits among immigrants when socioeconomic conditions are considered [26].…”