The Relationship between Self-Reported Exposure to Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Promotions and Intake: Cross-Sectional Analysis of the 2017 International Food Policy Study

Abstract

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is independently associated with several non-communicable diseases, so policymakers are increasingly implementing measures, such as marketing regulation, to reduce intake. To help understand how such measures work, this study examined the association between SSB consumption and self-reported exposure to SSB promotions, both overall and by type of promotion, and whether these relationships vary between the UK, USA, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Cross-sectional analysis of the online 2017 International Food Policy Study was performed (n = 15,515). Participants were grouped into 5265 (34%) non-, 5117 (33%) low-, and 5133 (33%) high-SSB consumers. Multinomial logistic regression models examined whether SSB consumption varied by exposure to total SSB promotion and by type: traditional, digital, recreational environment, and functional environment. Multiplicative interactions were included to investigate international variations. An additional unit of total self-reported SSB promotion exposure increased the likelihood of participants being low SSB consumers (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.06–1.10) and high SSB consumers (RRR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.11–1.16). Only exposure to traditional and digital promotion increased the likelihood of participants being SSB consumers, though this may be explained by degree of exposure, which was not measured in this study. Some evidence illustrated international variation in these relationships.

Prevalence and correlates of weight gain attempts across five countries

“…Education was categorized as "low," "medium," or "high" according to country-specific criteria of the highest level of formal education attained. These categorizations of race/ethnicity and education are consistent with prior IFPS research (Forde et al, 2019;Kwon et al, 2019;Vanderlee et al, 2021).…”

Sociodemographic differences in self-reported exposure to high fat, salt and sugar food and drink advertising: a cross-sectional analysis of 2019 UK panel data

“…Open access mixed, but some studies have found that exposure to less healthy food and drink advertising influences purchasing and consumption, and normalises the consumption of less healthy foods and drinks. [9][10][11][12][13][14] Advertising exposure may therefore be a plausible influence on obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. 15 16 A systematic review found that children from ethnic minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds were disproportionately exposed to advertising for less healthy foods.…”

“…Within each question, 19 places where advertisements may have been seen or heard were specified. Using methods adapted from Forde et al, 12 we recategorised the 19 places into five advertising settings prior to analysis: traditional advertising, digital advertising, advertising in recreational environments, advertising in functional environments and advertising across transport networks (table 1). Participants were also able to report other places using free text.…”

“…The questions used in this study were informed by those used in the International Food Policy Study. 12 The survey questions asked about the products advertised and the advertising setting, giving us the opportunity to explore what was advertised and where. This provided a broader perspective relative to studies focusing on one form of advertising.…”

An Exploration of the Role of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage in Promoting Obesity and Health Disparities

“…Whether this lack of effect occurs following sustained exposure is unknown as studies testing effects of repeated exposure to palatable food advertisements in adults are lacking. However, it was recently reported in an international population of 15,515 adults that consumption of SSB was positively associated with self-reported exposure to SSB marketing [ 146 ]. Interestingly, the type of SSB marketing that showed the strongest correlation to SSB consumption was via digital media (online/Internet ads; mobile app/video game; social media (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat)).…”