The Importance of Sweet Beverage Definitions When Targeting Health Policies—The Case of Switzerland

Abstract

<jats:p>Since high-sweet beverage intake is associated with health risks, defining what this term encompasses is relevant to the strategies confronting this problem. This study assessed both the sociodemographic factors associated with sweet beverage consumption in Switzerland and the amount consumed. According to the current definition in Switzerland (SB–CUR), sweet beverages include soft drinks, juices with added-sugar, and low-calorie sweet beverages. Using this definition and the representative menuCH survey (n = 2057; ages 18–75), the average daily sweet beverage intake was determined and compared with a new sweet beverage definition (SB–NEW), which included all beverages with free sugars and low-calorie sweeteners. A generalized linear model was used to investigate correlates of sweet beverage consumption. Sweet beverage consumption under the SB–CUR and SB–NEW definition was 240.6 g/day and 329.7 g/day, respectively, with 100% juice consumption accounting for 66% of the difference. Carbonated drinks (sodas), low-calorie sweet beverages, and 100% juices were the highest contributors, each around 60 g/day. SB–NEW intake was higher in individuals who were male, young adults (aged 18–29), from German-speaking regions, obese, or had a lower level of education. As sweet beverage consumption was much higher under the SB–NEW definition, this could have implications for health policies aimed at reducing sugar intake.</jats:p>

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review

“…SSBs are major dietary source contributors of free sugars [ 36 ]. A typical 12-fluid-ounce serving of soda contains 35.0–37.5 g of sugar and 140–150 calories [ 35 ].…”

Long-term trends in the consumption of sugary and diet soft drinks among adolescents: a cross-national survey in 21 European countries

“…Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) include sugary soft drinks (or regular sodas), fruit drinks, sports/energy drinks, and all other beverages with added sugar [1]. Sugary soft drinks are the most consumed type of SSBs [1,2], with high intake contributing to childhood obesity [3,4] and dental caries [5]. Adolescents and young adults are the largest consumers of SSBs worldwide [1,[6][7][8][9].…”

Dietary and Health Correlates of Sweetened Beverage Intake: Sources of Variability in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

“…The critical importance of clarifying how sweetened beverages are defined for analyzing dietary exposures in relation to dietary and health outcomes has been highlighted in a recent report based on data from Switzerland. In that report, estimates of the intake of sweetened beverages varied from 240.6 g/day to 329.7 g/day depending how sweet beverages were defined [ 36 ]. Further, the current results demonstrate that the magnitude of the observed differences in estimates for both total and added sugar intakes when mixed foodcodes are classified as LCSBs compared to SBs is striking, even though the overall conclusions of our original analysis were not greatly affected.…”