An article published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDCs) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that almost one-third of U.S. adults consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) a day. The researchers examined data from the SSB intake module in the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which provides the most recent state-specific data on consumption of SSBs among American adults in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
The survey data revealed that overall age-adjusted prevalence of SSB intake ≥1 time per day was 30.1% and ranged from 18.0% in Vermont to 47.5% in Mississippi. Overall, at least once daily SSB intake was most prevalent among adults aged 18–24 years (43.3%), men (34.1%), non-Hispanic African Americans (39.9%), unemployed adults (34.4%), and persons with less than a high school education (42.4%).
The states with the highest prevalence of at least once daily consumption of SSBs among persons aged 18–24 years were Oklahoma (66.4%) and West Virginia (63.8%). The highest occurrence among men were in Louisiana (50.6%) and Mississippi (48.7%). At least once daily SSB intake was most prevalent among African Americans in approximately half of states; states with the highest prevalence among African Americans were Louisiana (50.7%) and Iowa (49.0%).
The researchers concluded that the frequency of daily SSB intake is high among adults, especially among certain subpopulations, as well as persons living in southern states. Considering potential adverse health effects of SSB intake and the substantial contribution that SSBs make to excess dietary sugar, continuation of public health efforts aimed at decreasing high SSB intake is important. Actions can include education and awareness initiatives, increasing access to, and promotion of, healthier options through nutrition standards, including foodservice guidelines, and increasing the availability and promotion of drinking water in schools and public venues.
