Beverage consumption among European adolescents in the HELENA study

Abstract

Background and Objective Our objective was to describe the fluid and energy consumption of beverages in a large sample of European adolescents Methods We used data from 2,741 European adolescents residing in 8 countries participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS). We averaged two 24-hour recalls, collected using the HELENA-dietary assessment tool. By gender and age subgroup (12.5–14.9 y and 15–17.5 y), we examined per capita and per consumer fluid (milliliters [mL]) and energy (kilojoules [kJ]) intake from beverages and percent consuming ten different beverage groups. Results Mean beverage consumption was 1611 ml/d in boys and 1316 ml/d in girls. Energy intake from beverages was about 1966 kJ/d and 1289 kJ/d in European boys and girls respectively, with sugar-sweetened beverages (carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, including soft drinks, fruit drinks and powders/concentrates) contributing to daily energy intake more than other groups of beverages. Boys and older adolescents consumed the most amount of per capita total energy from beverages. Among all age and gender subgroups sugar-sweetened beverages, sweetened milk (including chocolate milk and flavored yogurt drinks all with added sugar), low-fat milk, and fruit juice provided the highest amount of per capita energy. Water was consumed by the largest percent of adolescents followed by sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice, and sweetened milk. Among consumers, water provided the greatest fluid intake and sweetened milk accounted for the largest amount of energy intake followed by sugar-sweetened beverages. Patterns of energy intake from each beverage varied between countries. Conclusions European adolescents consume an average of 1455 ml/d of beverages, with the largest proportion of consumers and the largest fluid amount coming from water. Beverages provide 1609 kJ/d, of which 30.4%, 20.7%, and 18.1% comes from sugar-sweetened beverages, sweetened milk, and fruit juice respectively.

Consumption of sugar-rich food products among Brazilian students:National School Health Survey (PeNSE 2012)

“…However, it is important to highlight that our observations are consistent with studies performed in other countries, which reported elevated consumption of sugar-rich food products among adolescents, specifically soft drinks, candies, and desserts 2,4,6,9,22 .…”

“…It is noteworthy that many studies evaluate only the consumption of soft drinks individually, not together with the ingestion of sweets, hindering the analysis of accumulated consumption of sugar-rich food products and its associated factors 5,6,18,20,22 .…”

“…In this sense, within the group "sweets", several types of foods were considered including candies, chocolate, chewing gum, bonbons and lollipops, comprising therefore a variable with considerable scope. Although studies developed in different countries have shown that soft drinks consist of the main sweetened beverage consumed by adolescents, consisting of a good indicator of intake of sweetened beverages in this age group 6,37 , the evaluation of consumption of other sweetened beverages was thought to complement the analysis of the intake of sugar-rich food products among Brazilian adolescents. In this regard, a study conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, found that 33.3% of students consumed soft drinks regularly, while 66.2% reported regular consumption of sweetened beverages, including soft drinks 40 , thus demonstrating the relevance of the analysis of different sweetened beverages among adolescents.…”

“…Among ultra-processed foods, the excessive intake of sweets, deserts and sugar sweetened beverages among adolescents stands out as a major health issue in several countries 4,5,6 . In the United States, male adolescents have an average daily consumption of soft drinks of 700mL, and females, 350mL 5 .…”

Sensory attributes of soft drinks and their influence on consumers' preferences

“…6 The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS), which evaluates the amounts of beverages consumed among adolescents aged 12.5-17.5 across urban areas from 10 European cities, showed that sugar-sweetened beverages were the second most consumed beverages (430 ml per day) aer water, which is the largest contributor to uid consumption (821 ml per day) in adolescents. 7 Although uid intake is not closely associated with hydration status, it is commonly used as an approximate measure of hydration because it is easy to measure. 8 Recent statements on water requirements have been based on retrospective recalls of water intake from food and beverages among healthy populations.…”