Sugary Drink Consumption Among Children by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Status

Trends in Added Sugars Intake and Sources Among US Children, Adolescents, and Teens Using NHANES 2001–2018

“…Similar observations of decreasing added sugars intakes have been documented among children, adolescents, and teens in other developed countries ( 32–35 ). Our results also demonstrate that added sugars intakes declined across various strata: regardless of age, sex, race and ethnicity, income, food assistance, physical activity level, or body weight status, intakes decreased over time, albeit to varying degrees, consistent with other studies examining various of these factors ( 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 18 ).…”

“…Among the different race and ethnicities, the greatest decline in added sugars intake was observed among White individuals; for income, those in the high PIR group had the greatest decline in added sugars intake; and those not receiving food assistance had a greater decline than those who received food assistance. Similar variations have been documented in other time-trend analyses of NHANES data ( 7 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 18 ). Overall, the different levels of decline resulted in disparities in added sugars intakes by race and ethnicity and by income, such that by 2018, intakes were highest among Black children, adolescents, and teens and among those in the low PIR group, similar to the results of other studies ( 15 , 16 , 38 ).…”

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption in Children: The Interplay of Household SNAP and WIC Participation

“…The finding that children from SNAP-only households are the most likely to consume SSBs is consistent with those of previous research showing a higher likelihood of SSB purchases in SNAP households 17 and less favorable trends of SSB consumption among children from SNAP households. 13,29 Given the public health concerns surrounding SSB consumption, a large body of research has prompted policy discussions to limit access to SSBs in SNAP, 30−33 even though there are contrasting opinions. 34 Instituting such changes in SNAP warrants more research and pilot tests to avoid any unexpected negative consequences that might occur if this major safety net program were to be modified substantially.…”

“…10 Even though SNAP has been effective at reducing household food insecurity, 11,12 dietary outcomes of SNAP participants are generally worse than those of eligible nonparticipants; for example, children from SNAP-participating households have lower Healthy Eating Index scores and unfavorable beverage consumption patterns. 13 By contrast, WIC-participating children tend to have a higher dietary quality than children from similar-income nonparticipating households. 14,15 More than a third of SNAP households also participate in WIC 16 ; yet, little research has examined the relationship between this dual participation and children's dietary outcomes.…”